Boost Guest Satisfaction With Fast Wi-fi for Your Campground
Boost Guest Satisfaction With Fast Wi-fi for Your Campground
By Nathan Gawlik
Nathan Gawlik's experience includes being a General Manager of a Hampton Inn and other front line roles such as a Banquet Captain, Front Desk Agent, Housekeeper, Catering Event Manager, and Director of Sales.
The Internet is no longer seen as a luxury, but a utility, just like power or water. Because of this, more and more guests are looking for campgrounds that provide fast internet service. For years campers have gotten by on weak signals, danced around dead spots, or crowded the main office, but as the remote work trend continues, more and more people require strong, reliable internet service.
Over one million Americans live full-time in an RV. These people are Skyping family and friends, working remotely, and managing their lives, all of which requires a fast internet connection. Even for those campers who are just out for the weekend, the internet is one of the most important amenities when choosing a campground. According to the 2019 KOA Camping Report, 80% of teens go online more than one time per day when camping. And another 80% say that it enhances the camping experience. In a strange juxtaposition, many campers say a strong internet connection helps them unplug and enjoy nature more because they can rest knowing that if something goes wrong back home they can't quickly resolve it over the internet.
This is why as many as one in five campground/RV park reviews mention the internet. Don't think it's that big of a deal? Here are a few reviews I found after just minutes of searching through reviews left for local campgrounds:
"Beautiful location with friendly staff. Internet signal weak."
"False advertising! They say "bring your computer" because we offer "free Wi-Fi". It did not work on our site. It was still very spotty from in the office. I work using the internet and homeschool. I needed to be able to download/upload files."
"The park is beautiful, great views! But the Wi-Fi is awful! We are staying here for a week and I have been trying to help my Father in California. Every time I get online I have maybe 2 minutes and I get cut off. It doesn't matter what time of day or night or day of the week. This is so frustrating! I don't know why they advertise Wi-Fi, when it's not reliable! All it takes is placing a few boosters around the park and then this place would be a 5 star! The times we live in now, we all use the internet for so many things, this has to be improved!
A poor internet connection is a real frustration for guests. Having a fast, reliable internet connection at your campground will set you apart from the competition in a serious way.
The problem is this: nature isn't wired for the internet. Remote places make great campgrounds, but terrible office spaces. You'll need to go out of your way to satisfy guest expectations. The good news? It's possible for almost any campground to offer reliable internet service to their guests. Here's how:
1. Decide How Much Bandwidth You'll Need
Any campground regular will tell you that the internet slows to a crawl around 5pm. Most RVers are starting to relax, which means streaming their favorite movies and TV shows, talking to friends online, and browsing the web. The internet is bogged down by all these users because there isn't enough bandwidth to go around. Think of the internet like water flowing in a pipe. There's only so much water that will fit in the pipe. If there are lots of people taking showers, for example, each person will end up with just a trickle. The internet works in much the same way. If you have guests constantly complaining about internet speed and connectivity, start by finding out how much bandwidth you'll need to provide a great experience for your guests.
The number of guests at your campground is the biggest factor when deciding how much bandwidth you'll need. Guests will bring phones, of course, but also laptops, smart watches, tablets, etc. Assume each guest will have 2-3 devices they'll want to connect to the internet. Consider sending out a guest survey to more accurately gauge internet needs and habits. If guests are willing to pay more for a solid internet connection, you can justify spending more on developing a strong wireless network.
2. Increase Your Bandwidth
There are several ways for you to increase the bandwidth available to your guests. The easiest would be to upgrade your internet service. If you're currently on a 25Mbps plan, upgrade to a 100Mbps one. It will be more expensive, but the cost is usually worth it. In addition, it is a value add that can justify raising your rates. This is where you'll need to decide what kind of guests stay with you and how much an improved internet connection will be valued by them.
It's possible that you already have the fastest internet service available in your area. If that's the case, consider buying a 2nd line. This will double the bandwidth you have available to your guests. Your internet service provider should be able to help you figure out how best to set up those lines. Consider channel bonding (merging both internet lines into one wireless network) if you'd like to keep just one wireless network available at your campground.
It might be that none of the traditional internet service providers are able to provide you an initial wired connection. In that case, consider going with satellite internet. It's more expensive, but doesn't rely on a wired connection, so it's often available outside the service area of traditional providers. You'll want to monitor your usage, as satellite internet providers often charge for data usage. Here are some free tools to help you get a clearer picture of your internet usage.
3. Map Out Your Service Area
To make sure your campground has a wireless signal available at all it's sites, you'll have to do a little planning and research. Your internet service provider might be able to help with this, so be sure you ask. The typical wireless router has a range of about 150 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors. This means any guests outside of this range aren't likely to have an internet connection at all. Most campgrounds are spread out over distances greater than 300 feet.
The easiest way to find out what areas of your campground are being missed is to map out your router locations and create service areas around them. If you take a look at the illustrated map below, There are several 30A and 50A RV spots that are completely out of range and several more that are going to have a weak, spotty signal.
You can map out your campground's Wi-Fi network range using Google Maps or any variety of other methods. You could even test the internet speed and connection strength at each site of your campground.
4. Use the Right Equipment
There are a few different methods of extending the wireless internet range at your campground. The most reliable would be to run PoE (power over ethernet) cables from the main internet line to the different wireless access points throughout the campground. PoE cables allow both internet and power to be delivered via the same cable, eliminating the need for a plugin at the location of the wireless access point.
This may not be possible or realistic for some campgrounds, as it can require digging up paved roads and other infrastructure. A more suitable solution is often using wireless bridges. These devices transfer a WiFi signal across fairly large distances and allow for an expanded area of coverage without sacrificing signal strength.
5. Prevent Theft
Now that you've optimized your Wi-Fi network to support all your guests, you'll want to make sure that only your guests are using that internet connection. The more remote the campground, the less likely this is to be a problem, but unauthorized users can quickly use up all the bandwidth you provide to your guests.
Securing your Wi-Fi network with a password is your first priority. Unsecure networks not only leave you open to lose bandwidth to those not staying in your park, they also attract those looking to use your connection for illegal activity. Consider changing your Wi-Fi password every week or every month depending on the size and location of your campground. You could also choose to share your Wi-Fi password through email and text rather than having it publicly posted.
Conclusion
While it may require a substantial initial investment, having a fast internet connection will pay dividends as more guests choose to stay with while they work from home or go to school. Fast internet will also lead to more positive reviews and a greater online reputation, which itself will drive new guests to stay with you. Explore your options with local internet providers and work towards a faster internet connection for you and your guests.
