An LA Times reporter checks out SBC's Calif. campground Wi-Fi; finds and confirms short range: SBC and the California Department of Parks and Recreation trumpeted the partnership in which SBC installed Wi-Fi throughout the state's campgrounds. It's been installed so far in 11 campgrounds.
The reporter talked to rangers and park workers, but hear few success stories. He visited San Elijo and found that of 171 campgrounds, only 10 could get a signal. SBC confirmed to him that the range is only "200 feet," which means they're using a single access point.
HA! That's awesome...
I can pack my portable espresso machine and laptop and go camping without ever feeling like I left work.
We just returned from a nine-day "shakedown tour" of our new Winnebago. We went to four campgrounds in the New England area, all of which were picked specifically for their new WiFi offering. All four sucked.
One place's WiFi setup was actually a store-bought wireless Linksys router set up in the office. This was supposed to provide "park-wide" coverage.
I've been touring WiFi campgrounds for a year now, and one thing I've learned is campground installs are not trival. Unfortunately, I think WiFi at your campground has become the "in thing" this season and there is a rush to put in anything, even if it's done in a shoddy manner.
I'm not surprised that they're using a single AP, but why couldn't they have used a better antenna?