WiFi In Parks - A Worthy Project

When we came out on the road, we decided we wanted Internet Service! We bought a connection and paid a monthly fee... ATT and it didn't work well so after two years we changed to Verizon and have loved the service. It cost but the service is worth it. Until my wife got a Kindle Fire I was spending too much for Internet! Now she arranged the Hot Spot and we both use it for $10.00 a month less than before and no more complaint about the cost.
We are very happy. We have always been independent and do not expect a CG operator to provide Internet. If one wants it, one should pay for it!!!!!

Good Luck and Happy Trails

Jim Shoe wrote:
I talked with a CG operator in SD once that was moaning to me about his system. He had to ask campers if they needed WIFI and if so, he had to give them a site close to the office. The installer only installed WIFI on the server in the office. So I drove my toad around the CG with my laptop until he had a map of how far the signal carried, so he could order repeaters.
This was in 2005, so I imagine the equipment has gotten more powerful since then.

Actually, equipment has not gotten more powerful, since signal transmission power is limited by federal law as far as the campground's radio transmitters are concerned and most devices have had their radio transmitter's power decreased by the manufacturer so that the batteries last longer. We see many examples where a two or three year old laptop will work perfectly while a brand new tablet or smartphone cannot communicate with the access points at all. Two way street, the signal has to go both from and to the access point for wifi to function. Problem with either, nothing happens. Dick A is correct, it used to be important to know whether or not a park had wifi, now with some many people using mifi and other cell based wifi services, combined with the fact that almost any park that can install wifi has, it is very rare to encounter a situation where wifi is not available, yet could be. Many remote locations will continue to be wifi-less because there is no practical way to provide it.

I talked with a CG operator in SD once that was moaning to me about his system. He had to ask campers if they needed WIFI and if so, he had to give them a site close to the office. The installer only installed WIFI on the server in the office. So I drove my toad around the CG with my laptop until he had a map of how far the signal carried, so he could order repeaters.
This was in 2005, so I imagine the equipment has gotten more powerful since then.

Two forum moderators including this one kept a list of campgrounds and rest areas who had installed WiFi systems starting around 2005. We kept the list updated as a sticky in the campground forum for several years. We discontinued the list a few years ago as WiFi became available at the majority of RV parks, the majority of rest areas, and many state and federal campgrounds.

Thirteen posters in 3 1/2 years. Don't think it is going to catch on. Most of the posts were from 2009. If the park hasn't upgraded, what was fine then will most likely be unacceptable today. Going to be awfully limited in your travels if you only use the parks listed.

The use of "parks" is a loose one- I think it'll be mostly private ones.

As for putting it in taxpayer-supported Parks:

If there's money to spare in the system, I'd rather see it "spent" by getting rid of day use/entry fees!

lgarcia wrote:
Thanks! Small list thus far, so I hope this gets the word out.

While it would be nice to camp to get a way from it all, WiFi is necessary as I need to be online for my job. My job is what enables me to camp. And camping is what enables me to do my job with a smile on my face.

I am in the same boat as your are re; work beckons "off and on" and knowing that I can get a good WiFi signal certainly helps, especially knowing ahead of time!

WoodGlue

Thanks! Small list thus far, so I hope this gets the word out.

While it would be nice to camp to get a way from it all, WiFi is necessary as I need to be online for my job. My job is what enables me to camp. And camping is what enables me to do my job with a smile on my face.