Just a tip for on the road travel (I'm in South Dakota heading for Montana to make a movie): the Flying J's now have Wi Fi and it's very fast. I just bought a month for $24.95 so I'd have it going across the country and back no matter where I was. Also, the rest stops in Iowa have free Wi Fi service now.
Wi Fi
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Pat Anderson
New member
Many of the Washington State rest stops on I-5 have WiFi too. I have a slick little utility for the MacBook called iStumbler, it finds and gives information about all access points in range. It is amazing how many open access points you can find anchored up in some bay, the range must really be extended over water!
If Istumbler is anything line NetStumbler for Windows, which can be found here, it's wonderful. I've been using Net Stumbler for Windows for several years and you're right, Pat, the number of open wireless connections you can "stumble" upon are wonderful.
Don't be put off by the nay sayers. Yes there are open networks that are run by and for hackers out to "get 'er done" and yes, it's frowned upon in some circles, but RV'ers also know that many open networks are deliberately left open for friends and travelers.
Don
Don't be put off by the nay sayers. Yes there are open networks that are run by and for hackers out to "get 'er done" and yes, it's frowned upon in some circles, but RV'ers also know that many open networks are deliberately left open for friends and travelers.
Don
El and Bill
New member
We're sitting in a small cove off Cypress Island, in the San Juans. No WiFi access here, but we're hooked to the Internet, listening to Colorado Public Radio, and responding to email -- with our Air Card.
WiFi is great when you can get it (we had it in Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham) -- but our Air Card extends our coverage far beyond WiFi. Just for information ...
WiFi is great when you can get it (we had it in Squalicum Harbor in Bellingham) -- but our Air Card extends our coverage far beyond WiFi. Just for information ...
Pat Anderson
New member
About the Washington Rest stop WiFi (from their site):
"All wireless Internet users at the twenty-eight rest areas are able to access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.
To view additional web sites, users can subscribe to Road Connect by paying the following fees:
* 15 minutes - $2.95
* Daily - $6.95
* Monthly - $29.95"
"All wireless Internet users at the twenty-eight rest areas are able to access road conditions, traveler information and other information offered on the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Internet web site and related Web sites for no cost.
To view additional web sites, users can subscribe to Road Connect by paying the following fees:
* 15 minutes - $2.95
* Daily - $6.95
* Monthly - $29.95"
Rather than pay Wa. State a day rate, you're probably best off with Flying J or one of the other national chains. A lot of McDonalds have free Wi Fi now as well. In the future it will probably be ubiquitous almost everywhere and free, as just about every chain will carry it to entice travelers.
If you're going to pay someone $30/month for access that is only available when you are in their establishment (Flying J, Starbucks, etc), why not give up a latte or two and put the bucks towards the wireless broadband card that works many places (OK, almost any civilized place in our experience). We can connect to the internet while on the water, going down the road, anchored out, or in a marina. I'm certainly not saying it's for everyone, but how much time does one want to spend in a Flying J?
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
It may be common knowledge, but I haven't seen it posted here....
Hundred of McDonald's cross the USofA now have WiFi. It costs $2.95 for a two hour block of time and works very well. You cannot split sessions (use two minutes or two hours) so when your two hour block expires, you're done. I've used it from Ketchikan to Key West.
You can learn more or download their WiFi location file at:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/wireless.html
One last item ... we recently encountered an RV campground situation where the laptop's WiFi signal was extremely weak. I bought a "Wi-Fire" WiFi antenna (manufactured by hField Tech. Inc.) and the signal was significantly improved.
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
Hundred of McDonald's cross the USofA now have WiFi. It costs $2.95 for a two hour block of time and works very well. You cannot split sessions (use two minutes or two hours) so when your two hour block expires, you're done. I've used it from Ketchikan to Key West.
You can learn more or download their WiFi location file at:
http://www.mcdonalds.com/wireless.html
One last item ... we recently encountered an RV campground situation where the laptop's WiFi signal was extremely weak. I bought a "Wi-Fire" WiFi antenna (manufactured by hField Tech. Inc.) and the signal was significantly improved.
