I'm a relatively new RVer and was kind of forced into the situation. I won't bore anyone with any of the insane year long details that have lead up to this point; let's just say through some miscalculations I was screwed by someone I had trusted.Me and my family (wife and 2 kids). Are currently living in an RV over in Palmer, Alaska in an RV park. My main job is actually from home, I don't make a whole lot of money per month; $10.50/hr. But it allows me to be close to my family, saves on gas and allows us to have some freedom to do things with the kiddos more often. The problem I'm having currently though is internet.As many long time RVers know, the internet at most RV parks is absolutely abysmal. If they aren't using domestic routers, they're using domestic wifi extenders and sufficiently poor internet plans. It's just something as an RVer I guess we've come to some what expect and just hope eventually they'll get a clue to start upgrading. Because I work from home I use about 2GB of data a day at minimum, talking on the phone, video conferencing, downloading various files for inspection and uploading data to servers. I for the life of me, just can't seem to find a reliable way to get internet to this little RV. I'm at a loss, I've spent weeks on this problem and it's starting to look like I may have to give up the job I've held for 3+ years and love. Just because of internet. Can ANYONE out there offer any advice on anything I can do for internet out here that's at least going to give me 2mbps download (so I can work). For a reasonable price? The cheapest thing I could find would end up costing me $700/mo at minimum for the amount of data I use. It's just insane we still have data caps in 2015.

What cell phone companies cover your location?Is there more than one cell phone company covering the area?Would 3g (400 kbps) be fast enough? Is 3g still available on the local tower?There are routers which will combine more than one source of internet boosting the speed. Cradlepoint makes one (or more). There are some folks offering 3g devices with unlimited data at $15 per month.There should be no need to use the internet bandwidth for the phone. Use a cell phone for voice only.T-Mobile does offer unlimited data with 4G LTE in Palmer. Does it cover the campground?

Does the local phone company or cable company offer service to campground residents?If so, see what kind (speed) of internet service they can provide? That would truly be your most effective way to get unlimited data at a decent speed and price.

Even if the RV park had 100GB service, bandwidth is going to be an issue if the park is full and with many uses bandwidth intensive applications like streaming.You mentioned uploading. That is going to be your limiting factor in most cases because many high speed plans still have relatively low upload speeds altough that is changing. If you live at a fixed location, getting your own internet service is your best choice. Worse case, maybe the second line would have to come in to the RV park office but you put your own router there. Being nice to management always helps. The newest Apple Extreme has a directional feature that would help if you are close to the office. You could combine with a booster if necessary.

Does your company you work for provide any help for this. My neighbor works at home and his company setup all of his internet for him including VPN etc...If this is your legal verified and licensed company should be write-off for you perhaps...Of course this area is fed by a cable company but his company had him setup with the fasted and biggest data package the cable company had at no cost to the neighbor.We get by just fine on around 3GB MONTHLY data plan here but its only for checking in with the kids, paying a few bills, and doing a minimum surfing of the internet using a VERIZON MIFI DATA PLAN. 3GB a day is going to be hard to find nowdays... Curious what you come up with...Roy Ken

2GB a day 5 days a week is only 40GB/month if you can keep control of your usage when you are not working then a 50GB/month plan from Verizon, while not cheap, should work. It costs $300/month and it is shared data so you could package a MiFi and all the phones into that data package. You just pay the extra access fee for each device (which you are already paying). The problem is that us lower 48ers have no idea what service providers are available in your area. If you stay in one place, is there an internet provider that will run DSL, cable modem or OTA internet to your location?

Need internet advice | Good Sam Community

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nov 01, 2015
What cell phone companies cover your location?

Is there more than one cell phone company covering the area?

Would 3g (400 kbps) be fast enough?

Is 3g still available on the local tower?

There are routers which will combine more than one source of internet boosting the speed. Cradlepoint makes one (or more). There are some folks offering 3g devices with unlimited data at $15 per month.

There should be no need to use the internet bandwidth for the phone. Use a cell phone for voice only.

T-Mobile does offer unlimited data with 4G LTE in Palmer. Does it cover the campground?
jcpainter
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Does the local phone company or cable company offer service to campground residents?

If so, see what kind (speed) of internet service they can provide? That would truly be your most effective way to get unlimited data at a decent speed and price.
OutdoorPhotogra
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
Even if the RV park had 100GB service, bandwidth is going to be an issue if the park is full and with many uses bandwidth intensive applications like streaming.

