| |
Subject |
Author |
Date Posted |
Forum
|
 |
RV Antenna for wifi to increase the range
We have concluded that buying a USB "dongle" to access the internet while on the road using Verizon, AT&T, etc. is too costly. The wireless carriers really gouge when you're away from home, and the cheaper plans just don't have the coverage we're looking for.
However, we still would like to be able to access a campground wifi hotspot from inside the RV, or stay in the parking lot of a wifi enabled store like McDonald's or Staples.
Till now, like many others do, we take our netbook to the place where the wifi originates, such as the visitor's center, store, etc.
Do any of you have experience with THIS ANTENNA/WIRELESS CARD COMBO? It looks like it might be a promising solution. Or do any of you use similar or even home-made products? As usual, your advice is really appreciated.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/04/12 01:37pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: I-95 Toll Roads for NC?
If you're interested on what can happen with a toll highway that has no toll booths, HERE is an article about the "407ETR" mess we have in Ontario, Canada.
For those who don't have a transponder, a camera takes a photo of your plate and you get an inflated bill in the mail. (Even if you have a transponder, the toll charges are outrageous.)
The 407ETR was originally built as a "public-private partnership" and was structured to allow the private company to collect tolls for 35 years, after which time it was to return to the province of Ontario.
A subsequent election brought in a different party who decided it to "lease" the highway for 99 years (yeah, some lease, they basically sold it, and for far less than market value).
Another election returned a different party, but they soon found that the 407ETR lawyers were smarter than the government lawyers, and basically the privately-run 407ETR does what it wants to.
Hopefully cooler heads will prevail in NC, and they won't make the huge mistakes they made in Ontario.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/04/12 07:16am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: I-26 closed EB&WB today, maybe longer, near the SC/NC border
Jim, does NC have a lower speed limit for big trucks and tankers?
Your comment about 'no mountains or grades in NC' is very pertinent. OTOH, we're quite flat here in southern Ontario, and even so, there have been several large trucks overturn lately on ramps. These guys just drive too fast IMHO.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/04/12 05:41am |
Roads and Routes
|
|
RE: McRae point provinal park
It used to be one of our preferred parks when the kids were younger, but we haven't been there for a number of years. We find that with the increase of traffic northbound from Toronto, and our GTA location in Mississauga, parks on Lake Erie such as Port Burwell are easier to get to, and the sandy beaches of Lake Erie are very nice and safe for smaller kids.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/03/12 06:20am |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
|
|
RE: Savannah Ga.
I prefer Ft McCallister SP over Skidaway
X2 While they're both nice parks, Ft. McAllister SP is easier to get to from I-95, and is really quite close to the touristy part of Savannah. We've been to both.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/03/12 06:11am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: Internet on the road - device from Virgin Mobile
We've been using Virgin Mobile Broadband2go for two or three years with very few problems.
How have your results been in more "remote" locations? In response to the first reply, I decided to check the coverage in the areas we're going to, and the map showed "no coverage".
|
VE3ESN
|
04/02/12 02:01pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Internet on the road - device from Virgin Mobile
Yeah, guess I should read the "fine print":
Nationwide Sprint Network
This tool provides high-level estimates of our wireless coverage. Coverage is not available everywhere and varies based on a number of factors. Our coverage maps provide high level estimates of our coverage areas when using your device outdoors under optimal conditions. Coverage isn't available everywhere. Estimating wireless coverage and signal strength is not an exact science. There are gaps in coverage within our estimated coverage areas that, along with other factors both within and beyond our control (network problems, software, signal strength, your wireless device, structures, buildings, weather, geography, topography, etc.), will result in dropped and blocked connections, slower data speeds, or otherwise impact the quality of services. Services that rely on location information, such as E911 and GPS navigation, depend on your device's ability to acquire satellite signals (typically not available indoors) and network coverage. E911 services also depend local emergency service provider systems/support. Estimated future coverage subject to change.
I looked at two areas we're thinking of going to, and neither had any coverage. It's back to the drawing board.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/02/12 01:57pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
Internet on the road - device from Virgin Mobile
We travel and camp in the US quite often, and so far have obtained internet access from various wireless hotspots on route or at the campground. However, many places we visit don't have convenient (i.e. close by) wifi hotspots. We use an Acer Aspire One netbook.
We're thinking of buying THIS DEVICE which is available at Walmart, Target, etc. The fact that it's "pay as you go" is very appealing.
