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RV Internet: Take Connectivity Along For The Ride

4 min read
Whether you’re camping in the great outdoors or living the RV life, choosing the path less traveled used to mean having to sacrifice the solid connectivity we all know and love. So, how can you enjoy the journey while also staying in touch with outside world?
Man and women sitting together in the back of an RV camper while looking at a an iPad.

We’ve come up with a few mobile internet ideas for RVers and other adventurers—that’ll help keep you connected.

5G Wi-Fi gateway

This first one is for those of you who call an RV home full time and keep it parked in one place. Back in the day when everybody required cables at home to ensure a strong signal, the idea of getting your very own private internet connection in an RV seemed impossible. Thanks to advances in 5G Home Internet, that’s all changed. The advent of 5G Gateways for use in traditional homes has also opened up new paths for those who park their RV and live in it full time. For example, you can sign up for T-Mobile Home Internet and receive a Wi-Fi Gateway that keeps you connected in your RV—no cable hookups needed. Of course, this budget-friendly option needs to be available in your area for it to work. So, how do you know if it is? Here’s what to do:

  • Check availability first. Simply enter your address here to see if T-Mobile Home Internet is available at your home.
  • Find a plan and sign up. If it is available, find the right plan for you and sign up.
  • Set it up. Once you receive your Gateway, plug it in (ideally near a window) and then download and open the T-Mobile Internet app to get started. Select Setup and just follow the prompts from there. You should be up and running in minutes.

Satellite internet

Another RV internet option comes in the form of satellite. While satellite internet will likely give you the connectivity you need, it can get pricey, since you’ll need to buy special equipment in addition to paying for monthly service. Also, some satellite providers keep your service tied to one place. In other words: it won’t travel with you across multiple locations or when you’re on the move. So, be sure to do your homework.

Mobile hotspot

If you’re on the road a lot in your RV, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot can give you the connectivity you need. Be sure to choose one with the features that suit your needs, whether it’s baked-in Wi-Fi capabilities for a multitude of devices, on-board Wi-Fi 6 Dual Band 2.4GHz and 5GHz technologies, the ability to charge external devices, a long-lasting battery, etc. But this RV Wi-Fi option will likely come with data limits, so you will probably have to invest in a good data plan, in addition to the hotspot.

Wi-Fi extender

While free public Wi-Fi often exists at campgrounds and RV parks across the country, the connection can be dicey at times. That’s where a Wi-Fi extender may help…BUT…that assumes that the public Wi-Fi is strong to begin with. In other words, if the Wi-Fi signal is great and it’s just not reaching your RV, then an extender will help. If it’s a bad connection to begin with, it's probably not worth “extending” a bad signal. Another consideration is security. Public Wi-Fi networks are generally less secure, especially those without password protection, as they are open to anyone, including hackers and cybercriminals who are standing ready to steal personal information. So, make sure you proceed with caution and avoid entering sensitive information like passwords or banking details. If you do decide to go this route, a good extender will cost around a hundred bucks, while a long-range extender will set you back a few hundred dollars.

Ready to try out T-Mobile Home Internet? T-Mobile is America’s fastest growing Home Internet provider. Find out if it's available in your area and then try it out for 15 days to see if it works for you.

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