I Like Technology That Helps The Stuff I Already Have

For a few years, now, I have had an Epson 77c projector which I have used in computer classes in Florida and sessions we've done at RV rallies and elsewhere.  It is very bright and very reliable.  When we are presenting the table we are using gets very crowded with the projector, speakers, 2 laptops and other gear like eReaders.  We have had times when the projector gets jolted - it's just inconvenient.  I would like to move the project away but I don't have long cables and if I did someone (maybe me) would surely trip over it.  Because it only has VGA input, I can't connect devices like tablets that only have HDMI output.  

About a year ago, I purchased a new piece of technology - a Netgear Push2TV.  This hooks up using HDMI to any large screen TV.  I keep it in my Family Room at home to allow me to wirelessly display my computer screen on to my 60" Sharp TV in vivid 1080p.  I use it to watch YouTube Videos and movies I have on my computer.  These look much better on the big Sharp.  The other thing is that I can keep it attached to the TV and don't have to get us to connect anything - OK maybe I am lazy - I call it convenience.

Soon after I had it installed at home I thought that I would like to use this with the projector in my classes.  It would allow me to move the projector further back in the class and would allow me to wonder around the classroom with my pc while displaying it on the big screen.  One problem though,  the Push2TV only has HDMI output and the Projector only VGA input.  I actually considered replacing the projector and researched that for a few months.  How do you justify spending over $700 to solve this problem?   I couldn't; I decided to look for an HDMI to VGA adapter.   Until recently, there was none to buy.

This week I found one; a Sabrent HDMI to VGA and Audio converter.  $44 later I recieved a package from TigerDirect.  I put it together and it actually worked!!!  the Sabrent connects VGA to the projector and HDMI to the Push2TV.  The computer has a wireless connection to the PUSH2TV.  And, the quality is excellent.  Now I can project my pc to the projector with a wireless connection - Awesome.  

Internet for your RV - Take it home too!

If you travel in a RV and you want to have everything and  by everything I mean, a printer, telephone, a Roku Box or internet access from your cell phone and tablets.  Everything you can do with internet at home is now available to you when you travel in your RV.

RVers love MagicJack especially now that it is useable without a PC being on all the time.  We use MagicJack at home and we take it with us.  Friends and family can call the same number when we are at home or when we are on the road anywhere in Canada or the US of A.  That means, no long distance for them and of course, we can call them for free.  The cost $70 for the MagicJack Plus and $100 for 5 years.  Good Bye Bell!

Many RVers have all kinds of internet devices in their coach besides laptops.  WD TV and Roku are very popular not to mention iPods, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, XBox and Wii.  Everything you buy these days seems to need access to the internet.

With technology constantly changing, our computer classes are very popular.  RVers, even those that are retired, have a great desire to learn and that keeps us very busy and very happy.  Besides everyone likes FREE.  Our classes and assistance will continue to be free.  But, enough about that.

How do you put together an Internet solution that you can have at home and take on the road?  Here is how we've done it:

You need three (3) devices that will all work together and there are many variations of this if you wish.  I will talk about the ones we use:

1. You will need a router just like you have at home connecting your internet there.  You will connect all your internet devices, laptops, tablets, eReaders, printers, Web TV (Roku, WD TV) and anything else.
We are big fans of Linksys,  We have a WRT610N now and will be soon getting an AE4500 to replace it.  We like to attach a hard drive to it to be able to access movies and to backup our laptops.  The list price for these, is about $179 but you can get a router that will be just fine, if you don't need the hard drive, for about $30.

2. A wireless extender - we use the Linksys RE1000, price $79.  This has a dual function - connecting to device #3 and as well, can be used to connect you to the local park WiFi.  But for now, we will talk about connecting to the next device.

3.  A cellular MiFi Device - because we travel both in the US and Canada we have one for Telus and one for Verizon.  See my previous post for how and why.   The Telus device in Canada costs $150 and the plan we have is a 6GB for $60 per month.  6GB is a lot for the average user Telus has a 2GB plan for about $35.

How does this all work?

Power on the MiFi Device then the Wireless Extender (RE1000) - the Wireless extender connects wirelessly to the MiFi device and translates that into a wired connection.  (These two act just like your home internet provider but replaces the internet providers modem.)

Connect and Ethernet Cable to the outlet in the Wireless Extender (RE1000) and the other end into the Internet input on the Router.  Plug the MagicJack Plus into the router.

You now have full Internet access.  Pack it up and take it with you.

Caution

All of these devices default to a 192.168.1.1 address so it is important that you change the address of the router to a different set.  For example, 192.168.10.1.  We actually use 10.10.10.1.  If you don't change it, our experience has been that the system gets very confused.  Then you will need to configure your wireless settings - Leave a comment and let me know if you need details.

Sicard RV did the repairs

I earlier expressed my concern about having anything done on my motorhome by Sicard RV so I thought I would report on the repairs they did.  I left the motorhome with Sicard on May 5th to repair the damage caused by the tire blowout.  As well, I asked them to replace the hose reel, replace the other 5 tires and repair the water leak that caused the original reel to rust out.  

I arrived on the 18th to pick up the motorhome but before I paid the bill I thought I'd check it out.  

Checking out the damage caused by the tire blowout - I could not tell that there was ever damage they did a great job.  To check out the hose reel replacement I opened the basement door.  The new hose reel was there and was solidly attached.  There was, however, a puddle of water in the basement compartment.  My first thought was that they hadn't fixed the water leak that caused the previous reel to rust out.  

