Destiny RV Resort resident uses his WiFi-connected laptop at the park. Life on the road isn't what it used to be.
For owners of recreational vehicles who demand the best in life, today's higher-end homes on wheels contain everything from chandeliers and hardwood floors to rooftop satellite dishes and high-definition televisions.
Now, as more travelers add laptops to their inventory of must-have accessories, RV owners and the parks that cater to them are adding another item to their wish lists: high-speed wireless Internet access.
In a move to generate extra cash and attract new patrons, a growing number of upscale RV parks are rolling out networks that allow users to connect throughout their facilities using Wi-Fi technology.
"A lot of parks are realizing that Wi-Fi is not only a luxury, it's also a necessity," said Randy Hendrickson, general manager of Destiny RV Resorts, which operates parks in Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Blythe, California. He said he believes offering Wi-Fi will help the parks draw a younger and more tech-oriented set of patrons.
"We have people who are actually working full time from their computer on the road," he said. "And we need to offer a service that's attractive to them."
Mike Hinkle, co-author of a guide to modem-friendly campgrounds, says the push for faster connections makes sense given that, by his estimate, more than 80 percent of RV owners already expect to have some kind of Internet access on the road. Although Wi-Fi access is still rare, the majority of parks do offer some form of Internet service, usually by dialup modem.
According to TengoInternet, an Austin, Texas, firm that specializes in building Wi-Fi networks for the lodging industry, wireless soon could gain the upper hand.
"The uptake in RV parks has been going so fast that it's absorbing all of our bandwidth," said Marty Heaner, TengoInternet's chief technology officer. So far, he said, the company has outfitted a half-dozen RV parks with Wi-Fi. It currently is evaluating the feasibility of installing Wi-Fi in close to 50 additional facilities.
The networks, which offer wireless connection speeds that are 10 to 20 times faster than a standard dialup connection, are finding an eager audience among RV owners.
For David Fife, a minister who traded his house for the "RV lifestyle" three years ago, the flexibility of a fast wireless connection is far superior to his old dialup.
Prior to getting his Wi-Fi card two weeks ago, Fife, a guest at Destiny's Dallas facility, had checked e-mail and surfed the Internet on his laptop by connecting to either a land line or a cell phone. Neither provided the speed he now gets.
"I really enjoy sitting out by the picnic tables or finding a tree and sitting under it. It really allows me to do that without cumbersome wiring," he said.
Parks that offer Wi-Fi typically charge a few dollars a day for the service, with discounts for longer-term guests. Destiny, for example, which currently offers Wi-Fi in Dallas and plans to introduce it at its three other sites this year, charges $4 for each day of use or $35 a month. Other parks in Texas, Arizona and Florida that have wireless networks charge similar prices.
But as some RV campgrounds rush to roll out high-speed networks, other park owners contend that it's the lower-bandwidth applications that their patrons are most interested in obtaining.
"They want to check their e-mail every day or two," said Alma Zieger, owner of Paul's RV Park in Brownsville, Texas, which attracts many retirees. "It's an easier way for kids to stay in touch with grandparents."
As more RV owners learn about the wonders of Wi-Fi, however, Hendrickson predicts they will gravitate to parks that provide the service. In particular, he expects RV owners will enjoy having the ability to surf the Net outdoors.
"Because the entire park is outfitted with this, you can literally sit by the pool and do all the work you need to do," he said.
Of course, given the amount that some RV owners spend decking out their vehicles -- according to several park owners, it's not unheard of for luxury models to cost upward of $1 million -- many will be happy to stay wirelessly connected inside their traveling homes.
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