Misleading Wi-Fi Claims, Wi-Fi Ain't Always Useful Wi-Fi Options

[Intheknow]

Beastdriver,

I do this for a living, so every point I brought up was valid.

Now, Im not saying that there aren't parks that offer shotty Wifi service because there are. But, in our case, we have an average of 3-4 high gain antennas in the best locations around the parks, sitting anywhere from 10 to 15 feet above ground throughout our parks.

I still get calls daily about connectivity issues, and its not because we are using junk equipment.

"could get a signal from up to a mile away depending on the antennas you use and environmental conditions"

That is a very powerful statement and my exact point.

If you are using a 20mw wifi transceiver sitting inside your RV that has insulation, a steel frame, aluminum/fiberglass shell, 500 feet away from the wifi access point thats where those pesky "antenna you use and environmental factors" factor in.

Plus other environmental factor are, how many RVs are around you? Do you have a microwave oven in your RV? How about a cordless phone that operates on the 2.4Ghz band? All of which are instances of environmental interference.

Radio communication (what wifi basically boils down to) is a two way street. Its like trying to use a walkie talkie CB to try to talk to someone that has a high powered radio with a linear amplifier. You can hear their broadcast but try as you might, they will never hear you.

[Beastdriver]

Intheknow:

Thanks. Obviously, if you have antennas throughout the park as you say, but you still have guests that cannot receive it, you need to place additional antennas or move the ones you have. You substantiate my point: If you put in the right equipment, in the right places, no guest should be without wifi.

[bccamper]

We've been to three campgrounds in a row that advertise that they have wi-fi, and are listed in Trailer Life as having wi-fi. Yet, when we get there, we find they have a very weak wi-fi transmitter plugged into the office with no signal available outside of the office area. In effect, the campground has NO wi-fi. I would like to suggest that, when folks write up a campground, they specifically address whether or not the campground has wi-fi that reaches to the sites. Thanks!

[bccamper]

We've been to three campgrounds in a row that advertise that they have wi-fi, and are listed in Trailer Life as having wi-fi. Yet, when we get there, we find they have a very weak wi-fi transmitter plugged into the office with no signal available outside of the office area. In effect, the campground has NO wi-fi. I would like to suggest that, when folks write up a campground, they specifically address whether or not the campground has wi-fi that reaches to the sites. Thanks!

[Cheryl Fuller]

Please do not think I am being rude or mean, I am really not trying to be. I often see posts on this forum where someone is "quoting" another post, but there is no reply from them other than the cited post. I am just wondering why this is - is it that they agree with everything said and have nothing to add, or is it that they did add a post but some techincal glitch prevented their reply from being posted? I really am quite curious about this......

[Beastdriver]

Cheryl: I think it is because the "Quote" and ""Reply" buttons are not intuitive, and are often confused with the "Fast Reply" "Add Reply", etc., buttons. My son is a professor of Human Factors (making devices, etc., user friendly) at a major university, and he says that this site, while generally well-designed, is a killer when it comes to these areas. That's why you see so many "quotes" hanging out there with no response. Perhaps, when this site is next cleaned-up, the Webmaster will consider making these buttons more intuitive.

[Cheryl Fuller]

Beastdriver, thanks for the explanation. Being the nosy type anyway, I just have to know what is going on and have been wondering about that one for awhile. Several of the forums I am on, have the fast reply button, but as I don't know what purpose it serves, I have never used it.

[jauth1]

Beastdriver, thanks for the explanation. Being the nosy type anyway, I just have to know what is going on and have been wondering about that one for awhile. Several of the forums I am on, have the fast reply button, but as I don't know what purpose it serves, I have never used it.

[jauth1]

Hello...I am not a computer expert, my grandkids are...I had Issues with WI-Fi in campgrounds...So I called a HotSpots WiFi Tech...He said to go to ALK Hawkings Technoligy...Check out the Hi- Gain Antenna Laptop Card..HWC 54D...Solved my Issues with Wi-Fi Signal 95% OF the time......Also a Hawkings Hi-Gain Antenna HWU 54 DM USB Port and a Hawkings Hi Gain USB Wireless Dish HWU * DD..(Ht.3"x W. 3") They also have Outside Hi-Gain Antennas for Roof Top Mounting....Many Online Web Store to make Purchases.......I was last month picking up a signal, that the campground had Wi-Fi in a Box System....One basci Hi-Gain Antenna on Campground Office Roof top....I was 1500ft. from the office antenna and got a Normal Signal with the Hawkings Hi-Gain Antenna....Also anybody in sites close to me with a built in wi-fi mini card in the laptop, got no signal at all.....These Hi-Gain Antennas for Laptops do work...I have been to 2 campgrounds that have handed out printed Info on Hawkings Products.....Just My Experience....Jim A.

[Wadcutter]

I decided to build one like this:
http://dustydragon.com/wifi.htm
Even with a built in WiFi it looks like there is something that can be done to improve reception. It works really well. Much improvement over the internal WiFi card.

[Jerry S.]

I certainly agree with the general complaint concerning "misleading WIFI Claims" and have experienced poor service in many WIFI parks. Although I understood some of the simpler discussions in this string, the more technical ones made my head hurt. I am not sure that I am ready to spend good money for "gizmos" I might not have the techno-smarts to use correctly. On the other hand, in two plus years I have been bringing the laptop along on my trips, several of my repeat parks have uprgraded their systems. Hopefully this is a trend that will continue and maybe even accelerate.

For now, I will ask about the quality of the WIFI service and continue to let owners know that poor WIFI will limit my stay or cause me to not stay at their park. It can't hurt.

Jerry S.

[Wadcutter]

JerryS,
Building one of these gizmos http://dustydragon.com/wifi.htm doesn't take any technical knowledge. If I could build one anyone can. It's amazing the increased range they provide. With a 12" scoup I can now hit my home WiFi from over 1/2 mile away. I think it would pick up further than that but haven't had the chance yet to get further out. I've got less than $25 in it.

[Jerry S.]

Wadcutter,

Thanks for the info and encouragement. I checked out the site you referenced (and most of the further links listed in that site). Let's see: buy a dongle (USB adapter), a scoop (oriental cooking utensil), a USB cable (length depends on situation); then using a wire hanger, duct tape, and tools, fashion all this into a signal amplifying device. I know it sounds simple in terms of cost, time, and effort, but I am not certain the poor WIFI reception problem will continue to exist in the RV parks I visit.

Thanks again,

Jerry S.

[jauth1]

Jerry...Hawkings Hi-Gain Antennas cost about $60 bucks.....It will solve your problem, quicker then waiting for a Campground to change......Jim A.

[Jerry S.]

Jerry...Hawkings Hi-Gain Antennas cost about $60 bucks.....It will solve your problem, quicker then waiting for a Campground to change......Jim A.

Jauth1,

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner - I've been distracted in another string. Thanks for the lead. I'll google "Hawkins Hi-Gain Antenna" and see where is takes me.

Jerry S.