The Digital RVer

Internet in Your Pocket - or Glovebox

2009-11-21T04:35:00.000-08:00

I've used a decent variety of mobile broadband adapters over the years, as I've tried to stay connected on the road. Some combinations work better than others. And nearly all fail at times - mostly dependent on where I was at the time. I recently used the Verizon Wireless MiFi, and had a pretty good experience.

The MiFi is a small device - about the size of a smartphone. It's role in the world is to connect to the Verizon Wireless network and allow any device to connect to the Internet through its WiFi connection. So, basically, it's a hotspot that you can carry with you.

This is not a new idea, of course. I've tried and written about these kinds of systems over the last 5 years or so. What sets the MiFi apart is mainly its size, which also makes it convenient. The other thing that sets it apart is that it's linked to a Verizon account, just like a cell phone.

Using the MiFi was dead simple. I turned it on and gave it a minute or so to find a signal. When it's lights turned the proper colors, indicating an active connection, I let my laptop discover local networks. It found the MiFi, and let me connect just as with any other WiFi connection.

The connection quality was decent, but not great. My opinion and experience with Verizon Wireless is that in most locations it's possible to get some kind of connection. In my little town, Verizon piggybacks over a local carrier's towers, and does not offer 3G speeds. That means that the connection works, but is excruciatingly slow. Still, I'll take slow over no. And as we left the area, and traveled the Interstate, the signal got significantly better.

Size is a big deal for this device - actually it's a 'small' deal because I was able to slip the MiFi into a pocket and stil use it. Very convenient.

The MiFI is available from Verizon Wireless, Sprint, AT&T, and probably a few other carriers. The price is right at (usually) about $100, but you'll need to sign up for a 2 year contract at about $70/month to get that pricing. This is what irks me about all the carriers. I'd prefer to buy the device at retail - about $200 - and pay monthly for service as I need it. But even if I do that, all the carriers want exorbitant fees for part time use, or a 2 year contract anyhow. Argghhh. (end of rant)

It supports up to 5 connections, so you can connect all the family laptops (depending on the size of your family). Obviously, all connections share the same bandwidth, so streaming video and music, not to mention downloads will affect everyone using the connection.

I like a lot of things about the MiFi - most significantly its size and simplicity.

RV users of Starband satellite Internet in miff

2009-10-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Keeping a solid Internet connection will RVing can be a challenge, particularly for those who boondock in the less populated areas of the country. We know, we've been Quartzsite denizens for years, and getting onto the web can be a major challenge in this land of nebulous connectivity.

A few years ago we made the jump and signed up for satellite Internet service. In Quartzsite, your choices are most decidedly few: Dial up, or trusting in the local wifi purveyor, who makes many claims, but sad to say, the coverage is spotty at best. It wasn't the easy road to travel, but we eventually had a satellite connection. Faster than dial up, Starband seemed like the answer to our Internet problem. We upgraded our system a couple of years ago, meaning new equipment, but with the new system came the opportunity to set up a "home network," which allows both of us to work on the web at the same time.

A couple of months ago Starband announced it was moving its customers from one satellite to another. We complied, and after a day's worth of grumbling and sweating, we finally got connected up on the new bird. We thought the tough part was over: Silly us.

Our dealer said most customers were singing the Hosannas of faster downloads. Within 24 hours we were on the phone trying to get an explanation of why it took five minutes or longer to simply download the Yahoo home page--when it would download. Trying to reach technical support was a major laugher--can you say hanging around on hold while your cell phone time ticks away like the sand in the hourglass?

We finally got the dealer on the horn. His explanation was that since so many Starband customers were being switched to the new satellite, it was tying up system bandwidth. After we suggested we were considering going to a broadband card through Verizon, he pleaded that we'd stick it out through another week, and to sweeten the deal, he'd see to it we got paid for a month's worth of satellite service.

We write this post from the Quartzsite library. We can't even log in to update posts using the satellite system; e-mail downloads like a slug in wet cement. We know of other RVers with Starband service--one of them sold us on it to start with. But don't ask us how things are going for them--we simply can't reach them.

Entertainment on the RV road

2009-08-20T13:08:00.001-07:00

Many campgrounds have cable TV, but particularly for those RVers depending on off-air TV signals, the advent of digital television with its shorter broadcast distance, means you may not be able to get as many (or any at all) channels in the same locations you had great reception in last year. Here are a few options.

On one of my last excursions I had spotty Internet connectivity. The problems were brought on by a combination of satellite Internet through DirectWay and enthusiastic Internet users who overloaded the bandwidth provided by DirectWay. Keep in mind that the services I'm recommending here depend on having good connectivity and generous limits on data transfer volumes. I have not measured the requirements of each of these, but they are all in the 'more than e-mail' load category, and lower than what it takes to download streams of MP3 files.

That said, if your campground provides decent WiFi to your site, you should be able to take advantage of at least some of these services. If you have your own wireless broadband connection via one of the cellular services, with a 5gb/month limit, you are likely to be able to get decent performance, but need to check your usage as you go. Overusing the allotted capacity can be expensive.

