tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post4368464559748120610..comments2024-03-28T08:26:58.108-04:00Comments on Our Odyssey: Yosemite in high seasonLouisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06306854459459257368noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-4870616517369859022009-08-19T23:48:40.001-04:002009-08-19T23:48:40.001-04:00Sean & Louise,
I'm envious of your trip th...Sean & Louise,<br />I'm envious of your trip through Yosemite and the eastern Sierra. Some of my favorite distinations are on backroads and lakes between Sonora Pass and Bridgeport. Many adventures there (most of them good). Nice memories of camping with our tiny little boys and their grandparents. Then trips with much bigger boys. One time we even serendiptously ran into my dad's half-brother at a lake in the middle of the Hoover Wilderness. I looked up at this man who looked so much like my dad and said "Uncle Craig????." Sure enough, and I marched him and his girlfriend back to our campsite where my parents were also camped. We spent the next week traveling through the Sierra together. I hadn't seen him in 10 years and my boys had never met one of the nicest characters in the family.<br />I love your updates. --Donna D.Donna Dimmickhttp://www.dimmick.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-88346312235497219092009-08-19T22:41:22.172-04:002009-08-19T22:41:22.172-04:00OK. You're WAY over my head in tech knowledge...OK. You're WAY over my head in tech knowledge. I'm more of a plug and play sort of a gal. You're right about the mi-fi's limitations. Every Christmas we travel to an area of Colorado that has iffy cell service reception. That will be the test for us. At the moment, we're not bloggers. But, that might change once we hit the road. Maybe then we'll need to have multiple ways to access the internet. But, that's Woody's dept. I just plug and play~or not.<br /><br />Wow. Your memory is impressive. Yes, I retired from teaching (Kindergarten). 37 years was enough.<br /><br />I know what you mean about the Silver Strand. You probably now that Ahhhhnold wants to close some State Parks. SS is on the hit list. Or, at least it was last time I checked (which was a long time ago). <br /><br />Maybe we will see you on the road.Sandybeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-45966954629212935802009-08-19T20:45:16.440-04:002009-08-19T20:45:16.440-04:00@Sandybee: We have considered 3G cellular, and oc...@Sandybee: We have considered 3G cellular, and occasionally still think about getting it as a backup to our satellite. (Specifically, I am thinking about changing my Blackberry over to a plan that allows tethering, which would more or less fit the bill.)<br /><br />Sorry to say, though, that most such devices would not work at Crane Flat, nor at many of the places we park. The Mi-Fi router requires access to Verizon's 3G cellular network to work.<br /><br />Neither of us had a signal at the Crane Flat campground -- I have Sprint and Louise has Verizon. Although I was able to make a phone call about half a mile away, at the gas station, by standing in just the right spot and holding my arm up just so :)<br /><br />Since we park so many places that have no cell signal at all, satellite Internet is a better choice for us, but we acknowledge that 3G cellular is a better choice for many others.<br /><br />I like the Mi-Fi product because it is well packaged, compact, and battery operated, which makes it a good choice for travelers working out of a suitcase. However most RVers would probably be better off with a more generic 3G-to-WiFi router that accepts USB or PC-Card 3G "air cards." This will let you choose an air card that accepts an external high gain antenna, which will increase coverage in those marginal signal areas (one may very well work even in Crane Flat and other parts of Yosemite). Of course, with the Mi-Fi you can always just put the whole unit up on the roof in low signal areas to increase range.<br /><br />Another advantage of a more generic router is that the Mi-Fi "Personal Hotspot" ties you to one carrier (Verizon); switching to, say, Sprint would require replacing the whole device, whereas with a split setup, you would merely need to insert a different air card.<br /><br />The service plans for the Mi-Fi unit and normal air cards are the same. I admit, when 3G is available, these connections are much "faster" than our satellite, but the 5gb limit would also be a significant issue for us. Our ~$65 per month satellite plan is more like a terabyte.<br /><br />It really all comes down to how you use your rig and your internet. One of my stock seminar topics at rallies is wireless access on the road, and I discuss the pros and cons of 3G cellular, satellite, and subscription Wi-Fi services.<br /><br />BTW, congrats on your retirement (from teaching, wasn't it?). We do remember meeting you at Silver Strand. I am sorry to say that the reservation system now in place there likely means we will not be able to return; on our last excursion to San Diego we ended up staying at Shelter Island instead.<br /><br />Good luck in your travels, and perhaps we will meet again on the road.Seanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930398671280529448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6208406.post-63579304817596944272009-08-19T20:02:58.058-04:002009-08-19T20:02:58.058-04:00Hi Sean & Louise~
I met you briefly about 5 ye...Hi Sean & Louise~<br />I met you briefly about 5 years ago when you visited Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado. My husband, Woody, and I are getting ready to hit the road now that I've retired. Something we bought for our 5th wheel is a mi-fi. It's a cellular high speed modem, router, and a wi-fi hotspot all in one unit. It's about the same size as an iPhone. It runs on batteries or plugged in. We bought ours through Verizon. We pay $60 a month for 5 Gigs a month. It goes almost as fast as the cable at home. You might want to check into it as then you wouldn't have to park in the open for your satellite dish. We love it.Sandybeenoreply@blogger.com