How To Get Internet Service When You're On The Road

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With remote work and remote learning on the rise, why continue to stay at home? As long as you have some form of Wi-Fi, you can work from anywhere in the country or even the world. From public Wi-Fi, to wireless hotspots and satellite internet; these types of internet allow subscribers to work, learn and entertain themselves from wherever they want. Let's take an in-depth look at all three options so you can make an informed choice on what internet solution is right for you.

Public Wi-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is everywhere nowadays. You won't have to look too hard to find public Wi-Fi while you're on the road. There were estimated to be more than 450 million public Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide last year according to Statista, a global statistics research company. While on the road, you can find public Wi-Fi available at coffee shops, restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and most other places where you like to shop. As long as you patronize the business with the Wi-Fi, it's generally free to use. 

While this is great, public Wi-Fi also comes with its disadvantages as well. Public Wi-Fi is slow. In fact it tends to be much slower than your internet connection at home. It's also not very secure either. On public Wi-Fi you won't want to access anything that requires sensitive personal information unless you absolutely have to. Try not to log into your online banking, bills, payment information, or any other information that a cybercriminal would like to get their hands on. To get around this you could protect yourself and your information by using a VPN every time while being connected to any public Wi-Fi network.

Wireless Hotspots & Mobile Broadband

If public Wi-Fi isn't a realistic option and you'd prefer to have internet on you no matter where you are; a wireless hotspot might be the best solution for you. You have a few options; you can either use the hotspot feature on your smartphone or you can get a separate mobile broadband device. The hotspot feature on your phone will work great for a singular device, but if you often travel with friends or family, a mobile broadband device would be the ideal option. With wireless hotspots, you'll also have a more secure connection available in most areas throughout the country. Your connection will also be substantially faster than public Wi-Fi or any other internet service you could get on the road.

There are a few disadvantages with wireless hotspots as well. It generally isn't cheap, may require an additional device, and some require credit checks. If you have a smartphone now, you know that every carrier's coverage area is slightly different and not all of them have 5G access. You may have to settle for 4G LTE or more legacy internet in less densely populated areas.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is an option if public Wi-Fi and a wireless hotspot are out of the question. However, we don't necessarily recommend it, but we feel obligated to mention it since many serious RVers do use it. Satellite can be an option if you like to be on the road but also stop frequently in more remote and rural locations for extended periods of time.

Unfortunately, satellite internet may not be a viable option for many as it is very cost prohibitive. You'll need to invest a significant amount of money upfront, costing you as low as a few hundred dollars up to tens of thousands, just for the equipment before your monthly service fee. In addition, satellite internet does not reach the same fast speeds that wireless hotspots do. However, if remote and rural areas are where you're primarily travelling to on the road, a wireless hotspot could very likely not have the coverage area you need to use it satisfactorily.

Tips For Staying Connected Safely While On The Road

If you're new to remote work or travelling often, here are some tips that'll help you stay connected safely while on the road:

● Use A VPN: A VPN is added protection to your devices while they're connected to a public or shared network. It gives you the privacy you don't have while connected. It works by creating an encrypted tunnel for your internet traffic, protecting your devices, information and current cyber threats.

● Use Internet Security: Connecting to public Wi-Fi can be risky. It opens your devices up to whatever security threats are currently on the network. Using internet security will cost you extra money each month, but it will also keep viruses, worms and other security threats out.

● Don't Leave Your Devices Unattended: While you're using public Wi-Fi, you may have to get up to order a coffee or use the restroom. No matter what you do, don't leave your devices unattended for any amount of time. You never know who may be watching and someone could steal your devices in a matter of seconds.

● Try To Work On Off Peak Hours: If you can help it, try to work on off peak hours. With public Wi-Fi, overcrowding is easy and therefore will deliver much slower speeds than usual.