Yesterday’s camper was happy if they got two minutes of hot running water and a campfire pit. Today’s camper wants that — and 24/7 access to NetFlix.
For many years we have tried everything to provide good WiFi for our guests. We have been unsuccessful. We threw thousands of dollars at repeaters, extenders, modems, routers, antennae, professional installations, and satellite.
Frustrated, I slowly began to realize that we would never be successful and simply said we had no WiFi. This was better than receiving complaints.
I heard numerous times from guests who said they had a good signal from their outside picnic table but had no signal inside their rig. I learned through years of investigation that rigs sporting their own antenna mounted on the top of their camper had a great signal.
Your RV is essentially shielding you from outside WiFi signals (and other signals, too). While trees are bad for long-range WiFi, worse off are metals like aluminum and steel. Add to that the fiberglass, furniture and kitchen appliances in the camper and you have a recipe for poor reception.
The field of WiFi antennas, especially long-range WiFi, is a very narrow niche where even your “techie relative” will have a tough time making it work. If you think it’s difficult to understand WiFi for a millennial tech guru, imagine how the typical person comes to make important decisions regarding what antenna to use, what router, what cables and access points to install. Most campgrounds rely on someone they pay a hefty price to install the antenna network, and these companies don’t always source the best equipment either.
WHY WE DO NOT HAVE CAMPGROUND WIFI
Now that many cell phone providers are enabling WiFi calling and texting, we’ve reached a new frontier. A smartphone is now the Swiss Army Knife of electronics. So just follow these simple steps, and you will enjoy a richer 21st-Century camping experience. Campground WiFi is suddenly “old school!” Who would’ve thought?
1. If you think your cell phone is sufficient for your “net” needs, you’re good.
2. If you want the option of getting a tremendously better signal at campgrounds that have WiFi, then do yourself a favor and get a good outside receiver antenna. You can find them online. We recommend the Alfa Wifi Camp Pro 2 Long Range Wifi Repeater Kit R36a + Tube Booster. The WiFi CampPro 2 is professionally designed to receive remote weak WiFi signals and enhance it to make your own hotspot for Internet access. WiFi CampPro 2 is ideal to use on boats, RVs and camping sites, or public areas without physical cable for Internet access. They run around $35 and are easily installed, enhance your rig’s value and are omnidirectional. You don’t have to point it at the source.
3. If you are at the Pegasus Farm Campground and do not want to use your smart phone’s data usage, there are some good WiFi public places. McDonald’s has the best WiFi. Mama Mia Pie & Pasta not only has WiFi but authentic Italian food. Both places are in your welcome package when you make an online reservation with Pegasus Farm Campground.
So be nice to your friendly campground staff in any campground, it’s not their fault you can’t stream the latest Game of Thrones episode.