park wifi woes

How do large hotels that offer guest Wifi manage? Hundreds of rooms and the Wifi works great.

In my office, we have a single Fios line (500/100) for less than $500/mo with nearly 200 people hooked up. Service flies.

How do these examples differ significantly from the typical CG with 100-200 sites? ASSUMING that they have access to broadband service, of course. The CG we frequent has access to BOTH high speed cable and Fios service. They also have a terrific wifi network throughout the CG where you can easily get a strong wifi signal ANYWHERE. HOWEVER, they offer only TengoInternet over wifi, which is legendary for their dreadful service. The obviously spent a fortune on infrastructure, but are using dime-store service! Hook up a 500/100 broadband pipe and start charging for the service, with a login assigned to peeps who pay. If half the sites (100) sign up for half the days each month, cost would be 33 cents per day. The big chunk of $$$$ has already been spent on the park infrastructure!

dclark1946 wrote:

paulcardoza wrote:
Again, you are thinking in 20th century terms! There are broadband options widely available today that would allow loads of people to stream video.

nazpaz wrote:
I don't see how a campground can win. If they spend the money to provide a good internet then a few people will want to stream Netflix and ruin the connect for other users. If they don't spend the money people will complain about the pitiful internet connect.

In the long run, I think people will solve the problem on their own, either using their phone's data or go with a solution like millinicom.

Please explain more on the type of system that will allow many users to stream video.

Dick

2gypsies wrote:
I would guess that nowdays most people have their own individualized ways of connecting and they don't rely on park wifi. Park wifi is not meant to stream movies, etc. It was put into place years ago for email. For a park to upgrade to a strong system to allow everyone to stream would be cost prohibited. I can see it going away completely.

yup. The fav CG's I stay at when traveling north to south on the same route have dropped their wifi attempt after so many complaints and now just have a computer in the office for campers to use to get their emails if needed. Of course there is a time limit on the use. A couple of these CG owners put some of the blame on inconsiderate campers that used it for gaming, streaming, etc.

Starbucks

I would guess that nowdays most people have their own individualized ways of connecting and they don't rely on park wifi. Park wifi is not meant to stream movies, etc. It was put into place years ago for email. For a park to upgrade to a strong system to allow everyone to stream would be cost prohibited. I can see it going away completely.

paulcardoza wrote:
Again, you are thinking in 20th century terms! There are broadband options widely available today that would allow loads of people to stream video.

nazpaz wrote:
I don't see how a campground can win. If they spend the money to provide a good internet then a few people will want to stream Netflix and ruin the connect for other users. If they don't spend the money people will complain about the pitiful internet connect.

In the long run, I think people will solve the problem on their own, either using their phone's data or go with a solution like millinicom.

Please explain more on the type of system that will allow many users to stream video.

Dick

I am using the Straight Talk wifi hotspot and am happy with it. Verizon towers.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
We Full Timed for 7 yrs.
We are not real tech savvy......didn't have cell phones until we hit the road.

And yet we were able to connect just about everywhere.
Verizon Air Card.....click...done. Sometimes we needed a little help due to distance to tower...Wilson Antenna. Click..done

No expensive phones, no fancy equipment, no high costs.
And no using/dependance on CG WiFi that are worst than old dial up.

Ditto X10!

Full timed here too. Bought a Sprint Mobile USB BroadBand in 2004. Still using the same equipment! UNLIMITED data for 65.00 a month.

I have never been without internet connection thru out my travels. Use the computer where ever I am at by simply plugging in a usb stick. No tying into my phone, mifi or whatever.

I too like the idea of campgrounds giving up on providing WiFi. Unfortunately, however, they would continue to charge like they had the service.
I hate to pay for something that I don't use such as bathrooms and pools but such is life in the camping world.

Mike

I believe that the main problem is that just about ALL campgrounds would need to provide quality WiFi, with no restrictions, to all sites, one way or the other, or I will still need to carry my MiFi. It will do no good if I can get great WiFi at 75% of the campgrounds I want to use. I need it at ALL of them, including the city, state and federal parks.

I agree with someone who already said that the best solution is to just carry your own. Isn't that what we already do in our own homes ?

I really think the campgrounds should just give up on the whole idea. I don't see how it can possibly work.

Tim

paulcardoza wrote:
Again, you are thinking in 20th century terms! There are broadband options widely available today that would allow loads of people to stream video.

I don't think so but perhaps you know more about it than I do. I'm thinking that a campground WiFi router can only carry so much capacity before it's saturated. Maybe you are thinking that campground should provide individual broadband connects to each campsite? If so, I accept the premise that it's technically possible but I doubt that it's practical. Either way, I respect your point of view and it's really neither here or there with me as I use my phone for a hotspot when necessary.