E-mail and Internet Connections

by Coleen Sykora

Most RVers find there’s no single best way that works all the time. We use a mix of methods, depending on the circumstances. Here are some of the ways I know about, along with my comments and preferences.

Campgrounds with instant-on phone lines at each site. These are wonderful, rare, but becoming more popular. They are usually at the more expensive parks and there is often an extra dollar or two charge to have the line activated. Obvious advantage is that you immediately have the phone in your RV, and are able to use is for the entire time you are there, in the comfort of your own home. Some parks advertise they have phones on the sites, but in reality they don’t.

Campgrounds with modem access off-site. A few have dedicated computer rooms, where you can use their computers or your laptop. It might be a phone line in a corner of the activities hall or in the laundry room. Some allow you to use their regular phone lines for a few minutes for e-mail. There are most often time limits. Some charge a fee and some don’t. These can be great or they can be really inconvenient, depending on the arrangement. Some campground owners refuse to allow modem connections because previous people abused the privilege by making long distance toll calls or tying up the line for too long.

Campgrounds with phone lines on site, but you must arrange for phone service with the phone company. These are most common in snowbird destination parks and other parks where people tend to stay a long time. These are great if you are going to be somewhere a couple months or more. They carry the same costs as a regular home phone. I’ve also been to parks where they did not already have the phone lines in, but they gladly gave me permission to have the phone company put in the lines so I could get the service. Cost is about the same regardless of whether the line is already there or not – but if the line is there, you usually get the service working faster than if they have to install it.

Private phone at non-campground parking sites. When we plan to be somewhere for a couple of months or so, I often get a regular phone line put in. In our case, this is usually in the far corner of our employer’s property. Most often employers wonder how we can possibly live without water, sewer, and electrical hook-ups – they certainly don’t question our need or desire for a phone, especially since we pay for the installation ourselves.

Public Internet shops. These are springing up across the country and are wonderful. For a few dollars, you can rent either a computer or a phone jack and line for a short time. It is usually possible to rent them for longer times, often all day. Day rates vary considerably, some charging a fee for every additional minute and some having a flat day rate. These are terrific places to settle in for extended web surfing or to catch up on Internet business.

Office and mail centers – places like Kinko’s, MBE, PostNet, Office Max, Staples, Office Depot, and private secretarial and bookkeeping businesses. Many have computers they rent in blocks of 15-minutes. I prefer to use my laptop so I have my e-mail on my machine, so I just unplug their computer and plug mine in. If you buy a product or service from these places, they may let you do e-mail, and possibly even have surfing time, without charging you. These can be convenient if you find them in strip malls where there is reasonable parking.  

Pay phones. Some public pay phones have the modem jacks built in them. They are often bright yellow in color, making them easy to spot.

Public libraries. This is a favorite of many. I’ve never tried it. I’ve been told this works best if you have a web based e-mail account. You need to read and delete your mail or print it out – usually a small per page fee for printing. Time limit is usually posted, but if no one is waiting and the librarian is in a good mood, it seems the limit is overlooked. Using libraries depends on being able to find them, being able to park the rig nearby, being able and willing to use them during their hours, and being willing to use their computer. I’ve always thought those disadvantages made it a poor option. But, many people rely on library computers almost exclusively.

Colleges. Libraries, dorms, activity centers, study centers, computer halls…colleges have numerous places to find computers and phone jacks. I can’t imagine finding adequate parking for our rig near a college campus. Neither would I be comfortable just waltzing in and using a dorm’s phone jack. But, you asked how others do it. Some RVers ride bicycles for ease of parking and to blend with the students more and don’t have any trouble making themselves at home on campus.

Computer sales and repair shops. Several times I have gone to these businesses, explaining my traveling circumstances and a need for a phone line, asking if they rent phone lines or if they know where in town I might find one. They have always offered to let me use their phones and I’ve never been charged for it. This was for e-mail, not surfing, and I thanked then heartily.

Stores in general. A couple of times I have asked a store employee where there was an office supply or computer shop in town, again, explaining my traveling circumstances. They have generously offered to allow me use of their phone – when I assured them it was a toll-free call. I thanked them by buying something I didn’t really need.

Businesses we patronize. When we make a significant purchase, I have no problem asking for a few minutes of their phone time – though, again, the call is on a toll-free number. 

Businesses that are more likely to have public phones – banks, hotels, motels, casinos, conference centers, visitor centers, chambers of commerce, and shopping malls. They will sometimes have regular phones. Sometimes they have the payphones with the extra jack on the side.

Cellular and wireless phones. I’ve tried this and it didn’t work for me. It is slow. Roaming costs are prohibitive. Some people think they are THE answer. The one rate cellular plans are either loved or hated – or loved until the service is disconnected because the customer lied on the application or isn’t following the rules and they are stuck with expensive equipment. Biggest problem I have with wireless phones is simply that in many places there is no signal, or the signal is blocked by mountains, or the signal is not strong enough to use, or for some other reason there just is no cellular/wireless service.

Cyber cafes. It seems like these should be popular, but I seldom hear of RVers using them. I’ve never used one.

Pocket e-mail devices. Some people love them. However, the complaints I hear far outnumber any positive comments. Common complaints that I hear about are not being able to use it with AT&T phones, not being able to get any connection, not being able to get a clear connection, not being able to keep a connection, extremely slow transmitting, not being able to receive attachments, not being able to receive messages over 4000 characters in length, aborted messages, and lost messages. I’ve never used one – these are complaints I hear repeatedly.

Friends and family. I think most RVers use the phone lines of the people they visit.

EarthLink Internet Access -- Bob and I use EarthLink for our ISP and are very happy with it. They have numerous local access numbers and toll-free numbers.

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