gypsydan

On 8/10/2021 at 5:56 PM, agesilaus said:

I'm . . . . whining about . . . . . . . Campedium putting out YT videos like The 10 best boondocking spots in XXXX area.

I agree.  This response is a knee jerk reaction about a useful site like Campedium apparently trying to build their new user database by adding YT stuff and end-up killing places with week-enders.  Has anyone asked if they are making the YT videos, or if users are taking their data and making the videos? Can their info be trusted once sites they recommend become one of the 10 BEST BOONDOCKING AREA'S?

For me, one of the adventures of boondocking is the interest and excitment of finding a virgin, or little used, place.  Do we really need anything more than a location service like Day's End, word of mouth among friends like in Boondockers BOF, or the excitement of finding a new place?

I have come to realize I need to acquire a water softener, but am not sure if there is any real differences between the various mfg's.  I can understand that the size of the RV woud make a difference as to the size of the water softener.

So, what make/model and size would you recommend for a 26' class c.  I spend most of my time boondocking, so It would need to be portable  for those times I would be in a park with hard water, and those times I am at my lot at Rovers Roost which has hard water. 

Thanks for Any suggestions or expereinces?

On 10/5/2021 at 9:51 AM, Technomadia said:

Here's our guide/video that goes over the basics of differences between hotspotting off your phone, using a mobile hotspot device (aka 'Jetpack' - just a marketing term, like Kleenex is for facial tissues) or more advanced cellular routers. 

It really comes down to your mobile internet needs as to what is best for you. Including data plan availability for your device type.  

Hotspot? Router? Smartphone?

 

As far as improving your signal, unfortunately with a smartphone - the only option is an expensive cellular booster. And they're not always optimal for data service. Also, Visible is always capped at 5 Mbps speeds for hotspot data, which is fine for a lot of tasks - but they have the lowest priority on the Verizon network. Again, fine for basic needs (but maybe not for someone working remotely with heavy data needs). Also, your iPhone 6s is fairly old, a newer phone would give you a more modern modem with more potential coverage and speed. 

More: Optimizing Cellular Data Performance

 - Cherie

Thanks

On 10/3/2021 at 2:57 PM, sandsys said:

In all the years I have been RVing or reading about RVing yours is only the second first-hand experience about gun hazards I have heard/read about. I refuse to worry about something that happens so seldom.

Linda

A very good policy. I feel the same way, but it can be kind a little unnerving after it has happened to you for the first time. What is interesting, though, several days later I see a man walking around in the park I’m staying at wearing an open carry gun, which is legal in NM.

On 2/26/2021 at 8:08 AM, LindaH said:

I finally quit Visible because there were too many problems with it.

I never got as far as doing any streaming, but the first problem I ran into was when I tried to do a chat on the Dish website in order to change my service address.  I couldn't get chat to work, so I did a chat with Visible (which DID work...go figure).  The person had me do some stuff and he did some stuff on his end and we finally got Dish's chat to work.

The second problem I ran into was apps stopped working.  I had downloaded some apps in order to watch/listen to a particular news channel.  In each case, the apps would work for about a week then completely stop working.  I tried another chat with Visible, but was never able to get the problem resolved.  That's when I terminated the service.

I did use a travel router so that both my DH and I could get online with our computers at the same time.  That worked like a charm.

It would be interesting to know what your problem was, as I use visible and have never ahd a problem with my apps not working, or any other issues that could have been rlated to Visible.  Of course, now that i've said that . . . . . .

As would be expected, if I am in a poor signal area I will get poor reception. What phone system do you have:  android or Apples ios? I have an iPhone. My expereince is that apps have nothing to do with the internet, as they connect to teh internet via an internal modem/hotspot, which is before you would ever reach Visible.

So, again, it would be interesting to know what your problem really was?  I assume you reset the phone, and then reinstalled all your apps to see if there was an internal glitch? 

Happy Trails,

Happy Trails,

I also use visible, but have never been able to have Verizon help me, as Visible is a separate company which resells data usage on Verizon's broadband network.

I have never owned or used a jetpack, so am unclear as to what the real difference is between a jetppack and the phones hotspot, especially since I ehard the jetpack is a hotspot..

