5 Tips: FAST WIFI for RVers | Full-time living in a Winnebago

[@coorsleftfield]

My #1 tip is nice hotels. They have faster Wifi than libraries and you can get a drink at the bar. Just walk in like you own it, sit down and start working in the lounge. Can't remember every getting kicked out, especially if you buy a drink. This works at better 4 and 5 star hotels that have a bar. The bigger the hotel the better, because they won't know you are not a guest. I've stayed on the patio at the Marriott in Tampa for hours next to the water.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Great tip BW.. I have found library WiFi better, but can't compare to AWESOME pool view and mediocre Wifi with a cocktail :)

[@BraedenRoesler]

You can also use your phone with unlimited plan on cell phone as a hotspot. Phones these days mostly all have hotspot capacity from the phone itself. Sometimes it's a few bucks extra each month for the hotspot ability from your provider.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

If one isn’t consuming too much data that probably would work. I consume about 500GB or more In a month Thx for sharing

[@ohdag]

Hello Scott, another wonderful video. Please forgive me if this is a dumb question. I have never had an RV and you make me really want a Travato GL. In a previous video you mentioned you have the booster on your rig that amplifies the RV Park WiFi. Would this not work at say, the library? If sitting in their parking lot and can get a little signal would the booster pick that signal up and amplify that to work in your van? Thank you and please keep up the good work. Hope to see you on the road soon.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

You are right. but one would have to park literally next to the building to maybe pick up the signal. In my experience I'd prefer to be away from the front door and handicap parking to not call attention to myself. in the corner away from the building the wifi sucks, probably. I'd rather go inside the library, get great wifi, awesome A/C, charge everything up, go potty, and get my stuff done in a couple hours so I can get back into my rig and driveway to have some fun vs suffering heat and crappy wifi without powering up hotspot. hope that makes sense

[@ohdag]

Go Small. Live Large! Yes it makes sense. I wasn’t sure how well the device worked. Thanks for answering and have a wonderful weekend!

[@VanOlove]

We have a Pleasureway Lexor (also Ram Promaster), which we think has a slightly more comfortable floor plan and bed made more for a couple. Still, I am a loyal subscriber of yours because I get interesting general rv and vanlife specific info from your videos. But now I HAVE to ask, how can you leave that beautiful resort comparable back yard? I am asking seriously, because it is very difficult to pry my husband loose from our oceanview home in beautiful San Clemente, California.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Nothing wrong enjoying your beautiful ocean views from home. But, how many DIFFERENT ocean views await you from your comfortable RV? New views with delicious meals. New views with nice people. New sights, sounds and smells from a different perspective on the same ocean. New types of wildlife and natural scenery. For me, my heightened sense of curiously causes me to wonder what is around the next corner? That is why I travel, for what is around the corner. To learn what I didn’t know before. I know what is in my backyard, and it doesn’t change. Nothing new to learn there. Hope that helps a tad bit. Great topic for a video! Thanks for watching, commenting, and being transparent.

[@VanOlove]

Excellent response! Yup, this is exactly how I feel. But you say it better. : )

[@ChadandPaul]

We loved this video! Thanks for sharing. We use libraries a lot as they're always very welcoming and easy to find plugs/fast wifi! We just installed a cell booster/wifi in our van! The speed test we did was shocking!

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Thx guys. Looking forward to your vid on the cell booster

[@jerry8mm]

Great information, Scott.

[@Cleaner_Reborn]

Hi, What are your thoughts about using an external (roof top) cell phone booster to help the signal of your two hotspots, or potentially to use your cell phone as a hotspot (assuming you have decent data/unlimited plan) on your existing cell phone plan? At a minimum, you might be able to loose one of the redundant hotspots? Just an idea... Thanks for another informative video!

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Some RVers swear by the booster. I could probably use one too, but am to lazy to figure it out. I’m mostly in urban environments, so not a problem for me. If one is out in the boonies, might make more sense.

[@Cleaner_Reborn]

@@gosmall.livelarge Ahh I see. I just thought it might work for you as you might be able to do away with the recurring cost of one of your redundant LTE hotspots with a booster. But I know it's can be daunting to get started. Thanks for getting back to me!

[@ronwiejaczka8635]

Scott, thanks for letting us know about the app. Enjoy the backyard.

[@thegingerwalkabout1550]

It really is the biggest issue for those of us who work from the road. I have the same Verizon hotspot through a reseller I found through the Mobile Internet Resource Center www.rvmobileinternet.com/. Its truly unlimited data for $150 per month. Only problem is that its low on the service priority list so if the tower is busy it can get throttled to unusable. At that point I hotspot of my AT&T phone. Totally agree with the campground wifi comments. Out of all the RV parks and campgrounds I've been to only 2 had wifi that was usable. Journey on my Travato brother!

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Appreciate your great comment TGW

[@waynebersch9150]

Beautiful decorating job. Who’s the interior designer? You, Kyle, or 3rd party? Another great video too. I get into my Zen watching your vids.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

LOL. Thx Wayne. I’m the interior “decorator”. Which is your fave part of the decor?

[@crystalstevens5010]

Planet Fitness is also great for showers while on RV trips (except in Canada) to conserve fresh water. In addition, the hydromassage beds feel wonderful when you have been driving all day.