TV
The easiest and least taxing on your bandwidth is simply finding the local television station's Internet channel. These are usually pretty good for keeping up with local news and weather. You'll also find coverage of wider interest, but for national and international news, CNN, Fox News, or other news sources work well.

If your television interests are more focused on entertainment, HULU is a great source. HULU streams movie trailers, TV episodes, and lots of other content. You're likely to find the full series of your favorite shows there. But as a word of caution, this kind of streaming video is one of those that eats into your available bandwidth and your download allotment. The quality of your viewing depends on how good your Internet connection is at the time you're watching.

Movies
You may have brought a few DVDs with you, that you got from Netflix before you left the driveway. Depending on your Netflix account level, you can watch a certain number of hours of Netflix movies through your online connection. While you have over 100,000 DVD movies available through the traditional Netflix delivery service, there are "only" about 12,000 available for online viewing.

There are lots of other services offering television and movie viewing online. Some of them are legitimate, and some of them just want you to install their viewer on your computer, which can be a security risk depending on the company. If you've found any providers that offer good selections and service, without any burdensome requirements, post them here for us.

Music
Of course, there's always AM and FM radio, and for many of us, there's satellite radio as well. One other option is the plethora of Internet radio available. One of the most interesting is Pandora. Pandora lets you find exactly the song or artist you want to listen to, then builds a listening series based on your preferences. It's a free service, and in terms of bandwidth requirements, is significantly less a hog than any of the video services.

Equipment
It may seem obvious, but it's worth mentioning that all these services are available through your computer (not your television). I dusted off an old laptop computer and mounted it under my television set, then connected the VGA port on the laptop to the VGA adapter on my flat panel TV. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse to control the TV/computer combination from the sitting area. If your TV doesn't have the proper connection, you can simply watch the videos on your laptop screen - maybe not as large as you'd like, but probably much better resolution.

I also ran a wire from the laptop to the 'aux' input on my camper's sound system. This makes for a nice distribution of the sound through much better speakers than those installed in either my laptop or my TV.

Above all, be sure to watch out for bandwidth and download limitations. You'll know immediately if you are overstretching the bandwidth available because you'll get pauses and hesitation in your video. It's not so easy to know about download volumes, so find out from your Internet provider where to check, and do so often.

Follow Scott Koegler on Twitter.

Connecting - or Not

2009-08-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is not one of my usual product eval/reviews. Rather, I thought I'd describe my trials during our current camping trip with regard to being able to be connected to the internet.

For better or for worse, when I travel / camp, I'm never away from my work. Of course the good part of that is that I can travel pretty much whenever and wherever I like. The converse is that I'm pretty much always working - at least for some part of the day. But I'm fortunate in that I love what I do, and as long as I have a decent internet connection, I'm able to accomplish most of what I need to get done. And that's where this post begins... getting and staying connected in less than optimum conditions.

I've stayed in plenty of great campgrounds that offer well managed and speedy WiFi service - often for free. And I've stayed in places that don't offer WiFi, which is why I carry both AT&T and Sprint wireless broadband cards with me. During all my travels last year, I was able to connect using one of the setups.

This week's trip is a 10 day stay at a beautiful, well managed campground New River Junction in SW VA. Our site is directly on the New River, and we've taken advantage of tubing and canoing the river during our stay. The campground advertises free WiFi, and even has a directional antenna with a decent booster attached. I was expecting good things and easy connectivity during the week.

After setting up and getting comfortable, I decided to check my email. I was able to connect to the camp's network using the access code provided at the office, and my email began to appear - slowly. No problem; I'm connected and getting what I needed for the time being.

The next day, connectivity was a different story. I was able to connect to the network, but could not get to any web sites. The camp office doesn't open till 11:00 am, but unconcerned, I switched on my camper's own router using my AT&T card. After waiting a few minutes, I was able to connect to the network, but it seemed that AT&T service was unavailable in this large, remote valley. On to the next option...

I inserted my iPass card (Sprint service) and fired up a connection. Happily, I was able to get a slow, but usable connection, even though the connection reported itself as Roaming. I guessed that I should conclude my business and terminate the roaming connection ASAP, which I did.

I should say here that I was probably able to get the Sprint connection, only because I have a decent cellular booster that uses a trucker's antenna mounted atop the camper. Still, it was not a happy situation.

When the campground office opened, I asked about the connection, and found that the local cable company doesn't support this area, DSL service has just recently been announced here, but is not installed yet, and the current connection is a satellite connection through DirectWay. I've used satellite connections before, and they have been passable, but using one as a campground's main connection is fraught with issues, and one of them was showing itself.

Satellite providers have pretty restrictive 'fair use' policies that limit how much bandwidth can be consumed at any given time, and for how many megabytes of download. In a campground, it's likely that any number of campers might decide to
a) download some music
b) listen to internet radio
c) play a Netflix video
d) watch a Hulu tv episode
e) browse Youtube videos
f) have a video chat over Skype
g) ... well you get the idea

It seems this happens regularly here and has been a source of consistent outages, as DirectWay simply shuts off the service when it determines its bandwidth limits have been exceeded. In fact, it shuts down the service for 24 hours. The campground owner explained that he's contacted DirectWay about this, but they won't budge in restoring service ahead of time. His only recourse is to pay for more bandwidth, but I expect there is no capacity that is likely to be 'enough' for this situation.

