One of the most beneficial tools for Fulltime RVers is
access to the internet. Paying bills, banking, shopping, and receiving
mail are just a few of the tasks that are normally more complicated for
RVers who travel extensively. Use of the internet can assist in all of
these areas. Many banks and credit card companies allow you to view your
bill and even pay your bill over the internet. Email allows timely
exchange of information with friends, relatives and, if you are still working,
business associates and clients. The internet lets you keep up with
current news, sports and weather. Additionally, purchases made through
the internet offer new freedom for RVers to do business with known merchants
regardless of where you are at the moment.
Internet service available to RVers has changed immensely during the past 8
years. In 2000, the primary means of accessing the internet was through
the use of a national ISP such as MSN, Earthlink or AOL which would allow you
to call a local telephone number to connect to the internet in hundreds of
towns and cities across the U.S. National ISP's had rate plans varying
from free (www.juno.com), if you didn't mind lots of ads downloading while you
wait, to about $22 per month for unlimited connection time and no advertising.
In the early 2000's, most RVers used a laptop computer which they would
carry into a campground office to use a phone line. The problem was
finding that phone line. A few RV campgrounds began meeting the growing
desire for internet access by their customers but the majority of campgrounds
were not set up to provide this service. Some new campgrounds provided
instant-on phone service at each site. This was a terrific benefit but
it is still a rarity. The cost of an instant on telephone line ranged from a
flat rate per day of $1-5 or was based on the number of calls, typically at
$0.50 each, or was be based on a fixed charge per minute or some combination
of these charges.
Some campgrounds provided a telephone jack in the laundry room or office
where you can plug in your computer during the hours the facility is
open. Others allowed you to plug into their fax line or phone line for a
few minutes.
During the mid-2000's a growing number of campgrounds installed WiFi
systems. For a daily charge, or in some cases at no charge, you could
log onto the park's wireless system from the comfort of your coach if your
computer has a wireless access card. As the number of parks with WiFi
systems increases, this has become a much more viable option. I have
found that some campground WiFi systems are not very good. I have
experienced extremely poor connections, low speeds, overloaded systems or
inadequate signal strength in a number of parks advertising WiFi. There
are some parks with extremely good WiFi systems however.
If you find that you need or desire to have access to the internet on a
regular, daily basis, you will still likely need to look at other alternatives.
page updated 01/05/08
