The Future of Wireless Connectivity In RVs
According to a video put on by the Wall Street Journal recently, the future of connectivity in RVs will soon get a tremendous as a result of widespread 5G mobile networks. In the video, three 5G phones were set up to be used as wireless hotspots for up to 15 different devices, including video calls, online gaming, a doorbell cam, as well as download and upload speeds to test the feasibility of using a smart phone as a WiFi hotspot.
While the test run did offer impressive speed and connectivity for the RV being used, there is a catch. It was parked directly next to a 5G tower to take advantage of the fastest speeds possible. Since 5G technology is not yet ubiquitous throughout the United States, there were some natural limits placed on the scope of the experiment. The video notes that there are two types of 5G wavelengths that offer different advantages.
A mmWave requires that you be near a tower in order to take advantage of the increased speeds, but has the disadvantage of not being able to penetrate buildings and walls. A Sub-6 tower, while slower than the mmWave version, does have a wider usage distance and has the benefit of being able to go through buildings and walls. The difference between the two essentially comes down to the frequency with lower frequencies like those used in Sub-6 being able to offer greater coverage. You can note the difference in frequency availability in your own home, depending on whether you’re using 2.4 GHz, which reaches further, or 5 GHz which offers greater speed with lesser reach.
The results of the Wall Street Journal offered reason for optimism regarding the future of wireless connectivity for travelers and vacationers on the go as they might soon be able to enjoy internet speeds that not only rival those of a home network, but are capable of far exceeding them. It should also be noted that 5G capabilities are orders of magnitudes faster than current 4G technology used in smart phones, in some cases up to 25 times faster if we’re to believe the optimistic outlook of many cell carriers.
While there is reason for excitement for tech savvy RV travelers, the reality of the situation is that this experiment is only able to offer a glimpse into a probable future of connectivity that would allow for an entire family to use wireless devices while travelling in one RV. This must be especially exciting news for remote workers that have an eye towards combining travel with their professional lives. Of course, it may be a while before 5G capabilities are available in many of the places that RV owners tend to frequent like campgrounds and national forests, but the future looks bright at this early point in development. As the various cell carriers roll out their 5G networks—and they’re all marketing them heavily—the future of travel and the possibility of RV living, even for professional workers, may change the landscape of work, travel, and connectivity.
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