Announcements

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WiFi HotSpot Upgrades – February 2008

If you’ve tried our WiFi in the past and haven’t been able to get it at your site, read the details provided below and you may want to try again! As always, we recommend that you first SIGN UP FOR ONE DAY to ensure it works as you desire and at your location, before signing up for one of our discounted, longer-term plans.

As most who have visited Outdoor Resorts Melbourne Beach are aware, our wireless internet (WiFi) service is limited to the area reachable by antennas on the Outdoor Resorts office at the front gate. As many are also aware, Outdoor Resorts and WiFiRV have worked since the original July 2005 installation to convince the Condo Association of the value in extending the service throughout the park. However, the condo board president emailed me in January 2008 to let me know that he had brought up the subject in several board meetings and the quarterly newsletter, and had concluded that there is no interest among residents in extending the service throughout the park. With that in mind, our approach now is to simply make the current HotSpot as strong and reliable as possible.

As of February 2008, Outdoor Resorts has upgraded their broadband connection (that provides internet service to the WiFi) to the highest bandwidth available at the location. WiFiRV has reconfigured the antennas, adding a new Omni antenna, to broadcast the signal as far as possible through the resort. In addition, WiFiRV has replaced all of its transmittal and receiving equipment to the best technology available. In short, both Outdoor Resorts and WiFiRV have invested additional time and money to improve the WiFi service.

After completing our upgrades, I personally tested the signal using my Dell laptop with internal wireless adaptor. With just that equipment, I was able to receive a signal and stay connected to the internet out to Spa Lane, just beyond the center swimming pool. Although there will still be a few sites in that range that won’t be able to get the signal, due to obstructions, home construction, or computing equipment, we’d expect that the majority of campsites in the area from the office to Spa Lane, plus those Southeast of the office, should be able to use the WiFi. Try it! We think you’ll find it more convenient and reasonably priced than having your own individual DSL or cable modem service!

If you’re beyond that area, there’s still hope if you’re really interested in getting the WiFi. See our Coverage Page for illustrations of signal coverage.

An example of the SPECIAL EQUIPMENT referenced on the coverage page is the Hawking HWU8DD external wireless adaptor with a little dish antenna attached (see photo and details at InternetOnTheRoad.com, click WiFi) that approximately doubles the range of the WiFi signal. Using that configuration, I was able to get connected on the WiFi all the way out to site 805! After I turned the corner on Horizon Lane, I lost the signal, but picked it up again when I returned on the other side of the road. If you’re East of that corner and are willing to invest $68 in a stronger receiver, you might want to try it also! The HWU8DD plugs into a USB port, so can be used on either laptop or desktop, and will enhance your receiving power at any resort or other HotSpot that you visit in the future, not just when you’re at Outdoor Resorts Melbourne Beach.

Of course, if the condo association would opt to let us install additional antennas, like one on the center pool by Spa Lane or on the Owners’ Lounge on the river, you’d be able to get reception throughout the park without requiring something like the HWU8DD!

So that’s it … what is currently available is about as good as we’ll get unless someone decides it’s time to extend throughout the rest of your resort. We hope you find the current HotSpot useful!

Robert "Bob" Hoffman
WiFiRV Regional Sales Manager
rhoffman@WiFiRV.com
1-877-WIFILAND extension 821
(1-877-943-4526 x821)
http://www.WiFiRV.com/