I have an iphone 6s+ with a hotspot. I am able to use the phones hotspot concurrently on my PC and iPad with no degradation of signal.  I also have unlimited data and streaming, for $25/mo, using the verizon backbone.  How?  I use one of the inexpensive phone services.  The carrier I use is Visible.com. They have a party pay system which starts at $40/mo, and if you have 4+ people on your party service each pay $25 for unlimited service. The only time I have had a problem is when in a area where verizon has poor service, or you are not near a cell tower.

To correct the last issue of not being enar a cell tower, I am lookinig into getting an interent booster, which should eliminate that issue. 

Happy Trails,

Thank you all. This has been an interesting experience, which, as was said, “is only going to get worse.”

All of the above, about carrying a gun with a permit, etc., is fine. But, what would happen if you were in my situation and the guy is 10 to 15 feet away from you firing a pistol and he happens to turn and look and see you in your RV watching him?

first, where is your pistol, would you be able to turn and run and get it inside your RV, especially if now he recognizes you saw him and he needs to get rid of you as a witness, are you going to enter into a fire fight with him? Especially if you’re not alone and have family in the RV with you?

it’s nice to talk about permits, but let’s talk about a real life situation of a gun fight in a parking lot. While I real life gunfight did not happen, in my situation, the questions I asked are still germain,  “what would’ve happened if he had seen me watching him?”  At that point I would NOT have had a gun in my hand to defend myself. AND, I could not have gotten up in time to close my door. 

what would you have done!

It is mid-afternoon in the old west of Alamogordo, NM, and I am parked in a large parking lot. Two cars pull up in front of me, with one being 5' away, and the other on the other side of them, maybe 12' away.  I'm talking with a friend on the phone as they park in front of me and exchange some thing in a box, of whch I have no idea what the content was.

I'm causually watching this, talking with my friend, as the car nearest me drives off, and the person making the exchange gets back in their car.  Then I see the driver get out of their car, walk to the back of the car, lift his arm with a glock in it, and fire across the lot, then casually get back in the car and drive of.  The entire episode lasted maybe 15 seconds.

As a boondocker, some questions which come up are:

1. What would have happened if he had turned and seen me looking at him?
2. Would you consider carrying a gun while traveling, if you are not already? If I did have a gun in my rig, there is no way I could have gotten to it in time, if it was needed.
3. Should I have called the police?  And reported what?  Would they have made me come to the station and look at mug shots? etc.
4. Would you change parking locations?  Maybe even leave town?
5. Are there any safe places in America today?
6. Do I need to consider traveling and parking in a different manner? 
7. Has something like this ever happened to you?

I am interested in reading what others think, as, needless to say, having someone shoot a gun in front of you toward people and cars in a parking lot, was surreal.  Luckily nothing was hit, so now I'm wondering if there were even bullets in the gun, or was it a blank.  Probably not!!

Safe travels.

And I notice that some have the notification they are a YES, and others are a NO. Is this a secret society to identify members?   OR, could this mean those with a YES are better than those with a NO, or vice-versa? OR . . . . . ?

On 9/4/2021 at 3:23 PM, jeanhoyle said:

I have been a “member” of this forum for more than 15 years, but am classified as a newbie?  Seems dumb ti me

I wonder what YES means below your skp #?

Thanks all for the helpful info.

On 9/7/2021 at 2:25 PM, RV_ said:

Dan, Did you get the little one that goes on the chair? I just wanted to know if you liked it or not in case I feel the need for one. Thanks

 

no.  i went to dollar tree and bought a green table cloth for $1.  would ahve worked geat, BUT i found out my cpu is too old to use a green screen, or any type of background. bummer.  ended up having to use my ipad so i could have a blur background. for my needs, it worked well.

got it resolved.  thanks for the help.

I want to thank GaryCQ, for starting this thread.  I just found it thread and find it very enlightening.

I got divorced (for the 2nd time) at 63 (2004), traveled for 2 years .... lost, no longer having "that" person around rescuing me. Then I bought a mobile home in Tucson and started going to every group in town, discovering how to come out of being introverted.  In 2008 I went to Peru for a 5 weeks, by myself.  On the first night I got stuck in the Lima airport, as the airline to Iquitos had a strike and were not flying.  At 1am in morning a movie star, a director, and 2 others came in on a flight, also going to Iquitos, so they were also stuck.  They invited me to go to a hotel with them., We spent the next 3 days seeing Lima, until the airline went off strike.  We flew to Iquitos to the same conference.  After 2 weeks I left and for the several weeks traveled to Cusco, Machu  Picchu, Lake Titicca, Araquipa, Lima, then home.  A very freeing adventure, as I could go where I wanted, when I wanted, how I wanted - challenging my fears.

