Wifi or not at new RV park

[catfishhoward]

I'm looking at buying a piece of property to put 10 RV sites on in Florida but there is no internet in the area where the land is and the only cell phone that works is Verizon. Is having no wifi a deal breaker for most full time or snow bird RV'ers or do most people have a mobile hot spot anyway? North of Destin there's not much cell service so many have Verizon, what is the most common cell provider for most full time RV's?

The land is on an old pecan plantation and I plan on planting some fruit trees like fig and avocado around the property, pretty much just trying to make it a nice quiet RV park with about 70' from each other for privacy.

 

[Jim]

Looks like a nice setup @catfishhoward .

 

[Neal]

No. Most RVers don’t expect campground WiFi to be a usable feature. If you can get it and offer sufficient speeds it’s a bonus otherwise the destination is more important.

 

[catfishhoward]

Looks like a nice setup @catfishhoward .
[/QUOTE

Thanks.

 

[catfishhoward]

No. Most RVers don’t expect campground WiFi to be a usable feature. If you can get it and offer sufficient speeds it’s a bonus otherwise the destination is more important.

Thanks, I been at a RV park for 5 months looking for land, they have wifi but the 1 week I was pull the little hair I had left out fighting with the speed so I just ended up getting a hotspot. I fiqured most park are slow with the large number of site and most people have hotspot anyway, but I don't know.

Maybe it would be better to look into a tv service for each site since that streaming tv is what runs up hotspot data?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

It would be a deal-breaker for me. I want, at least, e-mail capability and cell phone service. You have to have cell service in order to have a "hotspot" AFAIK. Maybe the technical wizards don't, but I'm not in that category.

TJ

 

[catfishhoward]

It would be a deal-breaker for me. I want, at least, e-mail capability and cell phone service. You have to have cell service in order to have a "hotspot" AFAIK. Maybe the technical wizards don't, but I'm not in that category.

TJ

Thanks, I wish it had AT&T also but it's hard to pass up such a nice property, with all the renters in the panhandle I'm thinking 10 spots shouldn't be hard to rent all year? But they would have to have Verizon.

 

[catfishhoward]

I found out today I can have DirecTV on each lot for $10 a month that way campers don't feel that they have to have a hotspot for TV services. The cell service is good enough to check emails, make calls or even surf the web on their phone it's just not the fastest or most reliable. I also figured most full-time RVers or snowbirds more than likely have cell phone boosters which should increase the service even more.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

What is it they say "location, location, location", So that said if I am expected to pay a bunch, I expect a bunch, not a compromise. In my book DTV is a compromise.

If cell service is weak because it has to many customers in an area, if cable is not an option so that you can offer high speed wifi. If you want to make good money, because you can charge for something other than a compromise. Your location better have something really good to offer. Most of the time I boondock because the big draw is in the mind of the owner of the park and not real.

This is only to help you make a informed choice, and is not intended as a stab in your plan.

 

[Jim]

Your location better have something really good to offer.

I am also opening up a small RV park. Mine will only have 8 pads so obviously I'm not looking to get rich on this thing. And one of the realities of owning a "small" RV park is you have to pick your clientele and cater to that group. It's just not monetarily feasible to provide all the amenities that the larger parks offer.

I'm out in the woods so to speak, and there is -0- cell service and -0- Internet. The only TV we can get out here is Dish or Direct TV. So on the surface it may look like we will have -0- clients as well. But what we have found is the 55+ group with higher end MH's, seems to like the idea just fine.

They already have satellites on their rigs, so no reason for me to provide it again. And while it's true most of them have said they would like cell service, many have said they can live without it, provided they don't have to go to far to get a signal to check emails. (Note: There is an empty cell tower a mile from us and I am working hard to get one of the carriers to install some equipment. If I am successful, that will cure the cell service issue.) Internet hasn't been that big a deal to many in this group as they are looking for a beautiful place to chill (so to speak) and spend time with family and friends.

And while it may sound like a strange model, we are not looking for RV'ers who want a pool, hot tub, tennis court, etc. If that is what you want, I suggest one of the resorts in Florida. But if you want a secluded and private place with full hookups, your own screened in gazebo, beautiful long range mountain views, hiking trails, wildlife and firefly's at night, then we are that spot.

 

[Neal]

I found out today I can have DirecTV on each lot for $10 a month that way campers don't feel that they have to have a hotspot for TV services. The cell service is good enough to check emails, make calls or even surf the web on their phone it's just not the fastest or most reliable. I also figured most full-time RVers or snowbirds more than likely have cell phone boosters which should increase the service even more.

In my opinion, vote size 1: I wouldn't wasted money on providing that service. You'll pay some amount that you'll have to recoup and therefore charge higher rates. For those of us that want TV we'll bring our own either OTA or SAT. Most want Internet and through that guests can stream if speeds are sufficient but most don't offer good enough WiFi. Destination and amenities are most important and DTV is not something that would bring me to your CG or return for that matter. Level sites, hookups, dog park, pool, fire pits, restrooms for those that need them, etc.

 

[catfishhoward]

I went by the site today and hooked up a weboost, I believe each site would have 3mg down and 1mb upload if they have a booster, both AT&t and Verizon picked up. I was able to check emails and even look on YouTube but definitely not fast enough to run a desktop or computer.

The weird thing is I was able to get signals of -85 on LTE 13 band. Shouldn't the speed test be faster than 3 mg and 1 mg.

