 |
|
01-18-2007, 02:22 AM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wherever we are parked
Posts: 100
|
I am addicted to the Internet and we started full-timing in June. I have become very frustrated with WiFi connections at RV Parks. We are presently at a park in Harlingen, TX on Tengonet. The park people said the reception was spotty and sporadic, so I got a site next to the tower with a clear line of site to our RV as they suggested, thinking I would be fine. I have discovered that the only time I will have a good high speed connection is when everyone else is sleeping. From 4:00 PM till midnight, I don't even bother to try anymore. It is often very slow or unavailablle in the morning or other times during the day depending on the outside activity or gatherings of park residents. I've e-mailed Tengonet, but no reply. The Park says they have contacted Tengonet to come out to remedy the problem, but get no response. Is there anything I can do to improve my reception personally or purchase something to help? Keep it simple. If you take off in wifi jargon and radio frequency stuff, I'll be lost.
I am finding this to be a common problem. Although the park will advertise WiFi, one has no idea wether it will be good or terrible. Has anyone thought of starting a rating for WiFi reception at parks? I'm sure things would start to change if business strted to drop with both the providers and the RV Parks!
__________________
1999 Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab SB, SRW, V-10, 4.30 Limited Slip, Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive, Borla Headers & Exhaust, K&N Filter, BF Goodrich Velvet Ride Shackles , Turbowing, Power Programer, Amsoil By-Pass Oil Filtering System.
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
01-18-2007, 02:22 AM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wherever we are parked
Posts: 100
|
I am addicted to the Internet and we started full-timing in June. I have become very frustrated with WiFi connections at RV Parks. We are presently at a park in Harlingen, TX on Tengonet. The park people said the reception was spotty and sporadic, so I got a site next to the tower with a clear line of site to our RV as they suggested, thinking I would be fine. I have discovered that the only time I will have a good high speed connection is when everyone else is sleeping. From 4:00 PM till midnight, I don't even bother to try anymore. It is often very slow or unavailablle in the morning or other times during the day depending on the outside activity or gatherings of park residents. I've e-mailed Tengonet, but no reply. The Park says they have contacted Tengonet to come out to remedy the problem, but get no response. Is there anything I can do to improve my reception personally or purchase something to help? Keep it simple. If you take off in wifi jargon and radio frequency stuff, I'll be lost.
I am finding this to be a common problem. Although the park will advertise WiFi, one has no idea wether it will be good or terrible. Has anyone thought of starting a rating for WiFi reception at parks? I'm sure things would start to change if business strted to drop with both the providers and the RV Parks!
__________________
1999 Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab SB, SRW, V-10, 4.30 Limited Slip, Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive, Borla Headers & Exhaust, K&N Filter, BF Goodrich Velvet Ride Shackles , Turbowing, Power Programer, Amsoil By-Pass Oil Filtering System.
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 03:35 AM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,524
|
I bought one of these - comes with a little stand (not pictured) and USB cord. Lets me try different locations in the motorhome to better pickup the WiFi. Works great! Also functions as a stand-alone WiFi finder, will tell you signal strength and whether site is secure or unsecure. Cool tool!
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2...mon%2FVisitorWrapper
__________________
Warren and Debbie, Deep in The Heart of Texas
2018 Winnebago View 24D
2014 Tiffin Breeze 32BR, 2012 Winnebago Navion 24G, 2006 Winnebago View 23H
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 04:22 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Franklin, Michigan
Posts: 1,306
|
I own a campground w/wireless access and am a heavy internet user when I'm traveling in my coach. I installed my own wireless at my park.
If you are adicted to the internet and want dependable service, my advice, get a Datastorm for access anytime or a Verizon/Sprint card for access almost all the time. Refer to this forum in the technology section for all you need to know to select one and get started.
I have given several courses on wireless to the campground owner community at conferences on wireless and how easy it is. However, it is still chaos out there and everyone is paying too much.
First, you should never pay for internet at a campground especially if you are paying a premium price. I don't charge for it as almost all hotels and restaurants don't.
Second, services like Tengo come in and install the equipment at a campground. You are their customer not the campground's. Campground might get a small cut. Typically the campground owners or managers aren't even allowed to touch the equipment even to do simple repairs or resets.
Third, if you're like me and the campground says they've got wireless, they better darn well have it. It is one of the core reasons I selected the place. Don't ask for money back. It is always better to ask for free services such as free days on the internet or something else. The campground should have complementary codes for getting on.
Fourth, I'm getting a Verizon card once I start camping again. It will be years before there are standards and WiFi everywhere that is dependable. Too bad, because it is easy and cheap.
Sorry for the rant. Sometimes campgrounds fall down on customer service just because they don't listen to what's important to the customer. It drives me crazy.
__________________
Scott Crompton
Newmar TBD
Sue (DW):Celia 18, Alec 17, Isis (Abyssinian)
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 06:43 AM
|
#5
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Traveling the lower 48
Posts: 2,450
|
One of the problems with campground Wi-Fi (any Wi-Fi really) is that you don't know what the Wi-Fi signal is attached to. In theory you could setup a Wi-Fi connection that is hooked to a dial-up connection and everyone would get a connection but no speed at all.
