Internet in Your RV
The Internet has moved from novelty to virtual necessity for many people in recent years. RV satellite internet technology brings this necessity to your RV. For many people, the internet has become a way of life. It is used to keep in touch with family and friends. I use it to pay bills and handle banking transactions. I use it to retrieve information of all types quickly. All of these functions are as important on your RV vacation as when you are sitting at home. RV satellite internet services have made it possible to perform all of them when on the road. Now RVing has taken a turn towards the HI TECH world where you can be camping one minute and then the next, running your office from your fold down table. With the wireless option added to your internet you can now even enjoy a camp fire and surf the web in your lounge chair burning a few marshmallows.
Let’s talk about what you will need to pull this all off and have fun at the same time. First you will need a fixed/transportable mobile Internet antenna system designed for virtually any satellite VSAT platform. This can be done at a dealership by a tech and installed in 1 day. You will need a PC or a Laptop in your RV so they can set it up to work with your new Sat system. One of the many systems that are designed for internet is the WineGard DirecStar® (DT74), this unit is designed for RV’s and is roof mounted. They would install this on the roof and then run the wires down into a cabinet near a 12v or 110 volt outlet or a source of power. The next thing would be to install the receiver and PC connections. The best way I have found to make this as least invasive as possible to your RV is to make the system wireless, this way you do not have to run wires for the PC connection, and you won’t even see the system unless you open a cabinet to look at it. With this setup you can even walk 300 feet from your RV and have internet on your Laptop, PDA or BlackBerry. So as you can see there a lot of options for Internet, some campgrounds even offer wireless internet for free or for a small fee wile you stay there. Well that is all for now and when you see someone at a camp ground with a laptop and you would like to know what the weather for the week is, just go up and ask, and they will just surf the internet and tell you the 7 day forecast.
This article was brought to you by Good Sam RV Emergency Road Service
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We use a Verizon air card, but someplaces the signal is less than optimal. We purchased an antenna and amplifier system for $230 and installation cost $189, so for around $500 we saved the cost of a Motosat ($5,000) and additional monthly charges. In poor areas, the signal will go from 0 or 1 bar to four bars when we turn the amplifier on.
I use a Verizon Wireless card and don’t use any amplifing equipment. It works fine in most areas for me and I’ve got to have my internet….
Also use an Verizon air card at home and on the road. It’s cheap and it works.
Have a request for Ken Hall in reference to the antenna and amplifier would you be willing to pass a little more info about the system you got. Such as brand name, store name where purchased. I’m in Woodland Park, CO can go east 100′ and have four bars, go south 100′ and not have any. Your comment peaked my curiousity. Thanks for your time.
stormy62
Just go to the http://3gstore.com. The have all of the things you could need for your system and have great tech support.
Roy
Being a “part timer” I use my Verizon cell phone tethered to my lap top for broadband access on the road. This way I can turn off the access when I’m not traveling. In effect I pay $2 per day. With an aircard there are restrictions and fees for suspending service. I have $20 per month AT&T at home. Right now, we are camped in the boonies. I need the Wilson cell amplifier just to get cell phone service but it also gets me to a tower for broadband so I can surf the web. Wilson claims 3 watts (the max allowed) and 50 miles potentially.
I am having a hard time with my motor home roof from leaking.. I’ve tried alot of different paint, glue ect.. and it still leaks. It is leaking above the cab bed and by the antenna. What should i use.? It is leaking in to my cupboards and running down the wall paper that i i might have to remove and re-do.
yvonne