You mentioned uploading. That is going to be your limiting factor in most cases because many high speed plans still have relatively low upload speeds altough that is changing. If you live at a fixed location, getting your own internet service is your best choice. Worse case, maybe the second line would have to come in to the RV park office but you put your own router there. Being nice to management always helps. The newest Apple Extreme has a directional feature that would help if you are close to the office. You could combine with a booster if necessary.
RoyB
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2015
Does your company you work for provide any help for this. My neighbor works at home and his company setup all of his internet for him including VPN etc...

If this is your legal verified and licensed company should be write-off for you perhaps...

Of course this area is fed by a cable company but his company had him setup with the fasted and biggest data package the cable company had at no cost to the neighbor.

We get by just fine on around 3GB MONTHLY data plan here but its only for checking in with the kids, paying a few bills, and doing a minimum surfing of the internet using a VERIZON MIFI DATA PLAN.

3GB a day is going to be hard to find nowdays... Curious what you come up with...

Roy Ken
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2015
2GB a day 5 days a week is only 40GB/month if you can keep control of your usage when you are not working then a 50GB/month plan from Verizon, while not cheap, should work. It costs $300/month and it is shared data so you could package a MiFi and all the phones into that data package. You just pay the extra access fee for each device (which you are already paying). The problem is that us lower 48ers have no idea what service providers are available in your area. If you stay in one place, is there an internet provider that will run DSL, cable modem or OTA internet to your location?
joebedford
Nomad II
Nov 01, 2015
Even though Palmer AK is a small town, there is a provider (MTA) that seems to have pretty good business internet. Why can't you use them? 10M/2M for $100 / month seems like not a bad deal.
Vulcan_Rider
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
TheStuntman wrote:
I'm a relatively new RVer and was kind of forced into the situation. I won't bore anyone with any of the insane year long details that have lead up to this point;

Well this discussion is going to be pretty pointless unless you tell us what you have tried and ruled out....and why.

Otherwise we could spend a week just suggesting things that you already know won't work for you.
4X4Dodger
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
2GB a day 5 days a week is only 40GB/month if you can keep control of your usage when you are not working then a 50GB/month plan from Verizon, while not cheap, should work. It costs $300/month and it is shared data so you could package a MiFi and all the phones into that data package. You just pay the extra access fee for each device (which you are already paying). The problem is that us lower 48ers have no idea what service providers are available in your area. If you stay in one place, is there an internet provider that will run DSL, cable modem or OTA internet to your location?

Lets see. The OP said he was paid $10.50/Hr assuming 40 hrs/week that is $420 per month.

Please explain how he is to afford $300/month for internet?
strollin
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
4X4Dodger wrote:
... Lets see. The OP said he was paid $10.50/Hr assuming 40 hrs/week that is $420 per month.

Please explain how he is to afford $300/month for internet?

I think you mean $420 per WEEK, not month. :B

Maybe the company he works for will cover all or at least part of the cost of a reliable internet connection. I work from home and my company allows $50/month toward my internet connection.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Nov 01, 2015
TheStuntman wrote:

As many long time RVers know, the internet at most RV parks is absolutely abysmal. If they aren't using domestic routers, they're using domestic wifi extenders and sufficiently poor internet plans. It's just something as an RVer I guess we've come to some what expect and just hope eventually they'll get a clue to start upgrading.

Because I work from home I use about 2GB of data a day at minimum, talking on the phone, video conferencing, downloading various files for inspection and uploading data to servers. I for the life of me, just can't seem to find a reliable way to get internet to this little RV. I'm at a loss, I've spent weeks on this problem and it's starting to look like I may have to give up the job I've held for 3+ years and love. Just because of internet.

Can ANYONE out there offer any advice on anything I can do for internet out here that's at least going to give me 2mbps download (so I can work). For a reasonable price?

The cheapest thing I could find would end up costing me $700/mo at minimum for the amount of data I use. It's just insane we still have data caps in 2015.
Blaming the RV park because you have a business need for a lot of Wifi bandwidth is wrong. Just because you want unlimited bandwidth doesn't mean the cellular companies are going to provide it. There are data caps because those cellular companies see it as the best business model.
If you are staying at a park long term, get with the park management and see about getting your own internet service. We don't have long term stays, but I know we wouldn't have a problem if a guest wanted to pay to bring in their own internet service either thru a DSL line run to their site or through the local Wisp (wireless internet service provider which would provide you with 20/10 speed for $99.00 a month and require no wiring other than a small antenna and a Ethernet cable from the antenna to your router). I think you will find there are options, but you are going to have to take the lead. Your business needs are not really your landlord's problems.

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