Providing seamless WiFi coverage across an entire campground or RV park is a significant challenge for many owners and managers. The expansive outdoor spaces, varied terrain, and numerous obstacles like trees and buildings can make it difficult to deliver a strong, reliable signal to every guest. As a result, many campgrounds struggle with dead zones and inconsistent connectivity, leading to guest frustration.

Fortunately, with the right expertise and technology, it’s possible to overcome these hurdles. Our solutions are designed for indoors and outdoor environments such as campgrounds, RV Parks, helping hospitality business owners achieve full WiFi coverage so every guest can enjoy fast, dependable Internet access no matter where they are in a campground and RV park.

Almost all campgrounds and RV parks provide WiFi Internet for guests and visitors. An outdoor wireless access point provides the WiFi signal, and that connects back to the Internet with an Ethernet cable. A typical campground or RV park WiFi installation is shown in the diagram. The campground or RV park usually has some method to generate access codes for guests in order to control who has access to the Internet. Many campgrounds and RV parks use the STAR-1 kit to generate WiFi access codes to guests.

One common complaint is that a guest will tell you that he or she cannot get the WiFi signal where they are camped or parked. Lets list the reasons first why the WiFi range is short.

• WiFi was developed as a wireless data connection for use inside buildings, when used outside the signal strength is reduced by high humidity and by rain.
• WiFi is a low wireless power and short-range technology, in the USA the FCC sets the maximum wireless power limit and each country sets a maximum power limit. Low power reduces interference with other devices but reduces the range.
• The wireless access point antenna type determines the maximum transmission distance; two antenna examples are listed below.
  • Most wireless access points have an omni-directional antenna. This is low cost and easy to install with 360-degree coverage around the antenna, however the range is short.
  • A directional antenna gives a longer range and the sector is the best type of directional antenna (seen on all cell phone towers). The sector antenna is expensive and it requires installation on a tower.
• Buildings and trees block the WiFi signal. To get good communication the WiFi device user must be able to see the wireless access point antenna, which means installing the antenna at a high point.
• A wireless access point has a limit of the number of people that can connect to it, more expensive wireless access points can connect more people.

To get the best possible WiFi coverage throughout a large campground or RV park area there are two options.

• Install an antenna tower in the center of the area that must be taller than the tree height. Install wireless access points with sector antennas at the top of the tower. A sector antenna has a coverage arc of 120 degrees so three wireless access points plus sector antennas are required. The three wireless access points will connect to a GIS-R4 WiFi controller that displays the login page and checks the access codes provided by guests. The tower will need electrical power and a fiber optic cable to connect back to the main building where the Internet access is located. If the Internet service is Starlink then the Starlink antenna can be installed at the top of the tower eliminating the fiber optic cable. This is exactly how mobile phone towers are built as the mobile operators want to cover a large area.

• Install many smaller wireless access points around the park area, the lowest cost approach is to install a wireless mesh however this can have performance problems and there will still be dead spots where there is no WiFi coverage. It is necessary to provide power at each of the mesh wireless locations and this can be solar power with batteries to avoid running a power cable to each wireless mesh location.

Two points are clear from the examples above. The first point is that either installation can only be done by experts, each requires a project with planning. Each may also require permits for the installation work. The second point is that both types of installation are very expensive and even if the guests are paying for the Internet service, the business owner is unlikely to get a return on this investment.

The best compromise for both the business owner and the guest who wants free or cheap Internet is to provide a good WiFi area for guests that has tables and chairs, and a cover from the rain or sun. The business owner can also sell refreshments to the people who are using the Internet service. If there is a large crowd using the Internet then the business owner can also sell food or invite a food truck business to the location.

One final opportunity for the RV park owner is to sell WiFi antenna receivers to RV owners, although RV owners may have this installed. This installation is shown in the diagram. The antenna on the roof of the RV can connect to your central antenna over a much longer distance than a mobile phone can.

A popular WiFi antenna for RV’s is manufactured by Wineguard and can be installed by any RV service center or by the RV owner with the tools and experience.

What is the final conclusion?

While it is technically possible to cover a large campground or RV park with a WiFi signal it is not economically viable, the cost is very high and the return is small even if charging the guests for the service.

What is economically viable is to provide a comfortable WiFi area with good seating and tables, a cover from rain or sun, and food and drink for the people who want to connect to the Internet. The campground or RV store can also sell WiFi range extenders that will help campers and RV owners connect to the WiFi over longer distances.

For any questions about this article please contact us at:
info@wispzone.com