How to Get Wi-Fi While Living in a Van?
Going off-grid can be a great way to relax, recharge, and restore.
Many people champion the great outdoors as the ideal escape from the constant barrage of technology, the 24-hour news cycle, and doom-scrolling addictions…but for most vanlifers – who have taken the idea of “remote” work to a new extreme – unplugging is a luxury we literally can’t afford.
So....How do adventurous remote workers track down wi-fi in the wi-ld?
RELATED: How Do I Make Money On The Road? (new blog post coming soon). Check back for a deep dive on how I fund my travels with my voiceover website, affiliate marketing, OnlyVans, and *NPR voice* support from viewers like you ;)
In this day and age, you’d think something called the World Wide Web would be pretty easy to access, right? Welp! It can be trickier than you think! While there’s no one-size-fits all solution, there are handful of options to pick from.
Here are 5 Ways to stay connected On the Road:
Mobile Hotspot Device
Smartphone
Starlink
HomeFi
Public
Mobile Hotspot Device
Mobile hotspots are personal, portable routers. Typically, you purchase one of these devices and then select a data plan to connect to it. Prices vary based on which provider, the quality of the device, and the amount of data you choose.
A few examples:
Note: specs at the time this blog was published (October 5, 2023) are intended as an overview of the variables at play when comparing options and are subject to change. This is a competitive, fast moving industry, so be sure to conduct your own comparison research and select the solution that is right for you!
Device: As low as $5.55/mo for 36 months or $199.99 (full retail)
Data Plans:
$45/line per month for 60GB
$75/line per month for 100GB
Device: Starting at $8.25/mo. for 24 months or $198 (full retail)
Data Plan:
$50/month for 100GB
Device: AT&T offers $12.78/ month or $459.99 (full retail)
Data Plans:
$55/month for 50GB
$90/month for 100GB
.
Fun Fact: your smartphone – yes, the one in your hand right now that would rather be scrolling through Pinterest – is a hotspot device! (see below!)
Smartphone as a hotspot
If you have a smart phone with a data plan, chances are, you already have a mobile internet solution right in your pocket!
You can think of your smartphone as just a fancier version of the devices listed above that has more functionalities (ex: text/phone/facetime, camera, compass, calculator, navigation, CandyCrush, watch/timer, music player, etc.) in addition to its hotspot capabilities.
Check your plan with your current provider so see how you can harness your personal cell phone as an internet hotspot. Ask about adding another line or using an existing line as a dedicated hotspot phone.
How To Turn On Your Personal Mobile Hotspot:
(On an iPhone) Settings → Personal Hotspot → Turn On → Create Password → Connect Via Wifi
Your smartphone hotspot on its own may not have quite enough data to meet your needs. My first month on the road, I blew through the 5GB of hotspot data included in my Verizon family plan in just two weeks (I was even connecting to local wi-fi networks as often as possible and stayed at a few friends’ houses (see below)...then again I was also working a remote 9to5 and binging a few too many shows on Netflix…)
Another downside is that you’re limited to your carrier’s cell signal coverage.
If you’re in an area where AT&T’s LTE is LTD, you may be SOL…
A lot of vanlifers will cover their bases by using their smartphone hotspot under their normal carrier (ex: Verizon) and purchasing a hotspot device/plan through a different carrier (ex: T-Mobile) so that they have more options of coverage as they travel through different areas.
Starlink Roam
An internet solution that relies on satellites rather than cell tower coverage is Starlink.
Internet speeds can vary based on population density, peak usage times, and…tree branches!
Though I don’t have my own Starlink, I have used it at campgrounds.
Remind me to tell you about the time Starlink helped me perform Shakespeare via Zoom from a campground admin office during a stranger’s wedding…
Plenty of other vanlifers have done extensive reviews of Starlink. For more critical feedback check out this article by Roadtrippers:
What RVers Need to Know About Starlink
Plan your next trip, find amazing places, and take fascinating detours with the #1 trip planner.
Every trip is a road trip!
Click here to see more of Rachel & Rollsbud’s Stamps of Approval
While your phone, mobile hotspot devices, and HomeFi (see below) can be charged via 12V USB, Starlink requires more power.
Yes, Starlink out performs cell service hotspots in more remote areas, but those remote areas are also less likely to have sources of shore power… something to consider!
With monthly rates starting at >$150/month and an initial equipment cost of $599, Starlink Roam is far and away the most expensive option.
The trade off is on-the-go connectivity with unlimited data, which, honestly, is a pretty big bang even if it is a lot of bucks.
HomeFi
As you can tell from the options above…mobile internet solutions can be expensive, limited to a single provider, and often require purchasing additional equipment.
