Trip Notes - Internet access
Connect with the world from the road
Nov 2010
We have a couple of other techniques that we'll pull out when convenient: free WiFi on the laptop, or using our JEFATECH long range WiFi repeater- which tunes into a WiFi signal and boosts it for use either with a wired network, or it creates a private WiFi hotspot on the bus for our use. This is good when we're in an RV park with a poor signal, or parked along a residential street and John Doe is offering his internet service for free- since he failed to enable his wireless router security. (WiFi users take note!)
We rigged up an antenna mast that secures to the rear bus window when we're parked to get the 24" antenna up high enough to have a 360 degree view, and work optimally. We didn't mount it permanently because the antenna is rigid, and we can't go any higher than the 13' 4" that we already are when driving. The repeater was about $200, and there's no operating cost since it picks up public WiFi networks.
** Watch out! Using public WiFi for online purchases, checking bank accounts or anything with a password or sensitive information is crazy! We now know- after 2 credit cards were compromised and used for thousands of dollars in purchases- using a secure network is your best bet if you have to do business online. We use our MiFi for secure transactions, and public WiFi only for 'fun' stuff or research.
Want to learn more about RVing?
Read our Trip Notes and learn from our experiences- good & bad.
Trip Notes Index (click here)