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RV Internet Options: 6 Ways To Get Connected
Technology has made it possible to stay connected even while on the move. This is especially beneficial for those who enjoy traveling in RVs. RV internet options provide multiple ways to stay online, ensuring you’re never disconnected from the world and making your RV journey seamless and convenient.
- Satellite Internet: Equipment can be bulky but reliable in remote areas.
- Cellular Data: Utilizes cellular network for internet connectivity.
- Wi-Fi Boosters: Useful in campgrounds or RV parks.
- Installed RV Internet Systems: Automatic switch between Wi-Fi and cellular data.
- Public Wi-Fi: Available in places like coffee shops and libraries.
- RV Internet Service Providers: RV-specific satellite, unlimited plans without throttling.
If you just bought a new or used RV and are considering making sure you can access the internet while on a long road trip or while living in your RV full-time, this is the article you need to read.
This is because, in it, I discuss all the different ways you can get internet in your RV and their advantages and disadvantages.
How to Get Internet Access in an RV
1. Use Your Smartphone or Wi-Fi as a Mobile Hotspot
The easiest way to access the internet in your RV is to use your smartphone. If your phone is an Android or iPhone, it probably has a mobile hotspot function.
Therefore, if you are camping or driving anywhere where there is 4G or 5G internet access, your phone can access the internet, and you can turn on its mobile hotspot to share the internet with your laptop, your smart TV, other phones, or any other device that you need to access the internet.
However, before you use your phone as a mobile hotspot, you should buy a good or a long-term unlimited internet package from your mobile network service provider or any other service provider that offers sound, complete internet packages in the area you are visiting or camping in. Doing this will save you a lot of money.
The only problem with using your phone as a hotspot, mainly if you heavily use the internet, which is ‘sharing,’ is that its battery will die/ drain faster. This means that you will have to charge your phone frequently, making its battery weak.
You should only use your smartphone as a hotspot if you want to check emails, social media, or something like that.
If you want to access the internet to watch Netflix or YouTube or stream live sports, you should strongly consider getting a Mi-Fi and using it as a hotspot instead of your phone.
Mi-Fis are offered by companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint, allowing you to browse the internet anywhere with a mobile network.
Having Wi-Fi in your RV is like having a Wi-Fi connection in your home. They are very convenient.
2. Camp Near a Wi-Fi Hotspot
The second most straightforward way to access the internet is to park near a Wi-Fi hotspot. So, when planning your trip and staying in a specific location, you should choose a campground near a Wi-Fi hotspot.
However, while Wi-Fi hotspots generally offer affordable internet access and frequently have excellent speeds, most are in urban areas.
Therefore, if you plan to stay off-grid or in a secluded campground, the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot will likely be miles away.
Therefore, getting internet access by camping near a Wi-Fi hotspot is only possible if you go to a campground in an urban area or near a metropolitan area.
An excellent example is Larry and Penny Thompson Park, located in Miami and close to Verizon and AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots.
Another thing I must mention about accessing the internet in your RV by camping near a Wi-Fi hotspot is that you will have to camp to continue accessing the internet.
Because once you move some distance away, you can no longer access the internet.
3. Sign Up with a Satellite Internet Service Provider
If you plan to travel somewhere far from civilization, you should consider getting a satellite internet connection. Many RV parks in the United States are in the middle of massive state parks far away from major urban areas.
Such areas usually do not have excellent mobile networks. If you are going to camp or to live in an area without good mobile networks, you should sign up with a satellite internet service provider.
You can connect to the internet via satellite from virtually any location on the planet. You must sign up with a satellite internet service provider and get a satellite receiver fixed on your RV.
Once you do this, the satellite receiver’s internal unit will share the internet with your devices, just like your home/ office router, and you can access the internet.
While satellite internet is available everywhere in the United States and on Earth, most people do not use satellite internet networks because satellite internet services are costly.
However, most people do not know that many satellite internet service providers provide affordable internet access packages.
Therefore, if you are going to an off-grid location or a location far away from urban areas, you should strongly consider signing up with a satellite internet service provider.
4. Camp in an RV Park/Resort That Offers Wi-Fi
Many RV parks/ resorts/ campgrounds offer free Wi-Fi to campers. So, if you love the internet and want to stream videos or sports or play online games while camping, you should camp in a campground with free Wi-Fi.
Surprisingly, some RV campgrounds far from urban centers have excellent and free internet access for campers.
Thus, when planning your RV trip, you should check what people say about the quality of free Wi-Fi in a campground before booking a campsite for an overnight or a more extended stay.
Free Wi-Fi is the cheapest (it is free) way to access the internet in your RV.
As I mentioned, many RV parks/ resorts/ campgrounds offer free Wi-Fi, and many RV parks/ resorts/ campgrounds offer Wi-Fi at cost.
So when considering staying at a campground, you should think about the Wi-Fi and the cost of it and decide if it is worth it or consider another campground.
