While many luxurious destinations have reliable internet access for you to utilize, that might not be true for the myriad of places that you stay between your home and your final destination. Thanks to developments in technology, however, the ability to stay connected while traveling on the open road is easier and more accessible than ever before!
Having a reliable internet connection is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family during your travels, learn more about your destinations, and get important work done in between adventures. We’ll share our tips for almost always finding a quality and consistent connection from your motorhome.
The Key to Success: Plan Ahead
The best way to ensure a connection for the entirety of your trip is to be meticulous with your planning. To the best of your ability, plan your travel route with your connectivity needs in mind. Try to avoid more remote roads or paths when possible, and when such routes are unavoidable follow our tips below for increasing your connectivity.
You can also prepare for dead-zones by having offline versions of important travel resources, such as maps or reservations. Most GPS apps allow you to download areas and utilize them for navigation when service isn’t available, and when in doubt you can always embrace the old-school days by printing out directions or documentation.
When traveling to an international destination like Canada or South America, make sure to talk to your service provider beforehand about connection options. You can maintain service in some areas by paying a small fee, while other areas may warrant alternative methods.
Ways to Increase Your Connectivity
In addition to planning your trip with internet access in mind, there are also steps you can take during your travels to maximize your connection. Mobile hotspots are a great way to have fast, reliable internet at your fingertips. Make sure to consider the number of users and the type of access when picking out a hotspot, so you can find the device and plan that works best for your needs.
If you’re frequently venturing into the unknown during your travels, consider a satellite internet service for access off the grid. While satellite access requires you to be stopped in order to stream or surf, most plans have unlimited data options in a wide variety of locations.
Starlink is a satellite option with a convenient pay as you go plan, which is ideal for travelers with a variety of shorter-term trips planned because it allows you to easily pause or pickup service. Starlink’s coverage is rapidly growing, which means you’ll likely have the access that you need. Other providers, like HughesNet and Viasat, offer longer contracts that are perfect for year-long trips.
WiFi boosters and extenders are another great option to increase the range and coverage of your existing WiFi network. This can be ideal if you have a lot of folks access the same network or need more data for streaming or work calls.
A simple way to make the most of your internet connection is to optimize your setup. By clearing your browser cache and cookies regularly, you can increase the speed available for browsing the web. You can also use extensions to block advertisements from appearing on various websites, which will result in using less data. Remember, work smarter, not harder!
Internet Safety While Traveling
It’s important to practice safe browsing while traveling in order to protect your digital information. Consider getting a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, if you’re using a public WiFi network – this will help encrypt your connection and protect your data. As a general rule of thumb, it’s wise to avoid using public networks to look at any sensitive information unless you have a VPN set up.
While hitting the road in your Class A motorhome is a great way to disconnect and get away from work or responsibilities, it’s still nice to be able to navigate with ease or keep in touch with friends and family. Using the internet can also be a great way to unwind after a long day of traveling. It can also provide peace of mind to know that if anything goes wrong, you’ll have access to help and support when you need it.
For these reasons and more, it’s worth it to have a secure and reliable internet connection while on the road. Thanks to technological advancements, it’s no longer a struggle to have internet access while traveling. Simply consider your streaming needs, the number of devices you’d like to connect, and the areas you’ll be traveling to and through in order to find the internet solution that works for you.