HomeFi is an affordable month-to-month internet provider that latches onto the strongest available cell signal, and the rented router is included in your payment (starting at $80 for 200GB).
HomeFi is the #1 internet solution that
Rollsbud & I use on the road.
This little orange hockey puck is my HomeFi personal, portable router in action at my home away from home office overlooking the Middlebury Falls in Middlebury, VT.
I LOVE my HomeFi. You might say we have a strong connection ;)
In fact, we’re connected right now.
My one caveat… like the other mobile hotspot devices already mentioned, when there is fewer than one-ish bars of cell signal, it’s basically a colorful paperweight… so, if you’re regularly headed to truly remote areas, I’d recommend investing in a cell signal booster like WeBoost.
weBoost Drive X RV
Voted “Best Overall” by Forbes Home.
Last but not least,
Public Wi-Fi
Plenty of vanlifers manage just fine without immediate and constant access to internet. It just takes a bit of patience, planning, and creativity.
Public Places I use for “Free” Wi-Fi
Coffeeshops & Breweries - Support the local economy and get a taste for the community by visiting a coffeeshop or brewery. More often than not, you can find full bars at the bar! Some folks question whether or not this solution is really “free,” but it’s still one of my favorite ways to get online.
The fine folks at Good Water Brewery (740 Marshall Ave, Williston, Vermont 05495) even let me park overnight after I stopped in for a flight and some internet access. Your local coffeeshop may come with some similar “perks.”
Parking lots - most places that allow overnight parking often have public wi-fi networks that reach the parking lot. I make no guarantees, but most Walmarts, Cracker Barrels, truck stops, churches, metro parks etc. can provide decent wi-fi networks.
Friends & Family - it’s good to have friends in wi-fi places. Coordinate with loved ones to bum some internet. There have a been a few times I have asked to darken someone’s driveway because I had a live directed session with a voiceover client and wanted to be sure we’d stay connected. Use this solution sparingly.
Thank you cards go a long way.
Public Libraries - I could go on and on about how much I love libraries and what an under utilized resource they are. For remote workers, they’re quiet, clean, air conditioned, and FREE places to knock out some great work. Remind me to tell you about the time I stopped by the Millinocket Memorial Library, and came out with a free lunch, new friends, and directions to a great brewery that led to the adventure of a lifetime.
Pro tip: Folks that rely on the wi-fi of others often recommend a wi-fi extender like these:
How to pick the right internet solution for you:
When prepping for life on the road, decision paralysis is around every corner.
Where should we go first? How much power do we need? Which vent fan is better: Fan-tastic Vent or Maxx Air Fan?! Which internet solution will fit my needs?!
Wooo! Deep breath, cutie!
Take stock - ask yourself [and your travel partner(s)] some of these example questions:
How much are you paying for internet access now?
What hotspot options are already available to you through your cell phone provider?
What is your ideal monthly budget?
Are you funding your travel from a fixed nestegg, on-the-go gig work, or will you have a regular paycheck? None of the above?
How long do you expect to live on the road?
Will you be traveling full time? Just weekends? Three months on, three months off?
Does your job or lifestyle require daily access to internet?
Does your job or lifestyle require regular downloads/uploads?
Does your job or lifestyle require regular video conference calls?
Would your current employer help subsidize the cost of your internet needs on the road?
Do you need steady internet access while your rig is in motion or can you wait to connect when you park for the night?
How many people will need access to internet at a time?
How many devices need to be connected at a time?
Are your intended destinations in remote areas, far away from cell phone towers?
Are your intended destinations in heavily wooded areas or will you have open sky?
Is it important to you to be able to stream shows/movies/games 5+ nights/wk?
Keep a diary
Make a running list of how often you get online in a day.
Go camping or hiking in an area without reception* and track how often you find yourself reaching for your phone to hop on the world wide web.
Treat yourself to a cute National Park themed “field notes” notebook to make your research feel a little more like an adventure and less like homework.
Take a test drive
HomeFi offers a 7-day free trial. If you need more than seven days, it’s a month to month plan (no contracts). If it’s not the right solution, send back the rented router and try the next solution on your list.
Starlink offers a 30-day trial.
So how do vanlifers get wifi on the road?
Ultimately, the choice is yours! I hope this article gave you a better idea of the options available and that you find a your perfect solution!
Let the voice adventures begin.
Much love,
Rachel & Rollsbud
My HomeFi router helped me stay connected even from this picnic bench at Verona Beach State Park (Verona Beach,NY) while I built voice-adventures.com. What can HomeFi help you achieve? Follow the link to get 10% OFF and get connected!
