The RVer's Open Forum

Swirve.com Links: Swirve.com Free Email Games Fantasy Sports E-Cards Movies Horoscopes Freebies Web Search

NOTICE: Beginning July 10th, 2008, this message board service will no longer be active or available for use.

The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / Best way to get online on the road

Silvana
User ID: 2616364 Jul 5th 5:25 PM
Does anyone know if there are more phone jacks, or more cable jacks, or more wireless connections, in RV campsites aross America? Which is the best system to get online easily as we travel with our laptop?

Thanks so much

Barb
User ID: 8708523 Jul 5th 7:54 PM
Can't say about any other parks except the ones I have been in.

Ft. McDowell, on Hwy 87 between Payson and Phoenix AZ has a wireless connection. So, if you have what you need on your computer you can connect wireless.

Fiesta RV Park in Mesa AZ has a phone jack on the outisde of the building under the patio. This place is to hook up if you have a connection with something like AOL. They also have a computer room with severla computers in there. I don't know if there is a charge or you can just connect.

If you know where you are going to be in advance, you might just call the place and ask them what they have available at that location.

BobW
User ID: 9301033 Jul 27th 10:58 PM
Don't buy any service. We just spent 8 months on the road around the good old USA. I bought a T-Moble account and hardly ever used it. We found free WIFI everyware. In camp grounds, coffee shops, McDonalds, and even around homes that have a wireless modem. One time we had a hard time finding one so we asked a local computor shop and they told us. Some of the locals know where they are. Ask at the local info centers, some know.

Den
User ID: 9614573 Jun 27th 9:22 PM
We have the Verizon ir card.

curtis
User ID: 0498634 Jul 1st 3:39 PM
there are wifi connections everywhere..and most campgrounds have access to wifi.just be sure your laptop is wifi compatible and your all set.

Art
User ID: 0617234 Aug 1st 6:01 PM
I finally found a great way to solve this problem for me. I have a Verizon digital cell phone. I bought a Mobile Office Kit from Verizon ($39.99) which included software and hardware to connect cell phone to computer. Connection is at broadband speed - service is a little under $2.00/day ($59.99/month). The other important feature for me is that I can have the service turned on or off to cover my need for this service when I travel. Works great and the fee allows for unlimited data transfer.

rmw
User ID: 1125704 Aug 11th 5:06 PM
I use wi fi.
Most campgrounds have it now. One State I think it was Ohio has 1/2 hour free per day at its rest areas. If you park outside a hotel their signal is usually available. Coffee shops have wireless. Mcdonalds has some with free wi fi. There is a lot of free wi fi out there.

cwsoules
User ID: 0665994 Aug 15th 5:56 PM
On our trip to Caliofornia and back to South Carolina I used WIFI. The trailer life book often in.dicates in the various park advertizements if they have WIFI. It worked well. On occasion I had to carry my computer to get closer to the WIFI antenna

Barthbill
User ID: 1689844 Oct 24th 7:12 PM
"I have a Verizon digital cell phone. I bought a Mobile Office Kit from Verizon ($39.99) which included software and hardware to connect cell phone to computer. Connection is at broadband speed"

We have that, too. It is broadband only in major metropolitan areas. If it works in the rest of the USA, it is like a fast dial up. And we get disconnected a lot. It is useful mainly for checking e mail. Most websites are so graphics-intensive that they take a very long time to load even the front page.

Mike Ervin
User ID: 1801454 Nov 29th 3:12 PM
Friend of mine lives in Houston TX and just left for Big Bend for several months. They opted to go with a satelite internet service for phone and computer (Hughes.net). I don't know the provider's area but I'm pretty sure they don't have a lock on the market.

Good Luck, Mike

Silvana User ID: 2616364	Jul 5th 5:25 PM Does anyone know if there are more phone jacks, or more cable jacks, or more wireless connections, in RV campsites aross America? Which is the best system to get online easily as we travel with our laptop? Thanks so much
Barb User ID: 8708523	Jul 5th 7:54 PM Can't say about any other parks except the ones I have been in. Ft. McDowell, on Hwy 87 between Payson and Phoenix AZ has a wireless connection. So, if you have what you need on your computer you can connect wireless. Fiesta RV Park in Mesa AZ has a phone jack on the outisde of the building under the patio. This place is to hook up if you have a connection with something like AOL. They also have a computer room with severla computers in there. I don't know if there is a charge or you can just connect. If you know where you are going to be in advance, you might just call the place and ask them what they have available at that location.
BobW User ID: 9301033	Jul 27th 10:58 PM Don't buy any service. We just spent 8 months on the road around the good old USA. I bought a T-Moble account and hardly ever used it. We found free WIFI everyware. In camp grounds, coffee shops, McDonalds, and even around homes that have a wireless modem. One time we had a hard time finding one so we asked a local computor shop and they told us. Some of the locals know where they are. Ask at the local info centers, some know.
Den User ID: 9614573	Jun 27th 9:22 PM We have the Verizon ir card.
curtis User ID: 0498634	Jul 1st 3:39 PM there are wifi connections everywhere..and most campgrounds have access to wifi.just be sure your laptop is wifi compatible and your all set.
Art User ID: 0617234	Aug 1st 6:01 PM I finally found a great way to solve this problem for me. I have a Verizon digital cell phone. I bought a Mobile Office Kit from Verizon ($39.99) which included software and hardware to connect cell phone to computer. Connection is at broadband speed - service is a little under $2.00/day ($59.99/month). The other important feature for me is that I can have the service turned on or off to cover my need for this service when I travel. Works great and the fee allows for unlimited data transfer.
rmw User ID: 1125704	Aug 11th 5:06 PM I use wi fi. Most campgrounds have it now. One State I think it was Ohio has 1/2 hour free per day at its rest areas. If you park outside a hotel their signal is usually available. Coffee shops have wireless. Mcdonalds has some with free wi fi. There is a lot of free wi fi out there.
cwsoules User ID: 0665994	Aug 15th 5:56 PM On our trip to Caliofornia and back to South Carolina I used WIFI. The trailer life book often in.dicates in the various park advertizements if they have WIFI. It worked well. On occasion I had to carry my computer to get closer to the WIFI antenna
Barthbill User ID: 1689844	Oct 24th 7:12 PM "I have a Verizon digital cell phone. I bought a Mobile Office Kit from Verizon ($39.99) which included software and hardware to connect cell phone to computer. Connection is at broadband speed" We have that, too. It is broadband only in major metropolitan areas. If it works in the rest of the USA, it is like a fast dial up. And we get disconnected a lot. It is useful mainly for checking e mail. Most websites are so graphics-intensive that they take a very long time to load even the front page.
Mike Ervin User ID: 1801454	Nov 29th 3:12 PM Friend of mine lives in Houston TX and just left for Big Bend for several months. They opted to go with a satelite internet service for phone and computer (Hughes.net). I don't know the provider's area but I'm pretty sure they don't have a lock on the market. Good Luck, Mike