So what was my solution? I waited for the campground to clear out on Monday when service was restored, and even then I decided that a trip to Barnes & Noble for coffee and free (fast) WiFi was the thing to do. I was able to get the majority of my work done in a couple of hours, then return to the campground and spend most of the rest of the day sitting in my chair - in the river.

After all, there's got to be at least some time for non-tech camping, right?

Are You On the Centerline?

2009-08-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

Most RVs are wider than the typical passenger vehicle - or at least that's how it seems when you're pulling a rig, or driving a motor home. I'm always checking my passenger side mirror and center line to make sure I'm not hanging over the line, particularly when I'm in heavy traffic, or on a narrow road. But a couple weeks ago I discovered a little gem that, after installing it, seemed like one of those 'duh' moments.

The device is called LaneSeeker and is a nice solution to the problem of trying to stay within the lines on the road. In itself, LaneSeeker is a LED light mounted on a plastic strip that attaches via suction cups to your windshields. The LED runs on AA battery pack. Installation is simple, and consists of mounting the plastic strip on the inside of your windshield so that the LED lines up between your eyes and the center line.

What does this accomplish? Simple... it provides a point of reference for you and your position on the road. The first step in installation is to park your vehicle about 12 to 18 inches from a center line. The instructions recommend finding a parking lot or other non-busy location, and stopping your vehicle at an appropriate distance from the line. In other words, at about the distance you would normally want to drive in relation to the center line. Once you've parked, position the plastic strip and LED on the windshield, sit in your normal position, and adjust the LED from side to side on the strip, till it lines up with the center line.

It really is a simple approach. Once positioned, you can judge your position on the road by lining up the LED with the center line, and you know that you're about 12 to 18 inches from the center line.

I used the LaneSeeker on a recent trip, and it worked nicely. I found that I wasn't constantly checking the right side mirror for the position of the edge of the road. I was more constantly looking at the LED, and keeping it on track. During the day, I turned on the LED to make it a stand out a bit more from the bright sun. At night, I turned it on to make the reference point more visible.

I wondered if simply putting a strip of tape on the windshield, in place of the LED might serve the same purpose, and in some ways it does the job just as well. However, the tape only works well in daylight since I wasn't able to see the tape well at night. Also, the battery pack provides a simple power source for the LED, but I'm certain the first time I forget to turn it off, the batteries will be dead next time I try to turn it on. I think that an option to plug the LaneSeeker into a cigarette lighter socket would make for more reliable use.

At any rate, for $30 or less the LaneSeeker is a nice addition that reduces my driving stress, and keeps me from wandering into my neighbors' paths.

Kill the Noise in Your Head

2009-07-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

I've been using the Klipsch S4 in-ear phones for the last few weeks. These phones are billed as noise reduction units. You may already know that there are two main types of noise reduction phones - passive and active. The Klipsch units are of the passive variety.

Passive means that there are no special electronics reversing the signal of the ambient sounds, and feeding the results back into the sound stream, thereby cancelling the background noise. If you've used these, you know they are amazing, but they also produce some side effects, the main one being the feeling of some kind of pressure on your ear drums. The Klipsch design simply blocks your ears as do normal earplugs, and inserts the sound from the speakers directly into your ears.

Do they work? Absolutely. In fact, they block not only the ambient background noise, but they also block pretty much everything else in the area. This makes them great for those times you want to zone out the rest of the world, and concentrate on what you want to listen to.

I attempted to use the S4 while driving, but quickly remebered that first - it's not a good idea to tune out all road noise while you're driving, and second - it's illegal in most states to do so. That gave me a good excuse to change seats with my alternate driver; my wife, so I could continue my testing.

As it turns out, my testing went well, and I was able to listen to my podcasts and music without distratcions. In fact, I couldn't even hear my wife, as she sat next to me when she asked a question. Depending on your state of mind, and your relationship, this may not be a good thing.

I also had occasion to use the S4 on an airplane trip, and the unit did a great job filtering out engine noise. One side benefit of blocking background noise is that you don't need to turn up the volume to ear-damaging levels, in order to hear what you want to hear.

I recommend them for those times you want solitude. Just be sure you follow the rules of the road, and the rules of civility when you use them.

RVing Sport Geocaching, Nets California Parks Guidelines

2009-05-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Geocaching--that high-tech form of "hide and seek," has been an immense hit among many RVers. It's a natural--out of doors sport that nearly anyone can do, combined with computers and other high tech gadgets like GPS units.

But California State Parks folks want to make sure there's not too much of a good thing. Last week the agency released guidelines for geocaching on State Park lands. Here are the latest, "please do and don'ts."

· Caches may be allowed where they do not affect natural, cultural and historical resources, visitor safety or other park users.

· Caches are typically not allowed or encouraged in the following State Park System units:

-State Cultural Reserve
-State Natural Reserve
-State Historic Park and State Historic Monument
-State Wilderness

· Virtual caches are encouraged and must adhere to the applicable requirements used for physical caches.

· Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation, rocks or other features be marked or damaged in the process of placing, accessing or maintaining the cache.

· Physical caches are not permitted inside or upon any State Park facility or structure.

· Caches may not be permanently attached (glued, bolted, or screwed) to any historic structure, monument, archaeological, natural or geologic feature.

· Caches are not allowed within 300 feet of streams, marshes or sensitive water features.

· Caches may not be placed more than three feet from a designated trail.

Explaining the backdrop of the new guidelines, the state said, “We understand the popularity of this sport and the demand for it to continue,” said Tony Perez, Deputy Director for Operations for California State Parks. “Our concern is that many have secretly hidden such caches in places where repeated searches, successful and unsuccessful, have caused damage to facilities or natural areas. We are asking that visitors follow our guidelines and respect these fragile environments to insure they survive for the benefit of future generations.”

photo: Mat Honan on flickr.com

California Drivin'? Don't Text, Tommy!

2009-01-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

In what should be a real, "Duh!" situation, California has joined five other US states that prohibit drivers from driving and texting at the same time. Electronic billboards on the Interstate 5 corridor remind drivers to keep their texting for break times.

In a story appearing in the San Franciso Chronicle, "Texting while driving is so obviously unsafe that it's hard to imagine that anyone would attempt it," said Sen. Joe Simitian, the Palo Alto Democrat who was the author of the cell phone and text-messaging bills. "But everyday observation as well as statistical information from around the state and nation suggest otherwise."

Statistical information? Two different surveys revealed some scary ones. An insurance company poll revealed that some 19% respondents confessed to texting while driving; another poll showed over three-fourths of their respondents had sometime texted while driving. How can you text and drive? Use your knees to maintain the steering wheel, and hope nothing happens while your face is pointed at the display.

The results are carnage on a grand scale. Five teenage girls were killed in 2007 when the driver of their car smashed into a truck while texting. And need we mention the California metro train accident that took 25 lives whilst the train's engineer was keying text messages?

The California law's teeth aren't large: Senator Simitian figures first-time offenders will be out around $100. Other states where you can get a ticket for texting include Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota and New Jersey.

photo: tommy and georgie on flickr.com

New California law limits GPS placement on windshield

2009-01-11T11:43:00.000-08:00

Watch where you mount your GSP unit in California. It's now illegal to drive in the state with a GPS on most places on the windshield. Realistically, to stay within the law, users have to somehow affix the devices to the dash or use a bean-bag type holder. According to a state law that went into effect Jan. 1, a GPS device can be mounted on the windshield, but only in two places:

Within a "seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield" on the passenger side or within a "five-inch square in the lower corner" on the driver's side. The first position works if a passenger is the navigator. The second position reportedly works well for the driver.

The law reads: “No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.” So we also assumed you should remove that fuzzy pair of oversized dice you have hanging from your rear view mirror.

If you happen to get pulled over by a copy and cited for having your GSP in the wrong place (not likely) you will be given a ticket that says you need to change the GPS to a legal position. Once done, you can pay $10 and have the ticket removed from your record.

Using iPass - Pretty Much Wherever You Might Be

2008-11-03T13:26:00.000-08:00

Last week we pulled our camper to Columbia, SC. The drive itself was uneventful, with the weather crisping up as Autumn began to slide down the East Coast. We parked at the Mount Pleasant KOA, in the same spot we used last year, and met my parents who were making their annual pilgrimage from Ohio to Central Florida in their 42' Travel Supreme. And we also got to visit with our Niece, who lives in Charleston, so it's a great spot for a reunion.

Like most/all KOAs, Mount Pleasant offers free wifi service. Last year the service was marginal, but usable. This year, it had more problems than last, and while my wife's laptop could connect about 1/2 the time, I couldn't connect at all. That's when I fired up my own wifi router/wireless broadband, and my new iPass card. I let my wife connect to our router, and decided to try out the iPass on my laptop. Here's what I found...

iPass is a mix and match combination of service and hardware. The intent of iPass is to make it possible to get an internet connection wherever you might be, via either a wifi or wireless broadband connection. The heart of the service is the software that you install on your laptop that manages the subscription(s) you've signed up for.

I launched the iPassConnect software, and it immediately scanned my available connectivity options. It found the two wifi networks in the area: my personal wifi router, and the KOA's wifi service. It also identified the iPass PCMCIA card connected to the laptop. Each of the two wifi networks displayed connectivity strength, with (as expected) the campground network showing only 1 bar, while my own router showed 4 bars.

I selected the mobile data connection rather than either of the wifi networks, and the system dutifully initialized the card, and made the connection. I was able to get online in just a few seconds, and the internet speed test showed a download speed of just over 1 mb/sec, which was about twice what my wife was able to achieve when connected to the campground wifi. It was, however, equivalent to the speed delivered through our own router, which was what I expected, since both my router's broadband connection, and the iPass service were using Sprint.

The point of this experience is that I was able to pick and choose the connection I wanted based on what was available at the time and place. iPass also supports wired Ethernet, tethered cell phone connections, and even dialup, when absolutely necessary. The service is available internationally, which makes it great for business travelers.

