Snowbirding – Mixed Signals
November 22, 2022
I’m livin’ the dream. Gary has assumed responsibility for most of the care and feeding of our home on wheels. He often even helps with the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Although he taught me how to drive the coach in case the need arises, it is he who keeps us safe as we traverse hazardous roads that I unwittingly included in the route I laid out, often comprised of mere slivers of winding pavement.
Gary is easy going and easy to please… except when all other sources of entertainment have been exhausted and he does not have access to the Internet. Then he is like a caged animal. Obviously, it is in our best interest (especially mine) to ensure that never happens.
We have been in situations where we could connect to Wi-Fi with no access to internet. What does that even mean? I learned that the terms Wi-Fi and internet are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing at all.
Wi-Fi specifically refers to wireless connectivity using local area network technology. This makes it useful for connecting computers, smartphones, printers, and other devices to a common local network. Wi-Fi is a direct replacement for connecting devices via ethernet cables.
The internet, on the other hand, is a global system of connected networks. The way we connect to the global network is by using an internet service provider (ISP), a company that sells you a slice of their network and their connection to other networks. ISPs then pay to connect to other ISPs and to global internet exchange points.
So, when we say we are looking for “Wi-Fi” we are actually looking for internet access.
To complicate matters, cellular data uses the satellite communication methods that are used to connect cell phone calls. These transmissions can be converted to internet data signals and back, which is what allows you to do things like check your email on a smart phone without being connected to the internet via Wi-Fi.
A “hotspot” also uses cellular data. When you’re using a “hotspot,” it transmits data signals from your computer to your phone, and from your phone to the internet and back via cellular data. Hotspots are different than Wi-Fi in this respect, although you might see the two words misleadingly combined or switched.
National cell networks offer slower connection speeds than the average home internet Wi-Fi and using a lot of cellular data can be expensive. But when the only available way to access the internet is by using your cell phone as a “hotspot” it may be worth the cost.
Cellular phone service and the Internet are now relied on by almost everyone. They allow us to stay in touch with those we love and keep informed about what is going on in the world around us. We use the Internet to find the way to places we want to be and to look for answers to our questions. It is used to stream sporting events and other entertainment. We can shop, pay our bills, and keep track of our finances online. Some of us use it for study purposes. It may even be required to find and maintain employment.
The absence of reliable internet access is probably the most common complaint associated with life in an RV. We thought we had overcome that problem by having an affordable cell phone plan that provides unlimited roaming and gives us access to a combined total of 200 gigabytes of data each month. When “Wi-Fi” is not available we are able to use one of our phones as a hotspot, providing our laptops, televisions, and eReader with wireless connection to the internet. The amount of data available also allows us to stream sporting events and movies, although we must be vigilant because of the large amount of data that streaming consumes. Of course, whenever free or low-cost “Wi-Fi” is available we use that instead of setting up a hotspot and eating up data.
Unfortunately, to our surprise we occasionally find ourselves in locations where there is no cellular service. The first time was at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort. Fortunately, we were able to subscribe to a week of “Wi-Fi” for the four days we were there. I was then able to connect to the internet using either my laptop or cell phone whenever I chose, but Gary couldn’t get his phone to connect at all. Strange. To keep him from going through withdrawal pains I suggested he use my phone while I stuck to my laptop and eReader. Still, in the absence of cellular service neither of us could send or receive phones calls or texts. (I have since learned that we could have enabled our phones to use Wi-Fi calling, but that wasn’t our primary concern at the time.)
A few days ago, we were at Rancho Oso RV and Camping resort near Santa Barbara. The weather was perfect, and the amenities attractive, but cell service was once again illusive. A connection could be made only intermittently and if we were standing in the middle of the road holding our phones and mouths in a certain way. Setting up a hotspot was out of the question.
As is often the case at Thousand Trails RV parks, “Wi-Fi” was available only in the clubhouse, although a system is currently being installed that will make it available to the entire park. We headed to the clubhouse, where I enjoyed uninterrupted internet access on my laptop. However, the connection was unstable when we tried to use it on either of our phones. Fortunately, before we left home, I had downloaded things we could watch and listen to, and we were not left without something to do that evening.
A motorhome can become a real money pit. The Internet is replete with websites and videos selling “must haves” and solutions to every conceivable problem that might arise. When looking for answers to the most basic questions that every new owner has, hearing about cell phone boosters was unavoidable.
A cell phone booster is comprised of a combination of strategically placed antennas that pick up weak signals from the nearest cell tower, then amplify the signal and direct it where it’s needed, whether in your home or vehicle. The booster allows the signal to bypass any potential barriers, such as trees, buildings, or other environmental or man-made blockers. It is designed to enhance call quality, signal strength, and data speeds. This in turn increases the likelihood of setting up a reliable “hot spot.” All that is required is access to the roof of the building or vehicle in which the signal boost is needed.
I Googled the question, “Are cell phone boosters useful when there is no signal.” The answer is, “If there is no signal at all, a cell signal booster won’t do anything for you. There has to be at least a trace of a signal outside your home in order for the booster to work.”
So, while a cell phone booster won’t overcome every problem we might encounter with cellular service, the possibility that it could be of some use warranted further investigation.
I learned that cell phone signal boosters in the USA range in price from around $200 to well over $1,000. The best signal boosters cost more than some others, but the most expensive models aren’t necessarily the best.
Earlier in our travels we had been parked at San Benito, Paicines, CA. It is an interesting Thousand Trails RV Park, where deer and wild pigs wander freely. There was a number to call for “Wi-Fi” service, but we were asked to leave a message and the message box was already full. Fortunately, we had cell service and could set up a hotspot.
While walking around the park we encountered a couple who have been full-time RVers for 13 years. For the first 10 years they lived in a 5th wheel, but now they have a lovely 45 ft diesel coach. In conversation Gary learned they have Starlink for RVs, developed by SpaceX which was formed by entrepreneur Elon Musk. They choose to attach the satellite dish to stand above the roof whenever they park, feeding the electrical cord through a bedroom window. It can also simply be placed on the ground or a table, but the higher it stands the less likely there are to be things blocking the signal. When pointed north, it finds the appropriate satellite. They said they have access to one terabyte (1000 gigabytes) of data. This allows them to stream whatever they choose and still have a lot of data remaining. More than they can use.
We were told Starlink for RVs is available only at Starlink.com. On the website we learned there is a one-time hardware cost of CA$759 and a monthly service fee of CA$170 that can be paused when you’re not on the road. Currently there is 1 month of free service until New Years, and if you are not satisfied with Starlink for RVs after up to 30 days you can return the hardware of a full refund of its costs.
The Standard Starlink for RVs (as opposed to the new Flat High Performance Starlink for in-motion use) ships immediately and arrives with everything you need to get online in a matter of minutes.
(Starlink Residential is aimed at customers needing home internet. The hardware is identical, but there are some major differences with features, performance, and availability. At this juncture, moving your Starlink Residential dish to a second location will not provide you with internet access.)
What are the disadvantages of Starlink? Starlink can only provide a finite amount of bandwidth hence there will be slower internet speeds as the number of users increase. This is not feasible for high-density areas and Starlink is thus better for rural areas with minimal users.
We are conducting a cost-benefit analysis to determine how long such a system would take to pay for itself compared to the cost of our current cell phone plan which, while not perfect, has so far proven to be adequate except for the rare occasion when there is no cellular service AND no access to “Wi-Fi.” Time will tell. Meanwhile, I must concentrate on ways to keep Gary happy. 😊