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
flrockytop
New member
I just got back from a 9000 mile trip in the motorhome. Left Pensacola, Fl went to Key West then north to Main, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, down across NY to Buffalo then south back to Pensacola. I had no problem finding FREE wifi the entire trip. There may be some legal issues of using just any open wi-fi but there are plenty of them out there to use. I found almost every public library has free public wi-fi. I only found a two or three that wanted you to log in with your member number. More and more campgrounds are providing free wi-fi. Some of the first started with the pay for use thing. I only stayed in campgrounds about six nights the entire trip. When I pulled in the first thing I ask was if they had free wi-fi. If they say no , I told them they should consider it, thanked and found another campground.
I was going to make this trip in a C-dory but $ happens and that didn't work out, at least for now. I had perfect weather the entire trip. The Bay of Fundy
was like a mill pond the day we crossed on the ferry. Lots of icebergs and so many places that need to be explored in a c-dory.
Anyway, back to wifi. I live fairly close to Pensacola Bay. I am going to do some testing here and see if I can provide a free access point for boaters that may be passing in range.
Roger
I was going to make this trip in a C-dory but $ happens and that didn't work out, at least for now. I had perfect weather the entire trip. The Bay of Fundy
was like a mill pond the day we crossed on the ferry. Lots of icebergs and so many places that need to be explored in a c-dory.
Anyway, back to wifi. I live fairly close to Pensacola Bay. I am going to do some testing here and see if I can provide a free access point for boaters that may be passing in range.
Roger
Roger,
What I have observed in the Pensacola area, is that a number of boats bypass our marinas because of several factors: 1. $2 a foot at Palafox Pier, 2. 6 miles out of their way to stop in Down Town. 3. limited facilities and no stores close to the marinas down town. 4. many boats stop in Orange Beach/Gulf shores and then go on to Fort Walton or Destin the next day, rather than stopping here.
I don't know what short of power you are considering using--but as a ham you are within the 2.8 Ghz band, but there is the issue of commercial usage if a person uses the WiFi link--not sure how FCC is handling this.
To cover any part of the bay with power runs the chance of interference with other 2.8 Ghz technologies. Boats under way would be unlikely to use this. I find that "home" WiFi transmitters are good for a few hundred feet--and not much more than that--fortunately. If not there would be a lot of interference with other electronics (we use 5.8 Ghz phones to avoid interference in our home). We can get only two of our neighbor's signals in our home, and they are so weak that effective connection is difficult--the houses are about 200 feet apart. (our Wi Fi is encrypted and password protected.)
Our recent experience was that we could not get WiFi 200 feet from the hotel which had it available in the lobby, in our RV. We did't find WiFi in any of the camp grounds we stopped in. Camp grounds are not always that easy to find when you want to stop. (We drive across the US, at least once a year--often twice, as well as several trips North and South).
I probably would go with an air card or specific reciever from the phone company services for reliable internet contacts if traveling extensively.
Bob Austin
What I have observed in the Pensacola area, is that a number of boats bypass our marinas because of several factors: 1. $2 a foot at Palafox Pier, 2. 6 miles out of their way to stop in Down Town. 3. limited facilities and no stores close to the marinas down town. 4. many boats stop in Orange Beach/Gulf shores and then go on to Fort Walton or Destin the next day, rather than stopping here.
I don't know what short of power you are considering using--but as a ham you are within the 2.8 Ghz band, but there is the issue of commercial usage if a person uses the WiFi link--not sure how FCC is handling this.
To cover any part of the bay with power runs the chance of interference with other 2.8 Ghz technologies. Boats under way would be unlikely to use this. I find that "home" WiFi transmitters are good for a few hundred feet--and not much more than that--fortunately. If not there would be a lot of interference with other electronics (we use 5.8 Ghz phones to avoid interference in our home). We can get only two of our neighbor's signals in our home, and they are so weak that effective connection is difficult--the houses are about 200 feet apart. (our Wi Fi is encrypted and password protected.)
Our recent experience was that we could not get WiFi 200 feet from the hotel which had it available in the lobby, in our RV. We did't find WiFi in any of the camp grounds we stopped in. Camp grounds are not always that easy to find when you want to stop. (We drive across the US, at least once a year--often twice, as well as several trips North and South).
I probably would go with an air card or specific reciever from the phone company services for reliable internet contacts if traveling extensively.
