10-25-2016, 11:43 AM
It would help to know what your minimum speed and data requirements are. There are no mobile alternatives that compete with cable. Satellite has a delay that can really slow down secure transmissions (lots of packets to move back and forth 23,000 miles up to the satellite and 23,000 miles back down).
It is also helpful to know where you typically go in your RV. If you spend a lot of time in heavily wooded areas, satellite internet will not be very successful. If you spend most of your time in areas close to interstate highways, 4G service may be a better option. If you spend a great deal of time in the western U.S. a low way from major metropolitan areas or interstate highways, 4G may not work for you. The equipment costs can be brutal on high speed (read LARGE) satellite dishes with high power transmitters.
WiFi will be an issue frequently if you need high speed and large data capacities. On a recent trip from Texas to Florida, I found the parks I stayed in had WiFi suitable for browsing but some even stated in their brochures that streaming and large data usage was not allowed.
For the casual internet user, WiFi and cellular are typically the most cost effective solutions. For very heavy users, especially those that need a high speed connection for work purposes, WiFi is typically a non-starter (with a few exceptions) and cellular will work only if you stay in or near populated areas or interstate highways with 4G and can live within their data limits (Verizon is $450/month for 100GB/month unless you happen to have one of the old grandfathered 'unlimited' data accounts which will disappear or be restricted one of these days).
It is also helpful to know where you typically go in your RV. If you spend a lot of time in heavily wooded areas, satellite internet will not be very successful. If you spend most of your time in areas close to interstate highways, 4G service may be a better option. If you spend a great deal of time in the western U.S. a low way from major metropolitan areas or interstate highways, 4G may not work for you. The equipment costs can be brutal on high speed (read LARGE) satellite dishes with high power transmitters.
WiFi will be an issue frequently if you need high speed and large data capacities. On a recent trip from Texas to Florida, I found the parks I stayed in had WiFi suitable for browsing but some even stated in their brochures that streaming and large data usage was not allowed.
For the casual internet user, WiFi and cellular are typically the most cost effective solutions. For very heavy users, especially those that need a high speed connection for work purposes, WiFi is typically a non-starter (with a few exceptions) and cellular will work only if you stay in or near populated areas or interstate highways with 4G and can live within their data limits (Verizon is $450/month for 100GB/month unless you happen to have one of the old grandfathered 'unlimited' data accounts which will disappear or be restricted one of these days).