5 RV Internet Solutions: Stay Connected on the Road

Do you want to stay connected while on the road? Here are our top five RV internet solutions that kept us connected, productive and entertained while traveling full-time via RV.

Sometimes I kind of resent the power it has over me.

It’s strange to resent something and be thankful for it at the same time, but that’s how I feel about our RV internet solutions as we travel full time.

Our internet connection is absolutely necessary, making great things possible. And yet the pursuit of that connection seems to occupy far too much of my mind space and time on far too many occasions.

No matter how you might feel about staying connected on the road, it is essential for “digital nomads” like ourselves to have access to the internet.

First, a big caveat. I do not know everything there is to know about “mobile connectivity.” Even after a year and a half on the road, staying connected with a strong signal continues to be an elusive goal.

Try working from a boondocking site in central Arizona; that’s a big challenge!

That said, I have discovered ways to improve our access to a wireless connection and have narrowed down the list of great products that enhance overall signal strength.

Today I share how we traveled for over a year, lived in an RV, discovered outdoor adventures in national parks, while also building our online businesses. To succeed it was imperative we had the best internet options for RVers.

So let’s jump in and review my list of top recommendations for an RV internet connection.

RV Internet Solutions to Stay Connected

I have to start by acknowledging our success was due in part to our unlimited data plan. If we did not have unlimited cellular data, we would have been up a creek without a paddle (and without much money).

During the month before we left on our big family RV adventure, I stumbled into an Unlimited Data plan with Verizon Wireless.

Many a jealous full-time RVer has confirmed for me that the Verizon plan is pure gold.

Unfortunately, that particular plan is no longer available, but keep it in mind as you read through our recommendations for mobile hotspots and boosters. You may already have a mobile data plan that will work or is even a better option.

Mobile Hotspot

Our Verizon Unlimited Data plan is actually called “The New Verizon Plan Unlimited”. The cost is $110 per month for this plan (based on my info).

On this plan, we have 15 GB of 4G LTE hotspot data per device, per month included. For us, this is a total of 60 GB on our four iPhones alone (when four of us are in the RV most of the year) and is what made RV internet service possible for us.

Everything else below is pretty much built on top of this solid foundation that Verizon has provided. So let’s keep it rolling.

Add-On Jetpack Hotspot

A Verizon Jetpack Review

In addition to our phones, I purchased a mobile hotspot, the Verizon Jetpack 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot – AC791L, for about $200 through Verizon Wireless shortly after we hit the road. This provides another 15 GB of high speed hotspot data per month for our RV internet service.

We are able to connect up to 15 wireless devices to this hotspot, so it more than meets our needs.

In total, this gives us up to 75 GB of high speed 4G LTE hotspot data per month through our Verizon plan. This is normally how the majority of our work gets done.

When we have used up the 4G LTE data on a device (this happens fairly often), the 3G speeds it drops to are sometimes still adequate to continue working at a fast pace. It just depends completely on our location at the time and on the “heftiness” of the work being done.

What About the Non-Hotspot Data?

Of course, we have plenty more 4G LTE data to use beyond that hotspot data I’ve been talking about, because this is an unlimited data plan. Officially, Verizon is free to slow down our data on a device after 22 GB of high speed data usage.

Have we experienced that slow down? No.

I don’t want to throw around the figures for total data that we have used monthly over this past year, but let’s just say that we have gone well into the triple digits (GB of data) on multiple occasions without any noticeable data slowdown. I know…we have been pretty shocked as well!

Total Verizon Wireless Cost?

As I mentioned, the Unlimited Data plan through Verizon has a sticker price of $110 per month.

When you tack on the line access fees ($20 per device), we hit a grand total of $210 per month to cover the vast majority of our data needs, excluding any payments for the devices.

Is that all we need? Well, sort of.

weBoost Drive 4G & 5G

Before we hit the road, I still felt pretty clueless about the internet for RVers game.

With everything else I had on my plate (as a complete newbie to RVing and towing, with selling the house, etc.), I simply had to set this on the back burner in order to not blow a gasket.

I figured we would just have to get it figured out as we hit the road and encountered connection problems. I needed experience on the road before working out the optimal solution.

Essentially, I did not want to be throwing away good money on technology we might not even need. That’s reasonable, right?

But I also knew I needed to have something in place for the “rough spots” we would inevitably hit.

Enter the weBoost Drive Sleek to give us a little bit of peace of mind. This device is designed to boost a cell tower signal up to 32x when you find yourself in a spot with a weak (but existing) signal.

Be Aware of Two Things Before Purchasing this Device:

1. If you have ZERO signal from your cell service provider in a location, this will not be useful. It boosts an existing, weak signal. So it will not solve all of your RV internet connection problems.
2. This product is a cradle for boosting only one device at a time. You can place a cell phone or a mobile hotspot in the cradle in order to boost the cell signal to only that device.