The Windows (only) laptop plan I'm using includes both wifi and 3G wireless for $59.95/month. The company is offering a free 3G card with signup (at least at the time of this writing).

One added convenience, is the Handheld Hotspot Finder, which is a web site that lets you find the closest wifi hotspot. I was able to use it on my Windows 6 based Blackjack II, but you should be able to use any cell phone that has a browser and internet plan. In my area, it located 2 McDonald's, and displayed a map of the locations. The wifi subscription includes T-Mobile Hotspots, Borders, Starbucks, Hilton Hotels, FedEx Kinkos, and others. The iPass web site claims "100,000 premium locations around the world."

The iPass is now part of my permanent collection for travel I'm not certain I'll give up my router and USB connection, because it lets me connect my wife's computer, my Chumby, and my Archos MP3 device via wifi. But when I'm just carrying my laptop, the iPass is my first choice.

Connecting on the Road

2008-10-24T06:10:00.000-07:00

Last Summer, my wife, two dogs, and I spent 6 weeks traveling just over 6,000 miles across the US. It was a great trip, and we saw a lot of the country. While on the road, I blogged about it at bMighty.com, and tracked the trip destinations at Brightkite.com.

Because I'm not independently wealthy, I had to work while on the trip, and in addition to posting my blog entries, I needed to stay connected in order to publish my various newsletters. So, getting online in places like South Dacota, and central Wyoming were a challenge. I resorted to wireless broadband and wifi in the camper, but sometimes had to actually take the laptop into a cafe or campground office to make the connection.

This week I'll be pulling the camper to Charleston, SC, where I doubt I'll have any problem at all connecting. That's partially due to the fact that the campground has free wifi, but also due to the combination of connectivity products I now travel with.
Here's the list:

AT&T U727 wireless broadbandUSB device
iPass PCMCIA card/subscription (Sprint and wifi)
Blackjack II with modem tether service (also AT&T)
Wilson cellular booster in the van
Wilson cellular booster in the camper
zBoost YX230 cellular booster
NexAira wireless 3g broadband router

The nice thing is that when I'm able to connect to wifi at the campground, both my wife's and my own laptops are independent of pretty much the entire list above. But when campground wifi either isn't available, or simply sucks, I start powering up all the boosters, in search of a signal.
What's new to my list above is the iPass card, and it may be the most important, and flexible addition. I plan to put this service to the test over the next two weeks, as I'll be in the camper at both ends of the Carolinas. But here are the short details:

For $60/month (the same rate as my AT&T data tethering service) I get both unlimited Wifi and wireless broadband service all across North America. Now, I haven't checked, but if that truly does include Canada, it's even more of a bargain.

The service comes with a free PCMCIA card, though I would prefer a USB adapter (I just don't like all those little pins).

And the list of wifi connection locations is pretty impressive. Just McDonalds and Starbucks makes it likely you can find wifi in nearly any inhabited location.

More specifics when I'm done testing, but this makes me happy.
Scott

M-Rock Camera Belt and Bags

2008-07-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

I've been using the M-Rock camera bag and belt combination to carry my selection of cameras on this trip. In particular, I'm using this combination while climbing around the Grand Canyon. While I normally opt to carry my equipment in my hand, or around my neck, where I can easily get to it, I've decided that the proximity to imminent disaster (falling 3,000+ feet over the edge), dictates that my hands be used for grabbing things that can steady me.

The combination of bags I'm using hold my SLR, video camera, and miscellaneous items that I might want along the route. I'm not using the shoulder straps that come with the belt, because the weight of the equipment doesn't justify them. But having my equipment securely strapped around me, and protected by adequate padding, has saved both me and my cameras from being scuffed up a couple times already.

The Digital RV
Learn everything “digital” as it relates to an RVer: Connecting to the internet, enjoying a stereo system that weighs ounces, managing digital photos and more.

HiDef Video - Keep Them Informed

2008-07-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

I have a collection of 3 video cams on this excursion. Interestingly, I like all of them, but each for different reasons. Such is life, right? As for a recommendation, I can only say that each has its own best use. I've already covered the VADO here . The other two are the JVC Everio GZ-MG330RUS and DXG 569V. Two very different cameras... actually three, when you count the VADO.

The DXG is advertised as a high definition video camera. Technically speaking, it is just that. It has the 9:16 aspect ration, and records in high-def at 1280 x 720 at 30fps. I like that because it displays nicely on wide screen displays. It also has a very nice 3 inch LCD for recording and for viewing. Making the video recording even better, is the tiny LED light in the front. This helps (if only marginally) when recording in dim, but not dark, conditions.

The camera is easy to use, and also can record still images. I haven't used the still image capabilities much, because I have plenty of still digicams for that purpose, and the image quality is much better from them.

The 569V has a zoom feature, but as you might expect for its price (as low as $129 online), it is only a 2x digital zoom... nearly worthless in my opinion. That said, I think the video image produced by the camera is very good. Color rendition and clarity is worthy of the most important home videos. In fact I used it to record a series of video interviews at a conference. The video quality turned out nicely.

