RV sales have slowed and fewer people are buying RVs. Most costs across the board have risen. RVing is evolving. Has that changed how people are RVing? Are there still some areas that are crowded with campers? Are people more or less content with RVing?
RV Travel readers discuss their experiences and offer tips to help other campers find that perfect spot.
Here are a few observations from our readers. These do not necessarily represent the views of RVtravel.com.
Last week, we asked how, or if, our readers are getting internet connections. A lot of people commented, and a number emailed in, too.
As I mentioned last week, my husband and I use cell data and Starlink when traveling for an extended time. I have been unwilling to pay the monthly fee of a whopping $165 a month for a few days’ use in between our six months of travel. I don’t like paying that much when traveling, either. Starlink has just come out with a $10 short-term option that we will try this weekend.
A couple of our readers mentioned that when camping, they don’t need connections. I remember the days camping before cell phones, too. I know I am overly hooked on my iPhone, iPad, and computer. I have finally turned off the “ding” that tells me there is a new email or text. I am trying to break the habit of reaching for my phone as if it is an extension of my arm. Wish me luck!
Are others grappling with too much screen time, too?
Below is how some of our readers connect… or intentionally don’t.
T-Mobile
Leo D. favors his T-Mobile connection and writes, “Regarding streaming and Wi-Fi, we are customers of T-Mobile 5G internet. It’s a $55/month auto credit card charge. We take it in our camper when camping. We can stream Netflix with no issues and we use it for work emails, Zoom calls, Teams meetings, etc.”
Jim J. is happy with his T-Mobile line, too. He writes, “When we started RVing seasonally, Starlink did not exist. However, I was still working remotely from home (RV) office, and my job depended on very good Wi-Fi and reasonable access to a commercial airport. The park’s Wi-Fi was terrible. Not even the fixed-base wireless internet operator with a tower a mile away would offer service due to the terrain. I paid for an ‘acceptable’ cellular data connection. Then T-Mobile Home Internet (THI) came online, just before Starlink. We had to have a fixed address, but could change the address easily. Like Starlink, THI access has grown tremendously. As T-Mobile phone customers, we get a nearly 50% discount on THI. We are still THI customers. In fact, I dumped the cable company at our house and added a second THI line.
“We have since retired and still have both THI lines. We can stream TV, hold video calls, and keep tabs on our snow-encrusted house remotely for about 1/3 the cost of a single Starlink connection.”
Verizon
Denny K. uses cell data and prefers Verizon. He wrote: “We stopped using Dish for TV, as well, to save $100+ per month. My wife and I both have phones on the Verizon network. With two TVs, we can connect each of our phones to a TV using the hotspot (without a cord) with unlimited data. As long as we have good cell coverage, it works great. We have had AT&T and T-Mobile, and so far, Verizon seems to work the best up and down the East Coast. Too much poor (slow) reception with the others.”
AT&T
Elaine W. relies on cell data, too, but doesn’t stream. She wrote, “I travel extensively throughout the Northern states and have done so for the past 20 years. Many of the parks that I camp in have weak or no Wi-Fi. I rely on data and my cell phone. Satellite Wi-Fi is more than my budget allows. I recommend (for those who do not need streaming) to use Verizon/AT&T for coverage. I am currently on Boost (which is AT&T), planning to add Verizon if so needed on this journey into the SE this coming fall. The key factor here is, I don’t stream.”
Starlink
David commented, “We’ve switched to Starlink exclusively and used it for the last year all over North America and Canada. We mounted ours on the roof and only had one campsite where we couldn’t use it. We put ours in a removable mount, though, so I can easily take it down from the roof if needed. No more fussing with boosters and hoping for a decent cell signal. The major bonus of having it on the roof is that we now have internet all the time while traveling down the road. Since our cell phones can use Wi-Fi for calling/texting, we have cell service all the time, no dead spots for us!”
Vince S. also likes Starlink. He wrote, “We tried to rely on cellular data, but even with signal boosters, it’s too hit-and-miss where we boondock. RV park Wi-Fi is just as sporadic and uncertain, but worse and less secure. Because of that, we went with Starlink and never looked back. We set up the antenna wherever we park, even if the site says they have Wi-Fi.
“When we’re not traveling, we suspend the service. At $165 a month, it isn’t cheap, but neither is our fiber optic sticks-and-bricks internet. Having the ability to do finances, monitor our house, plan routes, and do online reservations from anywhere is a nice convenience. Sure, we could use a road atlas, pay with checks, and do shadow puppets for entertainment, but why?”
Dana D. keeps her costs down while using Starlink. She wrote, “My Starlink Mini is $50 a month for 50 gigs. I can pay by the gig if I go over 50, or $165 a month for unlimited. I don’t spend a lot of time streaming, so $50 works. I still have Dish at home and my Winegard Pathway. $5 a month for the Pathway. Starlink does provide an easier connection to satellites. I have the Starlink magnetic mount. I put the antenna on the hitch of my 5th wheel. Easy setup.”
Amazon Fire Stick
Gary B. does not rely on campground Wi-Fi for streaming and tells how he downloads media before leaving home. “We have found Verizon to be the most reliable cell service all over the country. We rarely, if ever, use or depend on Wi-Fi from a paid resort or RV park. We download shows and movies onto our phones. We also have a DVD player and about 50 DVDs that we have never had a cause to watch. We can stream to our TV using an Amazon Fire Stick even without Wi-Fi or cell coverage. I have found that this is preferable to having a Smart TV, as the Fire Stick does a better job of streaming and connectivity. Unfortunately, when we don’t have a cell signal, we have no ability to monitor the weather or look up where we could travel to or stay next. However, you either preplan or wait till you’re on the road and get reception.