The service manager came back to the motorhome to check it out and could not find the leak - he spend 15 minutes looking for it.  We turned on the water pump, ran the water for a bit and there was no hint of a leak anywhere.  

It turns out that there is an outdoor shower head in that compartment.  It can be turned on with taps (hot and cold) and the head itself can be turned on or off as well.  I have noticed it does drip when I put it back on the holder.  For now, I have concluded that this was the leak problem and I will attempt to correct it by draining the hose after turning off the taps.  I really hope that works. 

So, in conclusion,  Sicard RV did a good job on this repair.  I am still skeptical  but I am now more inclined to have future repairs done there.  BTW - the motorhome was filthy, the Sicard RV lot is not paved.  It was there for 13 days and moving it in and out of the service area through puddles did the messy job.  Oh well, a trip to Blue Beacon.

New Internet Friend

I finally folded the internet dish down for the last time.  It was a sad moment because it had really served me well for the past 7 years.  To the folks at Winegard, who built the product and provided all the great support, I thank you for being so fantastic over the years.  It provided us with internet access in places where you wouldn't have thought you could get it, both in the US and Canada.  The speed  (1Mbit down 200kbits up) was adaquate and it did the job we needed it to.  The $80 per month was easily justified.

We have been looking for a good (cellular based) solution to replace the dish for a while now.  Cost was only one of the problems we had to deal with but getting access in both the US and Canada was even bigger.  We could get a Rogers or Telus solution in Canada or a Verizon solution in the US but when you cross the border you can go broke paying for the roaming charges.

There are some amazingly low cost solutions "Clear" in the US has an unlimited plan for $30 per month as does Wind mobile in Canada.  The problem is coverage - if you drive out of the city you have no internet access.  This would not be great for a motorhome environment.

The only providers with great coverage have "data caps."  Unlimited internet access really doesn't exist in the cellular world for motorhomers.

Having looked at it for a couple of years now we finally came up with a solution that works for us.

In the US.

We signed up with Verizon; purchased a Novatel MiFi 4G LTE device and got a 2 year plan.   The MiFi
device cost $100 but they gave us a $50 Visa card.  The 2 year contract is $50US for 5GB per month.  The plan is to use the Verizon for the 6 months while we are in the US and suspend the contract when we get back into Canada.  This really will extend the 2 year contract to 4 years but that's OK for us.  There is a little glitch here you can suspend the contract online but for only 90 days at time.  So,  mark your calendar!

In Canada.


In Canada, it was much easier.  We tried Rogers but were unable to get a contract that we could suspend while we were south.  After looking at the coverage map and the contract we finally went with Telus, purchased a Haumei MiFi 4G from them for $149.  There is no contract but we signed up for a $60 for 6GB per month.  If we go over its $20 per GB.  It is a simple phone call when we go south to stop the billing.

Both Verizon and Telus will bill directly and automatically to your credit card every month and you can have them email you a copy of your bill.  The problem for us is going to be managing the gigabyte (GB) cap.

Sicard RV - I Swore I'd Never Go Back

For a wide variety of reasons, I swore, I would not go back to Sicard RV for maintenance on our motorhome.  The reasons included the loss of a GPS while in service and the fact that more than once I had to have something re-fixed elsewhere after being serviced there.  We haven't been back since 2009.

The insurance adjuster got help from Sicard to cost the Motorhome repair after the blowout on the 402.  I got an Email from Terry at Sicard offering to do the repairs.

I also wanted to have the other 5 tires replaced so I asked for a quote from him of that.  The quote was very reasonable $550 each installed.  After a few telephone conversations and Email exchanges with Terry, I made the decision to give Sicard another shot and drove the 200KMs out to Smithville yesterday.

Back to Sicard RV

We had no sooner dropped off the motorhome at the service center when we got some bad news.  Terry had made a mistake on the tire quote - the cost would be $644 per tire not $550 (a significant difference).  Given that I had paid $583, on the road, to replace the tire that blew-out,  it is possible that the original quote was legitimate error.

We added a couple of things to the service list - repair a water leak and replace the Hose Reel.  The Hose Reel will cost $600 and I assume the water leak will be found and fixed easily - Our expectation - under $1000 for the Reel and leak repair.


They have until the 18th to complete everything.  I really hope they do this right - I'll let you all know, either way.  Let me know about your experiences.

Blowout on the 402

It was a long trip back from Florida and very uneventful until we reached the dreaded 402.  We blew out a rear tire and it took a motorhome panel with it. It was a 12" rip in the side wall so powerful that it threw the panel across the road and into the ditch in the medium.  The explosion was so powerful that it bent the steal frame holding the plastic panel.  

It turns out that our Daughter-in-Law was travelling the other way on the 402, spotted the motorhome and called our son.  He called us within a few minutes and handled all the rescue.  Within 1/2 and hour Sarnia tire was there.  Two hours and $783 later we were back on the road headed home.

It turns out that the motorhome damage, but not the tire, is covered by insurance - that is very good news.

Now we just have to see the adjuster and pick a place to get it repaired.

We're Back!!!

Well it's been a while, it's hard to believe that a retired person can be so busy.  I haven't posted for a while but I am going to fix that.  Thanks to all those who follow the blog.  You should be able to comment now that I'm not talking about licencing.

We have had a whole winter in Florida visiting with friends, cruising and running our regular computer classes.

Now that we're back we've been running from one thing to another.  And, now we're baby sitting a fish.