Escapees March/April 2016

nationwide coverage. For secondary coverage, either T-Mobile or Sprint are worth considering. T-Mobile is expanding rapidly, and offers awesome features such as “Binge On” unlimited video stream- ing and free high-speed roaming into Canada and Mexico. But they are still a distant third in coverage area. While you can ¿ nd affordable unlimited options on Sprint’s network, their coverage only makes sense if you are sticking to major metro areas. Especially for those dependent on connectivity, it actually makes sense to sign on with plans from two or even three carriers onboard.

use on a smartphone (and not shared), or network management practices that can slow speeds after only 20 to 25GB of usage a month or requiring jumping through hoops to obtain them. The other challenge with cellular data is pulling in a signal. Cellular boosters can provide a substantial improvement in signal quality and speed, especially in more areas. A roof-mounted antenna will have a better line-of-sight towards the nearest cell tower than any other device inside your RV. It is important to keep up with the latest technology as the carriers roll out newer frequencies and bands. You might be missing out on options for access if your cellular device is even one year old. Nationwide Carriers If you were living a stationary life, you could ask your neighbors for recommendations to determine which cellular carriers serve your local area best. All cellular providers have differ- ent plans, pricing, coverage areas and special features. As you travel, you will come to discover that, in different locations, different carriers excel.

Cellular Data

Cellular Internet

Cellular speeds, coverage and con- nection reliability have all improved dramatically over recent years, mak- ing cellular data usually the easiest and most reliable way online in most places across the U.S. Cellular data allows you access to the Internet anywhere your devices can receive a cellular signal from your carrier(s). More than likely, you are already carrying a cellular-equipped mobile Internet device (such as a smartphone, MiFi/Jetpack or tablet) with the capability of sharing its con- nection with your computers and other electronic devices.

Public and Campground WiFi

WiFi Hotspot

“Especially for those dependent on connec- tivity, it actually makes sense to keep plans from two or even three carriers onboard.”

Often the cheapest way to get online is to use public WiFi networks. Many libraries, coffee shops, RV parks, breweries, motels, municipal parks and even fast food restaurants now offer free WiFi. There are also plenty of paid WiFi networks to be found, such as Boingo and X ¿ nity. Though WiFi has the potential to be blazingly fast, a public WiFi hotspot is highly dependent upon its upstream source of Internet (cable, DSL, satel- lite, etc.) and on how many people are sharing that connection. Although you would think a campground that adver- tises “Free WiFi” as prominently as it does 50-A hookups would actually have worthwhile WiFi, this is often not the case. RV park WiFi is usually good enough for checking e-mail and doing

You need to do your homework to pick carriers and plans that are well suited to your needs. In the US, the four nationwide cellular carriers are: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint There are also several smaller brands available but these are regional networks lacking nationwide service or are third-party providers that buy service wholesale from one of the big networks. For most RVers, primary plans on Verizon’s and/or AT&T’s network will provide you with the largest

Most cellular data plans are priced based upon how much data you use so the bills can add up fast if you are not careful. Streaming video and software updates can quickly devour an entire monthly cellular data plan. If you think you’ll regularly need more than around 20GB of data per month, the long-term savings may make it well worth pursuing an unlim- ited cellular data option. There are still options for unlimited data on all of the carriers. However, many of these plans come with “got- chas” such as only being unlimited to

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