Perhaps some of you can remember a time when there was no internet? I can say I was there for the birth of the internet and had what we called dial-up and America On-Line.
I remember as a kid rotary phones with the 25-foot receiver extension. Needless to say, we have come a long way in our quest to be hooked up to the net and phone technology.
Some people today are digital nomads and have the option of hitting the open road only needing the occasional connection to the internet to carry on their lifestyle. Here are some tips to get you online in the backcountry
Technology for getting internet on the road
If you can get a cell signal you can get internet you can turn your phone into a hotspot (in your setting)...
Check your carrier for your data plans. Using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot will cause the device to heat up more than normal.
It is recommended that you opt to get a personal data hotspot device that will run you under $200 dollar and pay monthly charges...
All data plans are not created equal... Caution anyone that is going to get into a data plan read the fine print... UNLIMITED service is not unlimited
Normally they cap your speed at a certain point so if you plan on uploading videos this is not going to work for you.
If you purchase any equipment read the fine print some will only provide 3G this is not going to work for you if you stream videos or do uploads or downloads.
Signal Boosters
These boosters run in the ballpark of $400 dollars. We Boost or wi fi booster make sure you go with one that is 4G or it's just a waste of money.
I recommend the we-boost for your off grid application https://www.weboost.com/collections/boosters-rv
How to find internet on the road while in remote areas
It can be like a quest for gold to find that signal. One suggestion is to park along an interstate or within 10 miles of an interstate that will have a cell signal providing your not in a large valley.
Try to get up along a ridgeline or high up on a mountain...
To get a signal in the backwoods you will need a good topo map in addition to GOOGLE maps when scouting.
Look at the place where you are camping, chances are if you are by a river you are in a depression where signals are not going to reach valleys and gorges.
If you are going to be camping on public lands that are near bigger cities and towns you will almost be sure to get a signal.
Check your cell providers website often times they list the locations of their cell towers and you can get within range of one of those.
Some camping review sites actually have reviews that the previous users will let you know the cell phone providers (sometimes helpful) depending on how recent the review is.
Worst case scenario
Your alone and off the grid for 3 or 4 days and you have to go into town and then go back to your camp. You can do satellite (Wild Blue)
I don't know if it will work if you are mobile my idea would be to take the disk and put it on a folding tripod and aim it toward the southern sky... (like Dish Network or Direct TV.
Resources You Can Use
There is an app you can use called WIFI Finder and will help you free wifi completely free and these places are at retail stores you can see on the map where these places are at.
If you are in town the library is a proven spot and commercial places. A website you can use is antennasearch.com
Hopefully, you got some value from this article what off-grid system are you using to get internet?