[@lbvaliq]

I already paused the video to download the Speedtest app BUT now I have to admit how low tech I the user am LOL I have a speed for upload and download but the app doesn't tell me what I should expect it to be. Are the speeds the same for both? Same for different circumstances? By the way, did you ever mention to Terry Minnix that connectivity is your worst problem in van life? I have written to you on other videos that I am trying to get his attention in solving this problem since he doesn't install ANY roof antennae. I thought maybe if he heard it from you as a representative of the "digital nomad" lifestyle he would get that this is a real issue-- cellular as well as internet.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Speedtest app simply measures the data through put on a Download (the first set of numbers) and then Upload (the second set of numbers). In most cases Download is faster than Upload. So you will likely see two different speeds. As for Embassy RV, yes the team is always looking to innovative ways to improve the customer’s RV experience. I get what you are saying.

[@CarnivoreFrank]

What kind of corporate job do you have that allows you to be mobile?

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Business Development / Sales

[@ToniAdventures]

Great tips Scott! Your backyard is gorgeous!!!

[@allgoodnow4884]

Are you traveling around town in the Travato? Really curious about the mobility and parking of having a Travato as my only vehicle. The hood is so low, ever misjudge the front distance and accidentally bump into something? Also what about those Winegard systems? I like to stream tv shows and movies. Good value for the money?

[@ctzerbe1]

I have never had the throttling on our 8800l Verizon prepaid plan you describe, but while we both work from the van and do some streaming etc... I doubt we come anywhere close to using 300 gb. That’s a lot of data.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Yeah between corporate job ( video conf) and KZbin I consume a lot of data. We all probably do just never notice until you’re running on the meter program. Ever fall asleep steaming Netflix as an example? One night of that error does me in ! Thx for comment !!

[@thesunnyspot508]

Hah! On public libraries, you said, "and then go somewhere more inspiring." Small town public libraries are a GREAT source of inspiration -- about the history of the locale, things to do, places to see. I love to get a feel for a new town that way. Of course the same could be said about the local brew pub :-)

[@StealthGTI]

Why get a hotspot if your phone has built-in hotspot? Isn't it the same? I ask as current VZW customer. I've avoided buying a hotspot since my phone can serve as a hotspot that's with me at all times already. Am I missing something? Does your phone not have that already? Obviously, if you need to diversify your networks to ensure connectivity, then it makes sense to have a hotspot on the carrier that you do NOT already have for voice. I guess I'm looking to learn more about this. Thanks!

[@ctzerbe1]

Most phone plans limit the data you can tether. My Verizon Mifi has no limits. Also many Mifi allow use of external antennas, which can greatly improve range and speed.

[@StealthGTI]

@@ctzerbe1 - Thanks for the explanation. I hadn't considered the possibility that hotspots might have an external antenna port. VZW's website doesn't show anything but the front and back of the unit... no side photos with ports. An external antenna is a game-changer. Thanks again.

[@christallavery1529]

Thanks for the tips. I use the Verizon jet pack went unlimited and have unlimited hotspot on Visible phone plan which is also a Verizon company which I have on a nano router. Huge difference in quality for me. I will be checking out planet fitness. I have limited att data as a back up. Will be subscribing and watching for your future tips and tricks for RV living.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Hi StealthGTi (love that name). Great comments from viewers below. Yeah, I'm using 300GB-500GB per month and that would bury my family mobile phone plan. Love the flexibility of the MiFi hotspot from Verzone,. Good point on network diversifiation... Verizon phone and MiFi, AT&T iPad and MiFi. My experience shows Verizon is superior in coverage and speed. Thx for the great question.

[@dennislyden7151]

I had the same question come to mind about just using the phone for the hotspot. I visited an AT&T store last week to research Mi-Fi options and they told me the trend is for customers to use the tethering capabilities of their phones, and that Mi-Fi demand is dropping. If this is really the case, the added cost of the Mi-Fi hardware and separate plan seems unnecessary? The only advantage I can possibly see in going with the Mi-Fi is that you can connect an external antenna system to help pull in weak cell signals, such as the Netgear 6000450 MIMO antenna. I was also surprized that cell booster/Wi-Fi extender products like Winegard were not mentioned?

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Hey Dennis. Yes for a quick tethers from my Macintosh notebook computer the ether feature is terrific. However, I'm using 300GB-500GB per month from the road on cellular (+external sources like libraries, and such) and that would bury my family mobile phone plan. Love the flexibility of the MiFi hotspot from Verzone,. Good point on network diversifiation... Verizon phone and MiFi, AT&T iPad and MiFi. My experience shows Verizon is superior in coverage and speed. Thx for the great question.

[@samuelspade889]

Al Gore has been reduced to living in a Winnebago.

[@gosmall.livelarge]

thanks, I think?! what else would he do with bazillions of dollars?!

[@lifeisshort-makeitsweet869]

What speed would be the lowest you would want to see?

[@gosmall.livelarge]

5-10 mbps up n down would be mins to be useful. But can suffer with as little as 2 up n down. Good question!

[@lifeisshort-makeitsweet869]

We were in this little town, at a McDonald's, in the bathroom, lol, I checked their speeds and it was unbelievably fast! Makes my residential speed look like it's about dead. So sad, but glad to now have an app to help me find "speed zones". Thanks.

[@shekharmoona544]

Are you hiring? I graduate in May from UNCW. LOL

[@gosmall.livelarge]

Not hiring currently. LOL

[@shekharmoona544]

Scott 2020!