217. Technology for Travelers: Prepare to be offline.

  • 0:00 Beginning
  • 1:30 Quick Tip: Explore Here App
  • 5:45 Quick Tip: find the location of a photo
  • 8:30 Introductions
  • 15:13 How to get Internet in the boonies
  • 18:05 Comparing cellular providers
  • 20:49 Coverage app
  • 23:09 Boosters
  • 25:51 Safety – share your location with emergency contact
  • 28:45 Navigation without internet connection, maps.me
  • 36:32 Entertainment: Music, Books, Movies
  • 41:27 Off-grid it’s all about the batteries
  • 45:15 Review

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You’ll learn some highlights from the 4 seminars we taught live at the FMCA RV Rally in Gillette, WY. Plus you’ll learn how you can access all the class materials for study anytime.

Download show notes .pdf (you’ll see a dropbox login, but you can just close it – no Dropbox account is needed)

  • 1:30 Quick Tip: Explore Here App

    • The Explore Here app is a great way to view Historical Markers from the comfort of your vehicle. Currently available on iPhone, coming soon to Android.

  • 5:45 Quick Tip: find the location of a photo

    • If your phone is set to record the location when you take a photo, then you can see the location of a picture just by looking at the info for the photo. Contrary to what I say on this video, you can view the location on the Web version: click the i for Info and scroll down to see the map. What you need the phone for is to navigate to that location. On the phone, open the photo in Google Photos, swipe up to reveal the info and see the map, tap the link to View in Maps – then you can navigate.

  • 8:30 Introductions

  • 15:13 How to get Internet in the boonies

  • 18:05 Comparing cellular providers

    • Cellular data is available almost everywhere. But, the key here is almost. There are definitely “holes” where none of the cellular carriers work.

    Verizon has always been the best carrier for nationwide coverage, but AT&T has gotten better over the years. We’ve found many places this summer where AT&T was better than Verizon. We also have Google Fi. If you travel, and you need to have Internet access, you need to have access to multiple providers. For example, a hotspot on AT&T and a phone on Verizon that you can turn into a hotspot.

  • 20:49 Coverage app

    • The Coverage app can quickly show you the coverage maps of any of the major cellular providers.

  • 23:09 Boosters

    • Boosters can help when you are in an area with a weak signal. But, they won’t help if there is no signal at all. For extensive discussion, research and testing on the best boosters, see RVMobileInternet.com/boosters

  • 25:51 Safety – share your location with emergency contact

    • If you know that you will be without cell service as you travel, the first thing to think about is safety. Consider making a map of your plans to share with your family – kind of like “filing a flight plan.” Or, better yet, share your real-time location with them. See video 582

  • 28:45 Navigation without internet connection, maps.me

    • We use Google Maps for navigation, but it needs an Internet connection. You can download sections of maps for use offline by tapping on the account button – then Offline Maps.

    If you start a navigation route with Google Maps when you do have an internet connection, it will continue to navigate that route even if you lose your Internet connection during the day.

    Maps.me is a free global map that works offline only. You are prompted to download the maps you need when you search or ask for navigation. From then on, you can use the map with no Internet connection. Maps.me gives you voice-directed turn-by-turn navigation. If you have a big RV, maps.me won’t be good enough because it is not RV aware.

  • 36:32 Entertainment: Music, Books, Movies

    • Prepare for being offline by downloading music, books, and movies ahead of time. Each system for books, music, and movies have their own instructions for downloading content to your device.

  • 41:27 Off-grid it’s all about the batteries

    • The solar chargers we showed are in our Amazon list here.

  • 45:15 Review

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