WIFI

I've always laughed at the ones complaining about wifi in campgrounds. Realistically many rural campgrounds are extremely limited as to what can even be provided to them to begin with. Most high bandwidth networks are out of reach to rural campgrounds. Many are lucky if they have cable tv, Satelite is most times the only option.

Also the misconception of how wifi works. If you see it and connect to it, most likely it's working just fine. It's the bandwidth thats limited or nonexistent for you to use. Many don't consider the bandwidth needed to provide 40-60 users at the same given time to watch youtube, movies, etc. That type of bandwidth can be hard or extremely expensive to come by; by many campgrounds.

A true high bandwidth connection able to satisfy today's internet savy people, then have it transmitted via over the air through trees, campers, and terrain, may easily become a campgrounds highest startup and monthly expense. Oh, and then the campers don't want to pay for it either:h. If you really depend on the internet, I would suggest as others; 4G or LTE via tether.

Although many of these wifi complainers are the same ones who are upset there is not enough cable channels, or to many trees for there satelite dish etc. Maybe a campground is truely not the answer for these people. Maybe a parking lot or just staying inside "at home" would suit them better.;)just saying!

The problem with Wi-Fi is bandwidth and latency. A CG can be on a power pole tens of miles from a substation, using its own well, and having its own septic system.

However, Internet upstream access can get expensive because it requires a connection that not just handles a lot of traffic, but handles the traffic quickly, and usually one isn't going to get that unless the CG is sitting on a Verizon fiber run and Verizon chooses to split a connection from there, there isn't much a CG can do in the way of Wi-Fi, other than a relatively small connection.

Even with a good upstream, it takes a lot of equipment from routers to separate different areas into subnets, antennas powerful enough to get through the metal shells of most RVs, and other items such as an intrusion detection system (yes, there are those who will sit there and try hacking the CG just for grins since it gives them an anonymous drop for child pornography or other illegal stuff.)

The problem is that a CG faces two things. They can install all the network gear it takes to have a reliable signal and add a fee (which is going to take a while amortized by the relative few people using it), or have a bare-bones connection and not jack up rates.

Of course, the best solution would be to have all devices (laptop, tablet, printer, etc.) have the ability to use a LTE or 4G connection that is built in, so Wi-Fi is more of a nice thing to have than a must.

cdlaine wrote:
So,

the real answer is provide your own service, take the
Campground out of the equation ? Sounds reasonable to
me.

Charles

But if the answer is to provide my own service, and I am able to provide my own power, why do I need or want a campground? Might as well boondock, the scenery is better than most commercial campgrounds. ;) He!!, even WalMart has better scenery than most. :B

I agree with the OP, there needs to be a rating system. I read the reviews on RV Park Review, and when I review a campground the wifi figures prominently in my rating.

cdlaine wrote:
So,

the real answer is provide your own service, take the
Campground out of the equation ? Sounds reasonable to
me.

Charles

X2.

When you provide your own access it is a good connection.
When at a campground using theirs there may be 20-50-100 users and that is hard to manage usage. Greedy ones take up all the bandwidth.

Pogoil.

So,

the real answer is provide your own service, take the
Campground out of the equation ? Sounds reasonable to
me.

Charles

I agree with campground WiFi being unreliable. I also worry about how secure it is so depend on my "JetPac" from Verizon.

On this last trip, we stayed at a CG that had free wifi BUT you had to create and account, log in with account info, use their password at some point and were limited to 2 hours 2/day. UGH. That's too many clicks, IMO.

A lot of CG reviews on rvparkreviews mention the WiFi signal strength now. I wonder if you specifically ask for a site with a good WiFi signal, if a CG would try to accommodate?

I think that by using the term "Free WI-FI", the campgrounds are giving themselves an easy way out of guaranteeing you a good connection. By saying it is free and not a part of the paid-for amenities, they can tell you "it's free and not included in your expenses, so if it doesn't work, oh well. What do you expect for nothing?"

I use Verizon Wireless for my MIFI and I have AT&T for my iPad which I can use as a wireless hotspot if I need to. I have yet to visit a campground that I can't get at least one of these carriers.

Bruce

Three problems parks run into that they cannot control.

1. Often times they are limited as to how much bandwidth they can buy from provider. No more available.

2. Even if they could buy more, one or two trying to stream movies, music or skype slow it down for everyone else. One HD download movie equals millions of e=mails.

3. Often times the users device has a week antenna.

Pogoil.

seguin wrote:
I am really frustrated with ALL camping guides. They say the campground has WIFI but when you get there it only works at a few of the sites and if it does work at your site it is very slow. Am I alone on this? I feel that guide such as Trailer Life Directory should change their rating system to reflect whether the WIFI really works. Comments?

Your post is about camping guides. And you are right. They should downgrade those C/G's that charge for WIFI and those that offer free WIFI does not cover the campground.

I think most guides need to revise their rating systems. Give one star for each amenity they offer. In a little spreadsheet. Pool...one filled star. Add restrooms and showers...One more filled star...Not clean/inconvenient restrooms...an outline of a star...Play ground...outline star, NICE playground...Filled star, Groomed sites,,,filled in star, average site...unfilled star, Free WIFI...Unfilled star. GOOD FREE WIFI...filled star. And so forth.

They should have specific items rated. Not merely a numbered star or diamond system.

Several years ago, I stopped at an RV park in Mitchell, SD for a couple of nights and the owner asked if I needed WIFI, which they advertised. He assigned me a spot close to the office, explaining that some folks complained about the connection if they were farther away.
Turned out that the salesman just sold him the software for his office computer and didn't take into account the distance from some of the sites. I drove my toad around with my laptop and found out that about half way back, I lost signal. He called the sales guy and ordered a couple of repeaters installed. Took care of the problem. WIFI was so new back then, that nobody knew much about it. I had been the computer guru at my company before retiring, and had seen the problem in our larger offices. I wouldn't take any money for it, but we had a couple of beers together.