But that brings me to the greatest weakness of the unit. The microphone is located on top of the camera, facing up... not forward. That means you get great recordings of the person holding the camera, but nearly useless sound from the subject. A bad design, for sure.

The camera takes SD memory cards, and I was able to use 8GB cards in it, so there is plenty of record time.

The other nice touch is the software bundle that includes editing and uploading. During out current travels, I've used this to upload videos to Youtube and Flickr. My friends back home are ecstatic about being able to follow our trip through video and still images. You can see them for yourself here.

The Digital RV
Learn everything “digital” as it relates to an RVer: Connecting to the internet, enjoying a stereo system that weighs ounces, managing digital photos and more.

Carrying All That Gear

2008-06-28T06:47:00.000-07:00

I carry a lot of gadgets when I'm traveling, and it's always a pain trying to keep track of everything. That's true in general, but it's particularly true when I'm frequently in and out of the car, or even just walking through town or a campground. But I've found a couple of solutions that make life a little easier.

More importantly, the clothing from Scottevest let me carry a variety of items without looking like a geek... or worse, looking like a tourist. I have both the TEC Shirt and the Essential Jacket. The Essential Jacket converts from a jacket to a vest by unzipping the sleeves. But both, in fact all of the Scottevest products, incorporate the same kind of 'hidden pocket' function that I love.

The TEC Shirt is made of microfiber, and is predictably comfortable, not to mention warm. It looks like any comparable, stylish shirt, but has several pockets, accessible from both outside and inside the shirt. Here's the web site where you can get a better look, but here's a video I made of the shirt in action.

Charge it! All!

2008-06-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Our TT has what I would call a 'normal' number of AC outlets. Unfortunately, what's normal for most, is insufficient for a family with what many might consider to be an exorbitant number of things to plug in. Even with a bunch of outlet strips, the wall-warts take up a lot of room. Fortunately I found the Callpod Chargepod.

With the Chargepod I use a single AC outlet connected to the circular 'pod'. From there, I connect as many as 6 devices, each to its own connector. I like the convenience of the single adapter, plus it eliminates the tangle and confusion of all the chargers and wires I've had to unravel every time I needed to charge something. My wife likes that it keeps everything in one place, since I'm always trying to remember where I plugged in my (fill in the blank) when it's time to head out the door.

Video From Wherever

2008-06-21T03:59:00.000-07:00

All my life, I've been a still image kind of guy. And even on digital cams that have the ability to shoot video clips, I've never taken advantage of them. Video has always seemed inconvenient to me. The thought of editing clips, doing background sound, and burning CD/DVD copies seemed somehow to be way too much work, particularly when cruising around in the camper. But I'm becoming a convert to video, now that several tools are in place that make it so much easier to manage the process.

In particular, I like Creative's new VADO video camera. It's a successor to the first of it's kind, the Flip, that was developed specifically to take video clips destined for youtube.com and other online presentation/storage facilities.

The VADO is eminently pocketable, and easy to use with one hand. I've become used to carrying it around in my pocket and pushing the on button whenever something looks to be interesting. I have it set to "HQ", or high quality video, which will let me record up to 1 hour of video. The lower quality setting allows 2 hours, but there is a definite difference in the quality, and 2 hours just seems like a lot of video to me.

There is a 2x digital zoom on the unit, which I've used a couple of times. Digital zoom on a video cam is more useful than for still images, because I assume that I'll eventually edit / crop a still, but not a video. I've also been happy with the sound recording of the VADO. Not that it's particularly great, but it's adequate, and I think that's really the point of the whole thing.

But the payoff for these kinds of videos is in the ease of publishing them. The process is dead simple:

Pull the USB connector from its slot in the bottom of the VADO and insert it into an open USB port on your PC.
Allow the VADO application to launch.
Select the video clip you want to publish.
Click either Youtube or Photobucket as your publishing destination.
Enter a title and some descriptive text.
Click the Upload button.

And your video is published.

The quality is more than adequate, and for $99 (either in pink or in silver), the VADO is great fun for catching those fun, awkward, embarassing, unusual, etc... moments, and sharing them with the world.

Starbucks free (?) wifi needs shot of caffine

2008-06-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

When the big gorilla of coffee shop chains rolled out its "free wifi" offer, it appears that many thought the idea was grounds for the perfect arrangement. All that the company requires for two free hours of wifi access every day is to sign up for a $5 rewards card, or register an existing Starbucks gift card. Then, as long as you buy something with the card at least once a month, the two free wifi access hours remain.

So many have signed onto the idea, that many others are finding they can't get in on the deal. On trying to access the Starbucks' Card Rewards web site, some are being turned away by an error message, told to come back later. Starbucks says the problem is not that of AT&T, the wifi provider, but that of their own servers. They say they problem will be fixed soon, and that joe-imbibers will be able to get their daily fix of the internet, too.

Finding the Right Place

2008-05-31T12:18:00.000-07:00

We are preparing for our 6 week sojourn, and thankfully, all the important stops are reserved. I've always had difficulty finding campgrounds either along the way, or in particular places, even though I have several printed catalogs of campgrounds, and numerous online listings.

