Mobile Satellite Internet Solutions for RVs

Mobile satellite solutions for RVs are available in two different models. The newest type is a fixed, rooftop-mounted dish that automatically deploys on command whenever you access the controller hardware or custom software on your computer. The older, less expensive type is available as a tripod style system that features a satellite dish mounted to a stand. The system must be set up in a clear area outside of the RV and manually pointed to a satellite using a GPS whenever the RV has relocated. A rooftop dish is ideal for RVers who move around frequently and need to get online quickly in locations ranging from parking lots to campgrounds. A manual tripod satellite system is good for casual users who stay in one place for long periods of time.

The rooftop satellite Internet system is the most technically challenging and complicated system to add to an RV and must be installed by a professional. Both types of systems require an initial hardware and installation investment of anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the type of bandwidth you require. Users also pay a monthly access fee that allows online access. The access fee varies depending on the type of connection you require, but it generally starts at about $60 per month (as of publication date). Subscription programs are available in different bandwidth packages for casual users, small businesses and enterprise-level companies. Users requiring heavy amounts of bandwidth will pay more per month.

All types of mobile satellite Internet systems will allow you to get online anywhere and anytime in the U.S., Canada or Mexico as long as you can get a clear view of the southern sky (where the vast majority of satellites are located). Even when cell service is non-existent, such as when you're parked in a deep canyon out of range of cell phone towers, you can get online and conduct business as usual with a satellite signal. Certain systems will also allow you to add a module to the transmitter that enables you to get satellite television channels. You can continue using the dish from the comfort of your home when your RV is parked.

Mobile satellite systems are expensive, and they are not for the technically-challenged RVer. They require a basic understanding of networking hardware and Internet software. Users with rooftop systems will also need to possess a degree of mechanical aptitude since these dishes have moving parts which sometimes require maintenance and repair when far from a service provider. Rooftop system users must also pay attention to where they park the RV, since one tree branch can block a satellite dish's view of the southern sky. Because of the length of time it takes a signal to travel to and from the satellite, connection time is slower than other types of Internet connectivity, and conducting Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone and video chats is practically impossible with these latency issues.