Bob Austin
flrockytop
New member
I use cingular and had could connect via my phone while in the US for no additional charge to my phone bill. Once I got into Canada I was charged by the kb so did not use the phone as a modem. So once in Canada I searched out the WiFi spots. Of course the nice part of using the phone was that I could keep on rolling down the road and be connected. On our trip last year I used the phone continuously to update our position on the internet. I was connected about 8 hrs a day.
Many of the Hot Spots I used I did not know from where or whom I was using . They would just show up as default, Linksys, Belkin or such. I would just move by position a bit till I got a good reading. I bought a wireless device that plugs into a usb port. It is on a stand and has about a 5 foot cable. I put the device on my dash and could move it around a bit to improve the signal. I had no problem connecting at 400 to 500 feet. If I was in a location without a lot of interfering signals I could connect from a half a block away. At least once when I was out in the country I connected to router named "default" that I had no clue as to where it was located. I did no see a house or building anywhere.
My next toy for the rv is a directional antenna with a modest bit of gain. That will help cut down on unwanted signals but not be too difficult to point in the correct direction.
When I was in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, I was getting gas and noticed that WiFi spot showed up named "The Cutless Family Network". I looked across the street and the name Cutless on the mail box. The gentleman was outside watering the flowers. I just walk over and ask him if he would mind be connecting to his internet to check my email. He said no problem have at it. Everyone sure was friendly up there.
About half way through the trip, my son suggested that we try SKYPE. I bought a cheap mic and downloaded the program. I can't believe how well the voice over ip works. We would talk over the internet a couple of times a week. Now that was neat.
Roger
Many of the Hot Spots I used I did not know from where or whom I was using . They would just show up as default, Linksys, Belkin or such. I would just move by position a bit till I got a good reading. I bought a wireless device that plugs into a usb port. It is on a stand and has about a 5 foot cable. I put the device on my dash and could move it around a bit to improve the signal. I had no problem connecting at 400 to 500 feet. If I was in a location without a lot of interfering signals I could connect from a half a block away. At least once when I was out in the country I connected to router named "default" that I had no clue as to where it was located. I did no see a house or building anywhere.
My next toy for the rv is a directional antenna with a modest bit of gain. That will help cut down on unwanted signals but not be too difficult to point in the correct direction.
When I was in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, I was getting gas and noticed that WiFi spot showed up named "The Cutless Family Network". I looked across the street and the name Cutless on the mail box. The gentleman was outside watering the flowers. I just walk over and ask him if he would mind be connecting to his internet to check my email. He said no problem have at it. Everyone sure was friendly up there.
About half way through the trip, my son suggested that we try SKYPE. I bought a cheap mic and downloaded the program. I can't believe how well the voice over ip works. We would talk over the internet a couple of times a week. Now that was neat.
Roger
El and Bill
New member
Our Cingular AirCard works great almost everywhere. We hook to a WiFi hotspot when available for (sometimes) faster connection speed than with the air card, but the air card is reliable connecting almost anywhere. I'm sitting in Fisherman's Bay on Lopez Island in the San Juans and am connected.
In the most recent issue of PC world, there was some commentary about cell phone/data connections--and some companies moniter it. Voice over protocol is not allowed (it competes with the telephone business) and some have a limit of time or amount of data down loaded. These have not been as rigidly enforced in the past, as apparently they may be in the future.
flrockytop
New member
I have an unlimited data for an extra $19/ month.
Roger
Roger
I have to agree with Bob. After 3 years of free high speed internet access using my Verizon cell phone, regular minutes, and laptop, Verizon closed the back door to National Access. We're RV'ing with wireless hotspots and occasional glacially slow Verizon 14.4kbps data access or not much faster access using the phone as a modem and accessing our dialup account with ATT. 
:cry :cry
At least some RV parks and even State parks have wireless service, occasionally free. Oh well. One of these months Verizon will offer National Access on a monthly "feature" basis with no 2 year committment and all will be well again.
See y'all in Bellingham
Don
:cry :cry At least some RV parks and even State parks have wireless service, occasionally free. Oh well. One of these months Verizon will offer National Access on a monthly "feature" basis with no 2 year committment and all will be well again.
See y'all in Bellingham
Don