Campground WiFi

Bill.Satellite wrote:
They have not installed them because a "good" system is very expensive. Even if they can get the system setup to properly share the signal with everyone, the service is often not available to the campground itself or if it is can be very expensive to purchase enough bandwidth to serve everyone. Lastly, there are the bandwidth hogs who believe they are somehow entitled to do whatever they want on whatever connection they have which bogs the system down for everyone else.
Now, as to a long range antenna, I think you will be very disappointed if you try to find an antenna that will get you to those hot spots "miles" away. There are some very sophisticated Yagi style antennas that will have to be manually pointed in the appropriate direction (if you can figure out the right direction) that will get you a mile out or so but most of the omni directional antennas like a Bullet will simply make the local wifi one that will not drop out or possibly bring in a nearby (1/4 mile or so) that doesn't currently show up.
If you do find something, please be sure to post back.

Bill has it right. bandwidth, Bandwidth, BANDWIDTH. No matter how much the park provides, newer applications, bigger and better games, and more streaming video and movie downloads only make problems worse. Many parks have tried to stay ahead of the ball and find they can't no matter how much they try or how much they spend. Even if they make major improvements, the results are only temporary until their password gets out and everyone finds out about the "good service".

Solutions are to pay for the service separately through Verizon or other providers, or to buy a satellite service like Hughes or others. None of these are 100% satisfactory however, as coverage varies widely with the Verizon's and Sprint's. Satellite setups need you on the right satellite, as the 89W bird is no good in Alaska and 127W won't work in Maine. Service on the satellites slows during high usage times and is much slower than the big city access. Check the access maps and then take them with a grain of salt. We go many places like west Texas, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska where there's no Verizon or any other cell service at all, let alone fast and reliable.

Decide WHAT you want to use it for, Where you want to be WHEN you use it, and HOW MUCH you're willing to pay. Pick what fits your lifestyle and location, but don't hold your breath waiting for RV park WIFI to be fast, available, and free. It'll never happen and signal boosters won't solve any of these problems when the bandwidth is the issue.