“We stream content we have previously downloaded from Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, etc., onto our phones. Turn on your TV and Fire Stick, go to home or your profile pic, then settings-display-mirror screen, select yes, and then your mirror screen setting on your phone. We have Samsung phones; it’s at the top, drag down menu (twice) called Smart View. Regarding connection, sometimes I have to back out of the mirror screen on the Fire Stick (back) and select it again in order for my phone to find it. So you don’t need Wi-Fi or cell phone reception to link your phone (screen mirror) to the Fire Stick. Not sure if it works or not with an iPhone?”
Campground Wi-Fi
Paula S. wrote that the campgrounds need to step it up. “Wi-Fi and cable TV is very important to our RV camp experience. Most campgrounds lack in these areas. THEY NEED TO STEP IT UP. We are paying higher and higher prices and not getting anything back. The campsites are getting smaller, and most are seasonal now. If seasonal wasn’t in the thousands, we would probably partake. We are retired and enjoy the Wi-Fi and cable TV amenities.”
Why connect at all?
Steve H. wrote about how times have changed. “Isn’t it amazing that we were able to raise our sons to adults with NO cell phones or Wi-Fi? When we took the boys tent camping (which was what ‘camping’ was for most parents our age), they hiked, fished, boated, explored, and played with no connection whatsoever to their friends back in the city. But they couldn’t miss what they didn’t have and never even heard of!
“Amazing how everyone now seems to need uninterrupted access to phones, Wi-Fi, and TV, no matter where they are, even when boondocking miles from the nearest paved road. How times have changed! And not necessarily for the better.”
Scott H. is not in favor of 24/7 connectivity either. He wrote, “Heaven forbid Facebook or TikTok cannot be checked on…. However, if work needs require the connectivity, I guess that I would give the party in question a pass. When we camp, the phone is available but not in use unless there is an emergency.”
Now, some questions for you:
- Are you finding campgrounds booked up or is finding a site not a problem?
- What do you like best about RVing?
- What are your pet peeves?
- Are you seeing more permanent and seasonal RV parks?
- Are rising costs affecting your camping style?
- Do you have favorite campgrounds or RV parks?
- What is the most memorable experience you have had RVing?
- Do you have any tips or secrets you’d like to share?
Please use the form below to answer one or more of these questions, or tell us what you’ve experienced with campground crowding in general.
Read last week’s Crowded Campgrounds column: RVers discuss Wi-Fi at campgrounds and RV parks: It works or it doesn’t!
##RVT1205b
I find it interesting that no one mentioned Travlfi for there internet. We use it and it works great. It uses all three of the major cell carriers that are mentioned in your article. And if the campground has wifi we can connect to that and not use up our data. Where ever we are it will connect to the strongest cell tower and provide great wifi as we travel down the road. You pick a data plan that fits your needs. You can cancel when not traveling and reconnect when traveling again without a hookup charge. We have the journey XTR router and all our devices are hooked up to it. To us it’s a game changer and not nearly as much trouble and expensive as starlink.
We bought the Travlfi hotspot and so far we have not been disappointed. I love that we can suspend the data plan during the months we don’t travel. The only disadvantage with the hotspot is that it needs to be plugged in to recharge. Eventually we will get one of their AC powered routers but for now the hotspot works for us.
The Journey XTR can also be powered by 12 volt which is how we set ours up.
12-volt options are always helpful!
Thank you for your input!
Good to know!
I have a Verizon jet pack and after a few hours they cut you back so it becomes useless. The cost of telecommunications is much too high and should be reduced for the benefit of society. Between cell phone, home internet and cable I spend over $400 a month and when there is nothing worthwhile to watch on TV and most of your phone calls and emails are spam, you have to wonder who tricked you into thinking this is important. The birds and nature are free and much more entertaining.
I don’t understand your comment “after a few hours they cut you back”. I have had a Jetpack for 6 years. I pay $20/month for 50 GB of high speed data a month, which we generally use 40-50 GB. However, my phone has unlimited data as long as I’m watching it on my phone (NOT using the hotspot – which is limited to 30 GB high speed a month), so I use a USB-C to HDMI cable to the TV and plug my phone in to stream TV shows. That way I’m getting true unlimited high-speed data FOR STREAMING, and using my 50 GB Jetpack data for all of our other computer work. On our last three three-month trips, we had sufficient Verizon signal at every stop without needing the outside antenna and amplifier.
Dana D. thank you, I’m going to look into that!
Interesting. We only use our data from our phones—but then we don’t stream, don’t use netflix, etc. We don’t watch movies at home either. Guess we are the oddballs once again.
Every year we go fishing in the Eastern Sierras of California no cell no internet no problem. 3 years ago one of our daughters was pregnant and she was due during our yearly fishing trip. Bad planning. Every morning we would drive 4 miles on a dirt road to get cell service to check in. Last year someone came through the camp ground and wanted know which way was north. I pointed north and he asked how his star link would get over the ridge in his way. I told him not my problem. He left
In a couple of months, you will be able to get text through T-Mobile via StarLink and the plan is to have voice and possibly data though I really doubt you will be able to watch a movie. Basically, that is all we need. We pick up DVDs at yard sales and keep them in our TT should we want to watch TV.
We boondock 99% of the time and generally are out of normal cellular service.
Thank you, Nanci! This always has interesting information. Have a great day and safe travels!