I advise getting a Wi-Fi repeater/ booster/ extender if you intend to use RV Park Wi-Fi. It will make the Wi-Fi signal from the park stronger and make it easier for you to access the internet and enjoy browsing.
Wi-Fi extenders work by amplifying Wi-Fi signals. Therefore, even if you are located at the furthest campsite from a campground’s Wi-Fi router, you can still enjoy the same quality of internet from the router as the campsite right next to it.
Very little difference exists between a repeater, a booster, and an extender. They all provide the same results; the best ones cost about $70 on Amazon.
5. Camp in an RV Resort That Offers Cable Internet
If you want to access high-speed internet while camping, you should search and book your stay at RV resorts or parks that offer cable internet.
Many such RV parks exist in Florida, California, and many other states and places across the country.
You need to book a campsite, and when you arrive, an attendant will come and hook up an internet cable to your RV’s internet cable connection, and you will be good to go.
Many such campgrounds usually also offer full hookups, and many other amenities include hot shower bathrooms and heated pools.
The only problem with a cable internet connection is that you will only enjoy it when camping. You cannot browse while on the road.
6. Use Free Internet or Public Wi-Fi
If you are an occasional internet user, you should not worry about having internet access in your RV. You should plan your RV trip on a route that allows you to visit significant coffee shops such as Starbucks.
This is because most such shops offer free internet access. You need to buy a coffee, and you will see the password on the counter.
Alternatively, you can plan the route of your RV trip to go near public universities or libraries. Many such buildings also offer free Wi-Fi.
However, the problem with free internet or public Wi-Fi is that they are usually insecure. So you can use such internet connections to browse the web, but you should be very careful not to download or agree to anything when on such networks.
It would be best if you also did not do your online banking when using free internet, for your information can be stolen by someone with access to such a network.
How to Get Internet Access in an RV Tips and Tricks
Below are some tips and tricks on how to get internet access in an RV.
Easiest Internet Access Option
The easiest way to get the internet in an RV is to use your smartphone as a mobile hotspot. It is, however, not the cheapest way unless you buy a hotspot bundle.
And even if you buy a hotspot bundle, it cannot be cheaper than free Wi-Fi (many campgrounds across the United States offer this to entice campers).
The Best Way to Access the Internet in Off-grid Locations
Satellite connections are the best way to access the internet in off-grid locations with poor mobile networks. Many satellite internet service providers offer affordable internet to users everywhere in North America and worldwide.
Use Apps To Check Network Coverage
If you plan an extended RV trip, download apps showing mobile network coverage. If you do so, you will be able to know for sure if a campground or a destination you are considering has the network of the mobile service network you use to browse the internet.
You can use this information to reroute your trip or prepare for an internet blackout for a night or two before continuing your journey.
Get a Wi-Fi Booster
As mentioned several times in this article, most campgrounds offer free and paid Wi-Fi. Therefore, before you embark on an RV trip, you should get a Wi-Fi booster to improve the Wi-Fi signal of the campgrounds you will stay at.
Consider Other Activities That Don’t Involve Using The Internet
If you are soon going on an RV trip, you are probably going for a vacation or camping away from the stresses of daily life at home.
However, if you get internet access in your RV, you cannot detach or remove yourself from work and the stress of watching or keeping up with world news every day.
Therefore, I suggest you find ways to kill time on vacation instead of using the internet.
For example, if you are traveling with your kids, you can find games to play together in the evening, e.g., charades.
Moreover, instead of just staying indoors, you should spend a lot of your time outside your RV when camping, and I guarantee you that within a few days, you will get used to not browsing the internet every five minutes. You will make friends, and you will start loving nature for real.
How Much is Wi-Fi for an RV?
The cost of Wi-Fi for an RV typically varies based on the internet provider and the type of connection. Most internet providers include hotspots and mobile hotspots in the monthly bill, ranging from $20 to over $200.
It’s important to note that some providers may impose a data limit on your hotspot. Thus, depending on these factors and your consumption patterns, “How much is Wi-Fi for an RV?” can be answered.
Therefore, RV owners should carefully consider their internet usage to choose the most cost-effective and suitable plan.
Summary
RV Internet Options provide a robust array of connectivity solutions for travelers. While bulky in terms of equipment, Satellite Internet ensures reliable service in the most remote areas, ensuring you are never entirely off-grid unless you choose to be.
Cellular Data is another critical option, leveraging existing cellular networks to provide internet access. This is handy when navigating more populated areas where cell service is vital.
On the other hand, Wi-Fi Boosters are perfect for enhancing connectivity in campgrounds or RV parks where Wi-Fi signals might be weak.
For those seeking seamless internet access, Installed RV Internet Systems offer an automatic switch mechanism between Wi-Fi and cellular data, eliminating the need for manual switching and providing uninterrupted service.
Public Wi-Fi in places like coffee shops and libraries serves as an additional accessibility point for internet service.
Lastly, specialized RV Internet Service Providers offer RV-specific satellite services and unlimited plans without throttling. This ensures dedicated and consistent internet access for RV users.
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