RV View (Camping World) has a product spotlight on a new product from Winegard called TravelNet. It provides a Cellular Phone and or WiFi connectivity through Sprint, Verizon or AT&T. You can check it out at:
Picked a brochure on this up in Quartzsite. Know absolutely nothing about it. The website doesn't seem to be too informative at the moment. Ain't cheap!
It would be FAR cheaper to invest $2-300 in a newer phone from one of these carriers, and get 3rd party software (approx. $30) that enables a Windows Mobile based phone to be used as THE router. Great WiFi, less equipment, surf from your laptop w/i range of the phone....it essentially turns your phone into a portable WiFi router.
You can get wireless for your computer direct from Verizon for $60.00 month. I believe it comes with the card at no charge! Add a phone to that and your there!
Better antenna/coverage than using your phone or a card.
Dedicated router that does not tie up your phone (additional $4-5/month Verizon?) Runs full time even when on road.
Dedicated WiFi for the whole system so you can use you computer where you want inside or out.
You pay the same 5 GB/month charge from Verizon no matter how you approach it.
Now I know there are components out there that will duplicate this and it would not be for everyone... just looking at the options that are starting to pop up out there. This would probably be of interest only to full timers, someone who could write it off or someone that needs to stay in touch, but does not have access to free WiFi
BTW, if someone can come up with a shopping list to duplicate cheaper, let's hear that... and not PC only please.
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Ralph & Margie Day
Lizzy the Borderline Collie
Old Hickory, TN
Between 'steams...
The subject of Internet access for Rvers has been much discussed and there are a number of forums devoted to it.
The best combination of coverage area and price that I have found is a data capable cell phone with a cable to tether to your laptop. If you purchase a smart phone, it will likely come with the cable. If not, the cable kit can be obtained from your cellular provider. The most expensive part is the data plan. This seems to cost about $60/month regardless of which provider you use. Verizonwireless data plan includes 5GB/month. If you use more than that, the price esculates rapidly.
Cellular coverage is much broader that Wifi. A cellular antenna mounted on the roof of your RV will boost coverage.
The advantages of using a cell phone with a data cable are;
1. You can put the cell phone near a window for better reception
2. You can use the cell phone for voice calls unlike a data card.
If you talk a lot and don't want burn all your cellular minutes, you can always buy a magicJack for $40. That includes your 1st year of telephone service for all US and Canadian calls. After that, the service costs $20/year. MagicJack is simple to use. Just plug any home phone into it then plug the magicJack into your computer USB port. Your computer must have Internet access via your cell phone of Wifi for this to work.
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