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Nothing here is copyrighted -- I'd be honored if you'd reuse anything here for your website
June 2011:
* If you're moving around a lot, looking for continuous access faster than dial-up and over an extended period of time, go to the menus above and check out Wireless Card, Laptop-Cellphone, PDA-Webphone, or (if you can afford it) Satellite. I think the Wireless Card is the best speed for the best price. There are now prepaid wireless cards that don't require a 2-year contract.
* Many travelers today have one of the new internet-ready cell phones, such as Blackberries, Droids or iPhones, so most of that info above is irrelevant for them.
* If you're like me, RVing occasionally and wanting high-speed access, but willing to forego the internet now and then, the most economical and reliable way to go is wireless internet (WiFi). As time goes on, I think there will be more and more WiFi HotSpots, some free and some charging, so this will become the preferred method for us occasional RVers (IMHO). In 2007, a charge of $5 per day or $20 per week seemed to be the most common. I seldom pay for mine anymore and tend to camp at places that advertise free WiFi.
* A note about WiFi: At many RV resorts, you'll find private individuals that have their broadband DSL or cable modem set up such that it can be accessed free with your WiFi card. Always check when you get parked to see if one of these freebies is available. Read about NetStumbler on my WiFi page - a free software package for finding WiFi HotSpots.
* Some regard using someone else's internet connection as illegal or at least unethical, but I feel that if they don't want to share, they can set the encryption key so a password is required for access. If they don't password-protect their connection, that seems to say that they don't care (IMHO).
* Here are a couple of useful links that I'm putting here so I don't lose them: To see what/where you're connected http://www.ip2location.com/; To see what your upload/download speeds are http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
* I just happened upon an article about the Verizon Mobile 4G Hotspot - look under the WiFi section for details.
* Also, for what it's worth, two more interesting links - not sure why you might need your IP address, but to find it go to http://www.ipmarker.com/ and to get the IP for a URL - http://www.ipmarker.com/domain-to-ip-lookup/.
November 2011:
* For those who travel a lot, need fairly continuous internet access, and don't mind spending $350, you might want to look into the Rogue Wave. The seller claims access to WiFi a mile away. I've never used/seen one, but got the info from Chuck Woodbury's newsletter, so it's probably good. Check it out on their website http://www.greatrvstuff.com/2011/10/rogue-wave-pulls-in-wifi-signals-from.html.
March 2012:
* Looks like the technology is passing me by. I've never used a Blackberry, Droid, or iPhone, but those and several others obviously provide sufficient internet access for people that can see the small screen and use the mini-keyboard. With that in mind, I'm going to stop updating the webphone and PDA sections of this website.
* As it turns out, I'm traveling very little in my RV these days, so have been satisfied with my laptop and finding WiFi connections to keep me online-on-the-road. Thus the website sections here on WiFi and Wireless Cards are still current, but some of the other sections have fallen behind technology. You'll find notes to that effect in appropriate sections.
March 2017:
* Well, I finally got a smart phone and yes, you can use it to get online almost anywhere. If I was still RVing and needed to update websites, etc., the phone wouldn't do it, so I guess some of the info here is still valid for RVers. However, I sold my last RV in 2013, so am going to stop updating here. For your entertainment, you might read my last RV-Blog entry "Wrapping Up RV-Blog and Travel Log"
Internet-On-The-Road (IOTR)
Internet On The Road is primarily intended for people traveling in RVs, but my be appropriate regardless of your mode of travel. It's also referred to as "Internet While Traveling" or "RV Internet" or "Mobile Internet". Have I forgotten any?
In 1968, I discovered computers. In 1984, I discovered RVs. In 1996, I discovered the internet. Since then, I've been spending much of my On-The-Road time trying to figure out the best way to use my computer in my RV to access the internet. In 1999, I created this website to pass along what I've learned. Hope you find it useful. ... Bob Hoffman, Webmaster (rjhoffman@yahoo.com)
I originally built most of the site in 2000, when dial-up was the primary method of access. When I was in Quartzsite, Arizona around New Year's 2000, I saw the RV pictured below and was intrigued by the fact that a person could spend a bunch of money on RV accessories, but still not have internet connection. That's when I built the following ... (Note updates below in 2003, 2006, 2011, & 2012)(and 2017)
Are You Equipped?
He looks equipped ...
Plenty of electricity!
Plenty of TV connection!
But No Internet Connection!
If you've got a laptop and an RV and are still using dial-up, then you probably just want to get some ideas on where/how to hook-up to a dial-up connection -- check out my Online On-The-Road Page!
In 2003, I discovered WiFi and made the following Update: HOLD EVERYTHING! If you've got a laptop and are looking for the best way to hookup on the road, check out my WiFi information! If there's a HotSpot nearby, that's the way to go! ALSO - Great news about cheaper Satellite Internet Access!
2006 Update: The technology is improving almost faster than I can update the site. Below, I'll include the latest news on internet-on-the-road, which I'll attempt to update frequently. Since I'm not able to test everything, some of this will be hearsay and I'll leave it to you to check further before spending your hard-earned dollars.
InternetOnTheRoad.com IS FOR SALE
For sales info and a list of other names that are currently for sale, visit Robert-Hoffman-Consulting.com.
Kindle
Allows you to store 1400 books in your RV without taking up any space. Then, you can read them and any PDF that you find online without needing to have your electricity on.
Great for Boondockers!
Ain't Technology
Great?
