Campgrounds and RV parks all have a demand for WiFi Internet access

Campers and RV'ers all look for Internet access when they are making camping or RV park reservations. Families want WiFi for social media and entertainment, and remote workers want WiFi so that they can work. A campground or RV park that does not have an Internet service will have fewer bookings than businesses that do provide Internet.

A campground or RV park needs an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide the Internet connection. The preferred method of connection is using fiber as that service provides the highest data speeds. If fiber is not available then a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) connection to a 5G tower may be possible. The business can connect to a 5G tower, using a modem and then share the service with guests. When there is no terrestrial Internet connection available the remaining method is connecting to the Internet via a satellite service, with Starlink providing the faster Internet service that can be shared with guests.

When a business shares an Internet service with guests an Internet controller is essential to prevent abuse of the service

For example, Starlink has several requirements that should be observed.

• Prevent sharing of copyrighted files.
• Don’t use excessive monthly data, or else get a data plan where additional data is paid for.
• Don’t cause Starlink network congestion by connecting too many people without controls.

Guest Internet controllers have features that prevent the Starlink service being abused.

• Block file sharing services such as Torrent that is used to share copyrighted files.
• Generate access codes for the WiFi that are given only to guests, prevent neighbors getting free Internet.
• Set data limits with each code to prevent exceeding monthly data quotas.
• Set download and upload data speed limits with each code to share the available bandwidth and prevent network congestion.

Guest Internet controllers have the access code management described above, and have many other features that add value to the campground or RV park business. Other essential features are listed below.

• Simple to install by anyone who can use a computer, full instructions are provided.
• A branded and customized login page that can be used for advertising the business activities and also sell advertising space to other businesses such as food trucks.
• On-line credit card billing to charge for the Internet service.
• Access code voucher printing and also a Point of Sale (PoS) service to sell Internet access in the campground or RV park office.
• Monitoring all the network components and the ISP service for failure, and send out an alert if a failure occurs.
• A cloud management system to manage the WiFi Internet service remotely, and also manage multiple sites if required by a franchise business.
• Reports monitor use of the Internet, check for ISP connection overload, and used to block anyone abusing the service.
• A powerful firewall that prevents sharing of the service with others, blocks any attempted unauthorized access, and has a PCI DSS compliant firewall to protect the business PoS terminal from attack.

The installation of the WiFi Internet system depends entirely on the geography of the location.

Three methods of providing WiFi Internet for guests using Guest Internet controllers and a Starlink antenna are described below with accompanying diagrams

Provide Internet WiFi in a radius around the office building

Install the Starlink antenna on the roof of the office building. Install the Guest Internet STAR-1 kit wireless controller, the GIS-K7 on the roof of the office building to provide a WiFi service around the building.

Connect the GIS-K7 Ethernet cable to the Starlink router. This installation will provide up to 100Mb/s bandwidth that can be shared with 25 to 50 people depending on the data speed set for each person’s access code.

Access codes can be generated using the GIS-K7 and printed as vouchers. The kit has full instructions and can be installed by the campground or RV park owner.

Provide Internet WiFi in a much larger radius around the office building for more people

Install the Starlink antenna on the roof of the office building. Install the Guest Internet STAR-7 kit, which includes the GIS-R4 Internet controller inside the building and the powerful WAP-5 wireless access point on the roof of the building to provide a WiFi service around the building.

The WAP-5 provides a much greater WiFi connection range than the GIS-K7. This installation will provide the maximum data speed of the Starlink antenna for guests (up to 200Mb/s bandwidth or higher with the priority Starlink service) that can be shared with 50 to 100 people depending on the data speed set for each persons access code.

The GIS-R4 can provide credit card billing, can print access code vouchers and can also install the point of sale terminal using the Guest Internet GIS-TP1 ticket printer. The kit has full instructions and can be installed by the campground or RV park owner.

Provide Internet WiFi at several points around the property