Florida there are hundreds of RV parks where they're crammed in like sardines my whole thing was to have a secluded park where you have a private site separated by at least 75 ft. I would have concrete RV slabs, fire pit, grills, picnic table, dog park, small laundry room and a bunch of fruit trees around the property trying to make it as nice as I can and rent to the older retirees around here for $700 a month. Keep my price up a little high to where I don't get the bad elements in there, as far as DirecTV if it's only $83 a month for all 10 sites is definitely a good feature might cost me three to five thousand initial setup but I would think that would definitely be a good addition especially I don't have high speed internet.

 

[catfishhoward]

I might have to take more pecan trees down then I like to give a better signal but it would make the park a safer place as well, don't want to 50 foot pecan tree coming down on a RV. I will do a lot of replanting though with smaller fruit trees which will shade the RVs in the future but they won't be tall enough to block the boosters especially if I provide a telescopic pole at each site.

 

[jmltech]

Be careful with how many fruit trees you have. Sounds really nice, until you find out that the mature trees have a lot of fruit and start dropping and rotting on the ground. Then you have problems with flies and rodents.

 

[catfishhoward]

Be careful with how many fruit trees you have. Sounds really nice, until you find out that the mature trees have a lot of fruit and start dropping and rotting on the ground. Then you have problems with flies and rodents.

Good point, thanks.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

And while it may sound like a strange model, we are not looking for RV'ers who want a pool, hot tub, tennis court, etc. If that is what you want, I suggest one of the resorts in Florida. But if you want a secluded and private place with full hookups, your own screened in gazebo, beautiful long range mountain views, hiking trails, wildlife and firefly's at night, then we are that spot.

Thank you for making my point, "Location, Location, Location". I am still waiting for local entertainment that will keep me Happy without Internet...

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I went by the site today and hooked up a weboost, I believe each site would have 3mg down and 1mb upload if they have a booster, both AT&t and Verizon picked up. I was able to check emails and even look on YouTube but definitely not fast enough to run a desktop or computer.

The weird thing is I was able to get signals of -85 on LTE 13 band. Shouldn't the speed test be faster than 3 mg and 1 mg.

Speed comes with enough infrastructure, no matter the signal strength. The weekends in my stomping grounds see many young families streaming to babysit the kids. This forces me to take the weekend off, not because the signal drops, but because the towers won't handle the load.

What is the draw that gets me to your place to begin with? How can I run my business from the Rigg without internet. Even the satellite internet is slow for that, that is why I use my phone, it is faster.

I will stop if the attraction is worth reporting but otherwise I won't know you are there. I may stop if the infrastructure will support a couple days of down time. So I repeat, what will attract me to your location? I can stay in a truck stop for one night on my way to Epcot center, or NASA, or other such attraction worth the report. If you can't answer this look for a better location.

I get it my 83 rigg may not make it in your future park, mostly because of the 15 year limit. However most RV parks see the attraction of a well restored classic and will let me in.

 

[catfishhoward]

Speed comes with enough infrastructure, no matter the signal strength. The weekends in my stomping grounds see many young families streaming to babysit the kids. This forces me to take the weekend off, not because the signal drops, but because the towers won't handle the load.

What is the draw that gets me to your place to begin with? How can I run my business from the Rigg without internet. Even the satellite internet is slow for that, that is why I use my phone, it is faster.

I will stop if the attraction is worth reporting but otherwise I won't know you are there. I may stop if the infrastructure will support a couple days of down time. So I repeat, what will attract me to your location? I can stay in a truck stop for one night on my way to Epcot center, or NASA, or other such attraction worth the report. If you can't answer this look for a better location.

I get it my 83 rigg may not make it in your future park, mostly because of the 15 year limit. However most RV parks see the attraction of a well restored classic and will let me in.

Thanks for the reply. The only attraction per say is that it's more of a private camping spot with spaces between RV of at least 75' in the county. I've been staying in a park for 5 months with neighbors so close I can hear them talking in their RV and when they shut the door it shakes my RV? I've looked every where for a private site to rent, over 5 counties and nothing. So i figure if there is 200+/- FULLTIME RV'ers around the area at least 10 might want to be in a nice country setting in a quiet private RV spot. It's also that I'm not renting to weekend campers looking for daily attractions, I'll require a 1 or 2 week minimum stays. It's also 1 hr to Panama City Beach and 1hr 15min to Destin.

I'm going to buy the property since it has a home, pole barn, pond, storm shelter, lawn mower, ATV and tractor already. Buying this property outside of town will give me more money to make the sites really nice. It comes down to my budget and finding a property with a home already on it for me to live. I agree wifi for me as a camper would also be a must but I guess I'm rolling the dice and hoping to find 10 renters.

 

[catfishhoward]

Even the satellite internet is slow for that, that is why I use my phone, it is faster.

I also work from home as a cad-tech for a surveying firm and If I can't boost my cell signal to get me 10 mbs down and 3 mbs up I would get a satellite internet. Will the satellite internet systems get you at least 10 mbs and 3 mbs? The park I'm at now is less than that and the speed is just fine.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Got it.

True story. I was traveling across Texas years ago in one of my past Vintage trailers (before they became the thing),The park owner offered to buy my trailer for a more than reasonable price. Puzzled I asked why he wanted it. He wanted to make his own attraction, a museum to showcase the history of RV history. He had a nice park but not much around to attract visitors.

I have many stories, but most have the same bi-line. Seems country living close to town is what you offer. If you can't fill it up, consider how you might make the park the attraction.