Do any of you have experience with this particular device or something similar? For use inside the RV, we'd likely benefit from an external antenna. Any recommendations regarding the device and/or antenna would be appreciated.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/02/12 01:34pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: LP Leak.
I read recently that the best kind of soap to use is the dollar store "bubble blowing" soap, as it has the correct viscosity.
|
VE3ESN
|
04/02/12 12:13pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Class B Dash Air - Close Privacy Doors While Traveling?
Like PSW, our dash air cools the entire van adequately. Besides, I like to be able to see out the rear window to make sure the bikes are still there! :)
|
VE3ESN
|
04/02/12 08:49am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Motel?
Hi - for quick 1-nite stopovers we regularly use truck stops/ Walmarts/ CrackerBarrels. Can't see paying to park and sleep! That's why we got our 'B'! And regarding bedbugs, they are very real in ANY level of motel/hotel, not just the "flophouse". I like my own bed!!!! ST
X2 - A night in our Roadtrek, be it at a Flying J, Walmart SuperCenter, etc. beats any motel for us. We even do this in the winter, in the mountains of West Virginia or Virginia on the first night of a trip farther south. Our older Roadtrek has the feature of being able to close off the sleeping area from the rest of the van, and we use insulation on the back window, and also have insulated curtains. There's nothing like the coziness of our own bed!
|
VE3ESN
|
03/27/12 07:41pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
 |
RE: Rant on Costco
Most of the posts so far have dealt with Costco in the US. Here in Canada, we also have Costco, and they have actually set the bar on good customer service.
Example: You see an item on sale, and you recently purchased it not on sale.
Canadian Tire (an iconic big-box retailer in Canada) gives you one week to bring in your receipt to get the refund.
Costco gives you three months!
Example: Shopper's Drug Mart charges $11.99 dispensing fee for prescriptions.
Costco charges $4.11!
There are numerous other examples, such as the exceptional warranty given on car batteries; better than the competition. And you can't beat the prices!
We're fortunate that we have two Costco stores quite close! :)
Last time I looked "North of the 49th" is Canada!
Edited to correct "all of the posts" to "most of the posts", and my apologies to a fellow Canuck. :o
|
VE3ESN
|
03/23/12 04:58am |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: Rant on Costco
All of the posts so far have dealt with Costco in the US. Here in Canada, we also have Costco, and they have actually set the bar on good customer service.
Example: You see an item on sale, and you recently purchased it not on sale.
Canadian Tire (an iconic big-box retailer in Canada) gives you one week to bring in your receipt to get the refund.
Costco gives you three months!
Example: Shopper's Drug Mart charges $11.99 dispensing fee for prescriptions.
Costco charges $4.11!
There are numerous other examples, such as the exceptional warranty given on car batteries; better than the competition. And you can't beat the prices!
We're fortunate that we have two Costco stores quite close! :)
|
VE3ESN
|
03/22/12 08:03pm |
General RVing Issues
|
|
RE: hunting island sp s.c.
CLICK HERE for a photo of site 107 at Hunting Island SP. Enjoy your stay!
|
VE3ESN
|
03/20/12 05:52am |
RV Parks, National Parks, State Campgrounds & More
|
|
RE: Class B owners in Ontario: Did you get a letter from M.O.T.?
Below is an email response received today from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, so I suppose that this matter is now settled:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your email inquiring about the letter you received regarding 15 Passenger Buses and the legislative requirements for those types of vehicles.
This letter was sent out to owners of vehicles that are built on a chassis that is commonly used in the manufacturing of 15 passenger vans. We are aware that this type of chassis is also used for manufacturing recreational vehicles.
If your vehicle is a recreational vehicle and does not have a designed seating capacity for 10 or more passengers it would not be deemed a bus and the requirements indicated in the letter will not apply.
I apologize for any inconvenience or concern this may have caused. Be advised that I have taken the liberty of forwarding your suggestion to the office that is responsible for vehicle registration.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact me by email or at the number below.
Thank you for taking the time to clarify the requirements regarding these vehicles.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
VE3ESN
|
03/19/12 11:30am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Class B owners in Ontario: Did you get a letter from M.O.T.?
Probably when the OPs chassis was made into an RV and not a small bus or delivery van at 'wherever'....'wherever' should have probably informed the Ontario DMV...but did not.