This device got us through the first six months on the road. It was not ideal for our situation obviously, since we had 5-6 cellular devices in the RV at any time. But we made it work even through the rough spots.

I didn’t gather “empirical” data (testing connection speeds with and without the signal booster) on this device, but it seemed to enhance our ability to get work done when the connection was otherwise too weak to load a webpage.

Eventually, however, we needed something a bit “beefier” that was capable of boosting the cell signal for multiple devices simultaneously.

weBoost Drive 4G-M Booster

For us, the next logical signal boosting option that would work in our 26-ft travel trailer was the weBoost Drive 4G-M.

I’ll be honest, this option was enticing, but it’s pricey by comparison. What flipped my decision to spend the extra money was a promotional offer.

Like many of the essential RV accessories we purchased, we bought this on Amazon. Keep a look out for Prime Day and other discount seasons, such as around the holidays.

With this new cell phone signal booster, everyone in the family benefits. We can all simultaneously receive a boosted signal. That’s a major advantage for enabling everyone to stay productive and still get all of us out of the RV in time for a nice afternoon hike.

RV Size Matters

weBoost makes other cell signal booster products that might be a better fit for you and your RV.

Take note that the size of your rig matters. If the external antenna (which pulls in the weaker cell signal) and the internal antenna (which broadcasts the boosted cell signal inside the RV) are too close together, you will experience frequency modulation.

Frequency modulation means that these two signals are interfering with each other because of their strength and proximity to each other. In essence, you will lose any “boosting” benefit that the device is trying to provide.

If you have a 5th wheel or Class A motorhome that is closer to 35 or 40 feet in length, the Drive Reach RV model may be the right choice and provide you with maximum boost.

Please do your own research before making a purchase to ensure the product is compatible with your rig.

Lightning Digital AV Adapter

All of the internet solutions and devices I’ve covered so far would definitely fall under the “necessities” category. They get us up and running and able to get our work done with a reasonable amount of predictability.

But a digital AV adapter is more of a nice-to-have option. Actually, it’s more of a very-nice-to-have option.

It’s not critical or required for an internet connection, but it adds value for family entertainment purposes.

The Apple iPhone to HDMI Adapter can be purchased from Amazon or at an Apple store. It enables a connection between your iPhone or iPad and an external screen via HDMI cable.

Moreover, displaying your selected movie on the larger screen is done without using Hotspot data. It only uses regular data via your iPhone or iPad.

As an added bonus, your device will charge through the adapter while streaming your favorite show. This little device enhances RV living, especially during those rainy days. Bring on family movie night!

Tips and Resources for RV Internet

Here’s the truth: We probably have done less to prepare ourselves for a reliable internet connection than most full-time RV families.

Many families we have met have data plans with at least two cellular carriers. The top two carriers for overall coverage and for popularity are definitely Verizon and AT&T.

Sprint and T-Mobile lack nationwide reach (especially the remote areas) and continue to trail the top two carriers.

Additional Resources for RV Internet

If you are considering hitting the road, I encourage you to go take a peek at the Two Steps Beyond Coverage.

The app was created by the same folks who run Technomadia and the Mobile Internet Resource Center . Chris Dunphy and Cherie Ve Ard are hardcore techies! They cover everything you could ever want to know (and more) about staying connected on the road.

They offer a lot of free information, certainly enough to get you started. They also offer a premium access level for the minutiae and nitty gritty details about staying connected on the road.

Don’t Forget WiFi Connections

In addition to boosting and expanding your cellular plan, be sure to explore WiFi connectivity options. Establishing your WiFi options will help you stay connected without relying solely on multiple cellular carriers.

There are many WiFi signal boosting devices designed to help you to take advantage of free internet connections. You will be connected in no time at campgrounds, libraries, and even some mall parking lots.

Conclusion: RV Internet Solutions

When you work remotely and use that opportunity to also travel extensively, an internet connection is a priority. It’s critical in order to stay connected and remain productive. There is no doubt about that.

Don’t worry, we don’t work all the time! Probably less than we should, honestly.

Hopefully I shed a bit of light on the best way to stay connected from an RV. It is possible to be both productive and entertained during your time on the open road.

You probably still have a lot of work before finalizing your decision. We wish you the best of luck finding the best RV Internet solution! And with that, I will wrap this up and let you dive in.

But after that research phase, remember to get outside, enjoy the sunshine, and keep on TREKKN!

Todd Bonner

Todd loves a competitive game of table tennis, a breathtaking hike, and exploring new places. He lived and traveled in an RV with his family as they traveled throughout much of the US and parts of Canada. Todd has extensive knowledge about RV travel, safety, and accessories and has shared many of his stories here on TREKKN. When he’s not busy launching and building small businesses, you may find him staring at pictures of Glacier National Park (probably his favorite spot on earth).