It sounds like your campground is likely hooked up to a low level DSL or and overloaded cable internet connection. If I understand you post you are getting a strong enough signal on your wireless card (so an antenna won't change anything) but very poor internet service. If that's the case, there is not a thing you can do on your hardware end to resolve the problem. The problem lies with the parks internet connection and only they could change things which is unlikely.
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 09:04 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wherever we are parked
Posts: 100
|
There are times with various speeds, but in the evenings, I can not connect at all.
__________________
1999 Ford F-350 XLT Crew Cab SB, SRW, V-10, 4.30 Limited Slip, Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive, Borla Headers & Exhaust, K&N Filter, BF Goodrich Velvet Ride Shackles , Turbowing, Power Programer, Amsoil By-Pass Oil Filtering System.
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 09:16 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose, Ca.
Posts: 1,334
|
I am using a Kyocera KPC-650 installed in a Dlink DIR-450 WiFi router. We run two laptops off of the router without problem. It works in motion and anywhere Verizon is. I first tried this experiment with a Kyocera KR1 router but it was a POS. To many dropped connections and slow DL speeds. In most areas we are downloading at 500-800kbs, uploading a slow 64k. We do not need fast upload speeds so it does not bother us. For those that do, I would not go with a broadband card period. That's my 2 cents worth.
__________________
Rick and Julia
2005 Dolphin 5376, W24, Solid Body Paint, Koni FSD's
Looking for a new toad
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 10:50 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Franklin, Michigan
Posts: 1,306
|
Hate to hijack the post but, Rick, I had heard that Verizon won't support a router. What I mean is it works but, they won't help you if there is a problem.
Also, you probably shouldn't tell them you are using one.
Any insight about that?
__________________
Scott Crompton
Newmar TBD
Sue (DW):Celia 18, Alec 17, Isis (Abyssinian)
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 11:55 AM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Jose, Ca.
Posts: 1,334
|
well, not to shock anyone but most carriers will not support problems with others equipment. Verizon most likely has policy against using a router to share the connection. I certainly wouldn't expect them to help me out as they have a hard enough time supporting the products they do sell. This whole internet / RV issue has been popping up on this forum for months. Some folks swear by one service or an other. It's all good stuff out there but you gotta figure out what will work best for you. I am very happy with my setup and so far have had no instance where it did not work. My wife and I, when we are not home, work from our MH. Internet access is a must not a luxury. For 59.00 buck a month, it fits the need quite well.
__________________
Rick and Julia
2005 Dolphin 5376, W24, Solid Body Paint, Koni FSD's
Looking for a new toad
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 03:24 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Franklin, Michigan
Posts: 1,306
|
I was shown by someone that Sprint sells and supports a router that their card plugs into. The one I saw was a Linksys. Verizon does not. Hence the question.
I have Verizon voice and would like to get a Verizon card. Obviously you have had little problems w/the router you bought and I will probably go the same way.
Thanks for all the info Rick. It is great the way you post what works and what doesn't.
__________________
Scott Crompton
Newmar TBD
Sue (DW):Celia 18, Alec 17, Isis (Abyssinian)
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 04:17 PM
|
#11
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Traveling the lower 48
Posts: 2,450
|
Just because it is not "supported" does not mean that it does not work or is in some way illegal.
Sharing your wireless connection, no matter what service you use, is your right and your choice. The card issuers limit the amount of data that you can download over some period of time and as long as you remain below this threshold there is no reason to believe that your provider or anyone else will prevent you from doing what you are entitled to do.
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 04:43 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Franklin, Michigan
Posts: 1,306
|
Bill,
I think you might be misinterpreting my tone. Not uncommon w/written email/posts.
I agree w/you 100%. Heck, I'm the guy that made 3 loops at Disney wireless off of the cable modem they gave me. I just used the router from my campground. You should see what I do w/my Direcway connection at the campground that is supposed to be limited to 10 connections.
It's just that I am a point of choosing b/w Verizon & Sprint. Sometimes, if a provider resists sharing of internet connections they can make you jump through hoops via special IP addresses, ports etc.
I was just confirming that Rick was having no problems as I prefer to go Verizon for a few reasons.
I officially have hijacked this thread. Peter and Bob may officially whip me w/a wet noodle.
__________________
Scott Crompton
Newmar TBD
Sue (DW):Celia 18, Alec 17, Isis (Abyssinian)
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 04:55 PM
|
#13
|
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Traveling the lower 48
Posts: 2,450
|
As an aside, there is nothing that I know of that limits a HughesNet connection 10 connections. The FAP limits are based on data downloaded and not number of connections made.
I try not to read tones, but everyone misinterprets my "tones" as adversary. Nothing could be further from the truth.
|
|
|
01-18-2007, 05:32 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Franklin, Michigan
Posts: 1,306
|
Got it.
Also, I have a small business account w/Direcway which I know is now Hughes. I get some extra bandwidth and a higher bill but, w/a 10 user limit. Which obviously they don't/can't enforce.
__________________
Scott Crompton
Newmar TBD
Sue (DW):Celia 18, Alec 17, Isis (Abyssinian)
|
|
|
 |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|