Thanks for your comments! I'm starting to think that I'm the only one to have received a letter......but the guy at the Ministry of Transportation did say he's received lots of phone calls.
The thing with the Roadtrek is that they buy the "complete van", not the chassis, so the original V.I.N. stays with the registration. Then Roadtrek modifies the van into a class B RV.
It seems that the M.O.T. is somehow unaware of this conversion into an RV, and also don't know how many of these vans were ultimately converted into 15-passenger vans. That's why the letter has apparently gone out to many van owners who DON'T have a 15-passenger van.
|
VE3ESN
|
03/18/12 10:27am |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Class B owners in Ontario: Did you get a letter from M.O.T.?
The main point of this thread has been lost due to several posts regarding the tragic accident involving a 15-passenger van. This horrible event had little to do with my original post.
Perhaps I wasn't clear enough initially, so I'm going to try again.
If your class B recreational vehicle, or "van conversion" is registered in the Province of Ontario, the Ministry of Transportation does not have any record of the true nature of your vehicle, and therefore considers that all such vehicles could be 15-passenger vans.
This is because the Ontario M.O.T. only records the vehicle identification number (V.I.N.), and not the current use of the vehicle.
In our case, we have a 1996 Dodge B3500 van which Roadtrek converted into our "Versatile" model of RV. I believe that this RV information should be recorded on the vehicle registration as well as the V.I.N. If that was done, I (and I suspect many other class B owners in Ontario) would NOT have received a letter that stated, at the end of the first paragraph "As a registered owner of one of these vehicles i.e. a 15-passenger van , we wish to remind you of the requirements and rules".
Even though the representative of the Road User Safety Division, M.O.T. told me to "ignore the letter", I do plan to follow up with a written suggestion that our registration paper (or ownership certificate as we call it here in Ontario) clearly lists the true use of the vehicle.
Finally, please folks, of course the accident cited in the letter from the M.O.T. was horrific, but let's please stick to the topic at hand. Thanks.
|
VE3ESN
|
03/14/12 05:46pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
Class B owners in Ontario: Did you get a letter from M.O.T.?
We received a letter yesterday, and I spoke to a M.O.T. rep. today. The letter has to do with the tragic collision involving migrant workers in February, where the driver of a 15-passenger van didn't have the appropriate licence. The letter stated: "As a registered owner of one of these vehicles, we wish to remind you of the requirements and rules".
Apparently the M.O.T. in Ontario has no way of determining that our vehicle is actually a RV. The ownership shows the V.I.N. (in our case a 1996 Dodge) which could have been a 15-passenger van, but of course is not.
It's obvious that the way the ownership certificate lists the vehicle is the problem here, and it is also obvious that the M.O.T. spent (wasted?) a lot of money in mailing out these letters to so many people in error. The rep. told me that he has received many phone calls, and expects more. Of course, he told me to ignore the letter, but I did have the opportunity to express my views regarding designation of the vehicle on the ownership certificate.
Just wondering if only Dodge "B" owners in Ontario received this letter, or did Chevy and Ford owners get them as well?
|
VE3ESN
|
03/13/12 08:45pm |
Class B - Camping Van Conversions
|
|
RE: Computer security software question
When we bought our Dell Laptop, it came bundled with a lot of "bloatware", among them McAfee. Being quite "green" at the time, when the trial version of McAfee ran out, we decided to pay for another year. Obviously, we had no idea what we were doing. Over time, the computer got slower and slower, until it was barely crawling. After a bit of research it was discovered that McAfee (and the older Norton AFAIK) were big-time resource hogs. After much difficulty in uninstalling McAfee (they do make this hard, on purpose, right?), MS Security essentials was installed, and after the first run, it found 2 trojans that McAfee had never picked up, and suddenly, the laptop was much faster.
As our knowledge further improved, we installed CCleaner and Malwarebytes, and run them every several days. The three programs play together very well, and in conjunction with Google Chrome and Web of Trust, we have a secure and fast computer. Like a previous poster said about Norton, you couldn't pay us to return to McAfee. And if this free stuff ever fails to meet our now higher expectations, there are other free alternatives to try.
|
VE3ESN
|
03/07/12 06:13pm |
Technology Corner
|
|
RE: Route 522 in West Virginia
Thanks to all for the great advice. We're looking forward to the trip, and actually will try to stop in Berkley Springs for a bit if time permits.
|
VE3ESN
|
03/06/12 06:36pm |
Roads and Routes
|
|
