As the time for your camping vacation approaches, the itch to run away from work becomes stronger. But you cannot leave just yet, because you still need to find an internet connection for your RV. 

The reason I am putting together this guide is that last year, I was misguided into getting a fixed wireless connection for my camping vacation in Alaska. I got the setup installed, and the internet guide assured me that it would be easy breezy to connect to the internet as soon as I parked the RV in my spot. However, after reaching and trying to get online for a couple of hours, I realized that I would not get signals because of the tall trees around. The service was not bad; it was absent. I couldn’t even get enough signals to find a fixed wireless connection. 

But this year, I was determined not to let my lack of research ruin my trip. I did all the homework; read all about satellite internet in my area, and found myself a provider that offered a good package (more on that below). The result? I got a great trip in the wilderness, while still being connected to the world.

If you are planning to take your RV to a remote camping site, have FOMO like me, and want to still be connected, then you can invest in a satellite internet connection. 

Why and how? I will be covering all the bases below:

  • Satellite Internet is Available Everywhere in the US

The great thing about satellite internet is that it is the most widely available internet connection type in the US. You can get coverage in every US state, including rural and remote areas. Only a few places that are extremely isolated may have limited satellite connectivity, but they are not suitable for RV camping. 

Its wide availability makes satellite internet a popular internet choice for people in rural and remote areas of the US. This means you can expect reception in your next camping location, given that you have a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. 

  • Satellite Internet Wins in Terms of Reliability

One of the major downsides of usual internet types like fiber and cable is their dependence on ground-based infrastructure. This makes them prone to being impacted by natural disasters like earthquakes and tornadoes, which means indefinite downtimes. This can take weeks to fix. 

In such a scenario, satellite internet’s lack of reliance on such infrastructure makes it a pretty reliable internet option. It gets its internet signal from satellites orbiting the Earth in space, which means it has a wireless infrastructure. The dish installed at the top of your RV receives the internet signals.

However, satellite internet is not completely reliable. You will have to wait out the rain to regain internet connectivity because of rain fade disrupting the signals sent from the satellite. 

  • Satellite Internet is Costly (Or Not)

Satellite internet is known to be a costly option. Its plans start with $40 per month and can go as high as $2000 per month, depending on the plan you get. However, residential plans only go up to $200, and business plans cost more. 

But when you consider the fact that it provides internet connectivity in the most remote areas, the cost does not seem much. Not to forget that some mobile hotspots still cost more than satellite internet.  

  • You Can Do Almost Everything 

Contrary to popular belief, satellite internet is not slow. It provides enough for you to easily do basic online activities. 

Satellite internet plans that go up to 220 Mbps allow us to conveniently do online messaging, scrolling on social media, streaming videos, music, and movies, browsing, and sending emails. Plus, you can do all of these without any buffering or high loading times. 

I said almost because you cannot do high-bandwidth activities like multiplayer gaming and streaming 4K videos. This is because satellite internet has high latency, due to the huge distance between your dish and the satellite in the sky. So, we need to have realistic expectations from satellite internet. 

  • Installation is Quick, But You Need to Carry the Equipment

Camping is all about packing light, but you lose some to gain some. For satellite internet, you need to carry the equipment in your RV. This includes a small satellite dish with antennas, a mounting platform, a router, a modem, some cables, and batteries for power supply. 

For installation, it depends on the satellite ISP you choose. Some ISPs only allow for professional installation, like Viasat and Hughesnet, while others offer DIY setups, like Starlink. Professional installation costs a couple of hundred dollars, but that is a one-time cost. 

An important thing is that since you only need the satellite internet for a couple of weeks or months. I would suggest renting the equipment instead of buying it. 

And Voilà! you are all ready to get satellite internet for your RV. Now, all you have to do is make a choice between Viasat, Hughesnet, or Starlink to get internet connectivity. And then you can enjoy being digitally connected to the world while simultaneously enjoying the wilderness.  

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