Newbie boondocker seeks LTVA with internet
Hi. I've been a fulltimer park rat for a couple years, but will start boondocking this winter in southwest US. I just installed 960 watts of PV panels and 830AH batt bank and amps for cell and wifi. A...
Forum Discussion
outwestbound wrote:
I suspect many are responding for typical BLM land...
I don't know (nor need to know) your reasons for the LTVA but there are MANY options in the west (BLM, National Forest, Bureau of Reclamation, etc.). It often takes a few years to sort of figure out what one likes so, my suggestion, keep your options open and do some experimentation.
outwestbound wrote:
For cellular, I have Verizon's unlimited, which throttles me to 3G after 10GB of LTE, which is ok I guess, since much of what I'd receive is 3G anyway (I assume).
On Verizon, if I have a reasonable signal it is 4G. If signal is very weak it will likely be 3G (in my experience).
outwestbound wrote:
I suspect I'd be fine in "BLM" areas with just my 4" stuffy antenna. BUT (and I'm not sure yet), I suspect that if I'm in LTVA areas, that I'll end up with a pole rig antenna like yours.
I would bet nearly the opposite. The LTVA's are all near some amount of population/Interstate (= reasonable cell signal) - you probably won't need an amplifier nor external antenna to have good signal. The times I have had to really fight for a signal is when many miles from anything (town, Interstate, main highway, etc..) or in a canyon.
outwestbound wrote:
Is your pole mounted antenna directional or omnidirectional?
Omni. One could put more work into a solution than I have but I too am lazy. The pole is one of the fiberglass shafts used for wind kite things (http://jdfinley.com/cellular-data-antenna/).
