A simple Wi-Fi network can transmit signal in about a 150 foot radius. This is fine for many homes or small offices. For an RV park, you need high-powered amplifiers and high-gain antennas to transmit the signal further. Another technology called ‘3G’ can cover up to 30 miles, but this is a completely different animal. It is based on cell-phone technology and will be controlled by the cell-phone companies. Whereas Wi-Fi is something anyone can set up for themselves – just get one broadband Internet connection and then share it via a network using the Wireless Access Point. The confusion comes because both Wi-Fi and 3G offer the same end result: connecting to the Internet without wires. If you want to read more technical details, check out Wireless Internet Access: Wi-Fi vs. 3G .

Here are the two antennas that Coach Connect installed at Paradise Island RV Park in Fort Lauderdale. They allow the Wi-Fi Internet access to extend to almost all of the 232 sites.

The wireless adapter that you need on your computer takes many shapes and sizes. Many are the size of credit cards that fit in your computer’s PC card slot. Some are even built in to the computer. These adapters are fine for indoor wireless networks, but rarely have the right stuff to work in an RV park.

A Wi-Fi network works like a 2-way radio. The big antennas push the signal throughout the park, but the individual computer adapters have to have enough power and directional capability to communicate *back* before you can connect to the Internet.

The senao USB adapter has two antennas that can be independently pointed and a long cable to attach to the computer.

Read more about Wi-Fi adapters.