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Can I use the WiFi from a Nearby RV’s Satellite Dish?

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  • Tech Tips, Repairs, & Maintenance
February 14, 2008
6

    February 14, 2008

    If you see an RV nearby with a Datastorm satellite dish, odds are they have an active Internet connection and a wireless network. The dishes I’m talking about are bigger than the TV dishes, and they’re oval in shape. Here is a picture of ours:

    Picture of Datastorm Internet satellite dish

    If you see one of these dishes nearby, you should look on your computer and see if there is a corresponding wireless network showing up under ‘View Available Wireless Networks.’ If you find it, you may be able to connect and get online.

    Using a neighbor’s Internet connection is like borrowing anything else that belongs to them. You need to ask. You’ll find that most RVers are happy to share. But they certainly don’t have to! They paid a lot of money to get High-Speed Internet access – they may want (or need) all the bandwidth for themselves.

    Most RVers will secure their wireless network with a password (key). If you ever see GeeksOnTour.com show up as a wireless network on your list – it means we’re nearby. Come say hi! We’ll be glad to give you our key to use the Internet from our Satellite dish.

    If you do ‘borrow’ your neighbor’s Internet connection, don’t abuse it. Use it only for checking your email and simple web-browsing. Don’t watch streaming videos or download large files. There is a limit to the amount of bandwidth that most satellite dishes are allowed per day. If you push your neighbor over that limit, they can lose their high speed Internet for a period of time – usually 24 hours. That would make the dish-owner pretty grouchy! You don’t want to be the cause.

    It is a great way to get Internet when there is normally no access. I know people with Internet satellite dishes who are very popular with caravans to Mexico! Because of their dish, the caravan is a traveling Wi-Fi hotspot. We just used a friendly RVers dish to provide Internet access to a meeting room at a rally … read the story on our blog.

    Chris Guld
    www.geeksontour.com

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    6 comments

    1. Pingback: flyttstädning stockholm

    2. Chris Guld

      Jerry, Using your cell for Internet works 2 ways: buying an aircard from a Cellular provider OR using your phone and ‘tethering’ it to your computer with a USB cable. Both will cost you approximately $60/mo but the tethering method can be turned off and on and charged accordingly. A good place to find out more is fellow blogger Alex Sian of http://www.evdoinfo.com

      0
      March 3, 2008
    3. Jerry

      Where can I find more info about using ones cell for the internet; without running up your prime time?
      I’m a lot lost on just how one can hook up with the cell TX.
      Please advise
      [email protected]

      0
      March 3, 2008
    4. jorn

      It should be noted that in several states, stealing somebody’s bandwidth is illegal. So, yeah, ask.

      0
      February 16, 2008
    5. The Texan

      Chris put some very good information in this article. The biggest thing is bandwidth and it is the reason many will not allow you the use their system. I cite as an example our system, we used to leave our system open for all to use and just told them, please do NOT download videos or music. We had one RVer who insisted on watching a movie every night and got us shut down(FAPed). The 1st time I went over and spoke to him and he was indignant that I would say anything to him and then complained that the system was to slow for him to use that day. When it happened the second time, we just activated our security key and now no one uses it without asking for the key. One person ruined the whole barrel of apples. Yes, we have an intruder detection program and it is easy to see who is using the system and who is abusing the privilege.

      0
      February 15, 2008
    6. The Texan

      Chris put some very good information in this article. The biggest thing is bandwidth and it is the reason many of us will not allow you to use their system. I cite as an example our system, we used to leave our system open for all to use and just told them, please do NOT download videos or music. We had one RVer who insisted on watching a movie every night and got us shut down(FAPed). The 1st time I went over and spoke to him and he was indignant that I would say anything to him and then complained that the system was to slow for him to use that day. When it happened the second time, we just activated our security key and now no one uses it without asking for the key. One person ruined the whole barrel of apples. Yes, we have an intruder detection program and it is easy to see who is using the system and who is abusing the privilege.

      0
      February 15, 2008

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