But today, I tried a web service that I hadn't seen previously. Before, I send you there, I want to preface with a bit of explanation about the evolution of today's internet, because recent changes in the way web sites are built have been instrumental in making this new campsite finder possible.

If you use any of the "web 2.0" sites like Google Maps, Facebook, Youtube, Flickr, Digg, or Skype (there are hundreds more), then you understand how these sites seem not only more fluid, but also very feature rich. Part of the reason for this is the ability these sites provide to software developers to combine the best parts of the sites with the best parts of other sites, and then with software they develop on their own. These so-called "Mashups" become something that the developers of the original applications likely never imagined.

Such is the case with RV Park Finder. This site uses Google Maps combined with a database of RV Parks, and some custom software that lets you select a state, that then displays the state map along with pointers to every listed park. Like many park lists, you can add your own, and comment on ones you know about. Unlike most others, there is no advertising on the site.

It works for the US and Canada (only), but in my limited experience so far, this is the most direct way to locate parks in North America. I was able to discover lots of parks I wasn't able to find in other lists, and booked 3 of them today.

Making Hitching Up Easier

2008-05-29T10:23:00.000-07:00

We are prepping for our cross-country trip this year. We will cover a little more than 6,000 miles, pulling our 32' TT with a Ford E-350 Extended van. The only real issue I had (other than paying for gas) was the wobbly nature of my 50'+ combination.

I've had a Reese dual-cam setup for a couple years, and it has done a decent job, but I decided to bite the bullet in advance of this trip, and get a Hensley Arrow hitch, and completely eliminate the sway factor. Fortunately, I found a used hitch on eBay, and was able to set it up without much difficulty.

I was warned, in advance that connecting up to the hitch was one of the (if the only) problem with using the Hensley. This trip will include unhooking/hooking almost every night, I knew I needed a reliable way to get the job done.

Since I had already installed a backup cam on the van, I decided to reposition the camera portion, to use it to ease the daily chore of hitching up.

I mounted the camera portion of the backup cam to the bumper, directly above the hitch mount, and angled down a bit. The wireless viewer is mounted on the dash. The camera instructions suggest connecting the power to the backup lights, but I connected the camera to the tail lights so it comes on whenever the van's lights are on.

Here is a video of the backup process, as seen through the viewer on my dash. I was taking the video with one hand, while backing up, which accounts for the sloppy camera work. However, at no time was I actually watching the back end of the van, nor did I have any help.

¿Tengo Internet?

2008-05-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

¿Tengo Internet?

Such a question, phrased in Spanish, would inquire as to the availability of an internet connection. In the Ameicano vernacular, TengoInternet now refers to a growing company that provides internet wifi services to RV parks across the US.

It didn't exactly start out with a boom. In 2002 when TengoInternet founder Eric Stumberg tried hawking wifi services to RV park owners, many found him plumb loco. "It was a very hard sell at the time," he says. "Most of the owners were independent operators. They weren't technically savvy themselves, and they viewed WiFi as a technology versus an amenity. A lot of them were concerned about its obsolescence."

My how the tide has turned. Today Strumberg's company has servers in 300 RV parks, and the money is flowing in: Nearly two and a half million dollars in 2007. What makes the market go? It's those young dollar-bearing folks. Baby boomers are making the RV market grow, and Gen-Xers are seen by many in the industry as a growing salvation. Boomers and Xers have a perfect addiction to the internet, and TengoInternet sees itself as the supplier.

Users typically purchase airtime at a participating RV park. However, visitors to the TengoInternet site can also purchase time online. Rates? They start at $4.95 per day up to $29.95 per month of service. Yep, you can find wifi service free in some cafes--but it won't take long to drink up that much in lattes. For a map of enabled RV parks, visit here.

For more on the rise of TengoInternet, visit bizjournals.

Multiple Computers - One Internet Connection

2008-02-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

Even though I'm the one who relies on a computer to earn our living, my wife spends her fair share of time online as well. In the past, we've shared a laptop. It's been less than convenient, but we've worked out our schedules so that we both get enough time at the keyboard. But this year we bought a second laptop so we could both do what we needed, when we wanted.

One problem with having multiple computers when on the road is that both computers need internet connectivity. If you're lucky enough to be in a campground that offers (and delivers) free Wifi, you're in good shape. But I can't count on that. Most of the time I end up paying a fee for access, or using a cellular connection. Both of those options mean that I'm only going to have a single connection to the internet.

Synet's Windy31 fixes that problem. It's just exactly what I need to let both of us connect through a single internet connection. The unit connects to the USB port on the laptop that's connected to the internet (actually, you can connect it to a desktop just as easily), and becomes a Wifi access point and router... just like the one I have at home. The difference is that it's small and routes through the laptop to create a private wireless network.

I plugged the Windy31 into my laptop and the software loaded from the USB device... no CD was needed. I'm guessing the software is stored in memory in the USB unit. When I turned on my wife's laptop, it scanned for Wifi networks. It found the Windy31, connected to it, and was online in a few seconds.

I'm sure there are plenty of other uses for the Windy31, but this will do for me. Sorry, but it only runs on Windows XP and Vista computers, but of course any Wifi device (Apple, Wifi phone, etc.) can connect through it. Retail price is around $60.

Printing on the Go - Without a Printer

2008-02-16T07:09:00.000-08:00

I take a lot of photos when we're on the road. I store them on my laptop, back them up to my desktop at home, and upload them to Flickr.com where I can share them easily. I also carry a small Epson photo printer so I can make prints and give them to fellow travelers. But sometimes I want prints that are larger, better quality, or just plain different.

I've used a variety of print services ranging from local pharmacies to specialty print services offered by the likes of Kodak's EasyShare service. But I recently tried RocketLife as a way to create both a calendar and a coffee-table photo book, and the results are stunning.

RocketLife offers to help you create a variety of print products including the calendar and photo book I made, but also including greeting cards, posters, photo collages, mousepads, puzzles, and more. But this isn't just your standard "print this picture on a calendar for me" kind of service.

RocketLife makes your finished products different by automatically arranging your photos on pages in interesting ways, combining photos and backgrounds. What's more, if you don't like what RocketLife produced automatically, you can ask the system to try again, producing different results, or you can take control and manually rearrange (as well as add or remove) photos on the page.

What makes RocketLife great for us folks on the move, is that it lets us create our designs wherever we are, then ships the finished product to our selected location. That means we can create gifts for delivery elsewhere, or ship to our current, or even next location.

I got great results from my projects. The photos were printed on high quality, heavy paper and looked like professional print products you would buy in a book store. My 12-month, 8.5 x 11 calendar cost $20, and my 20 page hard bound 8.5 x 11 book was $40.

I enjoy using RocketLife for these printed products because it delivers high quality, and does something I can't do on my own.

Phone numbers for where you are

2008-02-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

There are times when we are traveling and would like to have the folks we are visiting be able to reach us via a local phone call. There are also those times we want to give out our phone number, but really don't want to receive calls from the folks (most usually a sales operation) after a certain period of time.

For those situations and more, I've been using a service called Vumber. When you sign up for a Vumber phone number, you can select pretty much any area code in the US, and a number is assigned to you. That number is then redirected to your existing cell phone or land line number.

So far, that's not all that unusual since there are lots of services that can do that.

What sets Vumber apart is its range of features.

For one thing, you can request your number be changed at any time, making it convenient to use for those "temporary contacts."
You can also set up your preference for how caller ID is shown, both on inbound and outbound calls, so that your calls appear to be originating from your Vumber.
There is, of course, a voicemail account for each Vumber, and messages can be sent to your email account.
But one of my favorite features is the ability to have multiple Vumbers. This means that I can have a Vumber in multiple area codes, and call from and receive calls to all of them at any time.

Of course, there are costs to using Vumber. The basic charge is $9.99 per month for one Vumber. You can change your Vumber twice at no charge, but there is a charge thereafter, as well as for additional Vumbers.

WiFi now available at Four Louisiana State Parks

2008-01-09T07:48:00.000-08:00

Louisiana State Parks is now offering free wireless Internet access to RV enthusiasts and other campers. Sites participating in this new service, and the overnight accommodations available, include:

* Bayou Segnette SP (Westwego): group camp, campsites
* Fairview-Riverside SP (Madisonville): campsites
* Fontainebleau SP (Mandeville): campsites
* Poverty Point Reservoir SP (Delhi): cabins, lodges, campsites

State Parks guests with a laptop that possesses wireless accessibility (i.e., a wireless card) should detect the signal automatically while on park grounds. Guests are advised that technical support for the wireless service is not available at these sites.

The addition of this newest guest service is a pilot program, to determine the feasibility of offering wireless Internet at Louisiana's State Parks. Having information, such as lake conditions or weather forecasts, can add to the experience of the visitor. In addition, Internet access can provide an alternative activity for family members who are less inclined to participate in outdoor recreation.

Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies Learn how to get connected on the road. Covers WiFi, choosing equipment and services, protecting data, managing your business and personal affairs, enjoying online entertainment and more.

Turn Your Cell Phone Into a GPS

2007-12-26T12:44:00.000-08:00

For those of us gageteers who'd love to add a GPS unit to our holdings, but find we already have too much stuff, can't afford it now, et al, will be pleased to hear the news: You can turn many cellphones into a GPS unit with Fugawi Touratel. Sounds a lot like some kind of sushi, but its actually internet-based software that can play on a lot of different cell phones.

For a $3 a month fee, Northport Software will let you "tune" your internet accessing cell phone to its site. Your phone doesn't need Bluetooth to work. When you bring up the Fugawi Touratel site, you can "tap into" maps that will show your location on high resolution US Geological Survey maps, street maps, air photos, and more. You can use the software to find nearby locations and maybe get yourself out of trouble without pulling into a gas station.

Right now the software is compatible with cell phone models by LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung, and Sanyo, from carriers that include Alltel, Boost Mobile, and Sprint . Northport plans to add support for additional carriers and cell phones in the near future. That'd be a blessing for us Verizon users! You will need to have internet access via your cell phone, so beware, if you get into a spotty coverage area you'd best keep those old style paper maps handy. For more information, check out this website.