My point: I discovered, because of that trip, how my life had been guided by what others thought, and whether or not (after 2 marriages) they, or the corporation I worked for, would rescue and/or take care of me. After that trip I began to fully understand the why of needing someone around, or in, my life.  The need is no longer there, but the want still comes and goes. 

So, at 63 I got divorced, at 68 I traveled to Peru by myself, then at 70 realized I needed to challenge myself further and took a solo trip for 9-weeks back east to see the leaves change; going to Maine and around the east coast, where on the way back I spent 4-days stuck in Conneticut in a motel with the flu, and a week later in a Kansas City hospital. Then at 77 bought my first RV.  On my first trip, heading north through california, I ended up in the hospital in Concord with blood clots: note to self, always exercise the legs when drivingfor a long time.  Then at 80 I went full-time, and am loving it.  Because I grew up being fearful throught out life, I made the choice I did not want to leave this life without living it.  I had a paraplegic friend years ago who told me "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."   I no longer want to live in fear.

I applaud this thread, and all the brave people who are on the road making the attempt to challenge and live life the best way they can.

What experience does anyone have with replacing their gray-black-water tank monitors with external monitors.  

Which monitor did you use?

Has anyone attached new external monitors using the existing wiring system of the existing internal monitors which came with your rig.?

I've never had to use roadside service - yet.  I've been trying to make a comparisong between the roadside service provided by Progressive, and that offered by Escapees.

Does anyone have any actual roadside experience with either, or both?  What I am looking at is I have roadside with Progressive for $36yr (?), and I signed up for the Escapees plan at $100 last year which is coming due.  Would it be worthwhile to keep the Escapee plan?  I've got the Progressive with my ins, so can't cancell it. Is it really worthwhile paying the extra $100 for the escapee plan?

Any expereince would be appreciated.

Happy Holiday,  wait, I'm retired, everyday is a holdiay.

23 hours ago, RV_ said:

Here's a small one, inexpensive too: Green screen

Thanks.. I've seen it for $55, but this price is good.

9 minutes ago, RV_ said:

You didn't say what size so here's search results - Lots of choices:

https://www.bing.com/search?pc=U523&q=green+screen+material&form=U523DF

 

Thank you.  Finding the screen is not the problem, I'm wanting to find out what exp people ahve had with them in a small 25' RV, if any.

I need a green screen for zoom. I have a 25' class C, so limited space.  What small screens do you know of to purchase which might be useful in a small C without slides.

Problem, I am in Deming and the nearest place to buy material to make a screen is 3 hours r/t.  And, unless I am forced to, I do not really have time to go there, but will if I have to

Just now, rpsinc said:

Age discrimination doesnt exist right???

Thanks for the heads up.  I'm not in my 70s but good to know that they can do that.

Why arent there steps to provide competency?  Many insurance companies will provide discounts for seniors when they take classes.  

That is a good question.  I have contacted Suzie Adams, at Loringlaw, to get her comments.

Since National General has been mentioned severa limes in this thread, I thought bringing this to your awareness would be of value,

I contacted National General for a quote and was denied due to age:  80 y/o, strong and in perfect health. 

Anyone else had this problem?  This could be a major issue emerging on the horizon for many RV'ers in their 70s.

20 hours ago, mr. cob said:

Howdy Dan,

As to the 7 month thing, we are not full time so that is not a problem for us at this time.

I am "assuming" AGV, means agreed value, I am also "assuming" your talking about insuring the Class C, motor home in your signature.  If these assumptions are correct we are talking about insuring two completely different types of RV, getting insurance on a Class C is EASY compared to a HDT converted into a motor home.

Dave

Appreciate the clarification, as I had not thought it through. It makes sense.

On 8/19/2021 at 10:10 AM, mr. cob said:

Howdy All,

An update on this continuing saga, working through Miller Insurance, very good folks, Roxanne let me know that even with the appraisal Progressive will not write an agreed value policy, she said Progressive would write the policy with a stated value of $55,000.00 but it would be an actual cash value policy meaning that Progressive would take the appraised value as a guide but would still set a value in case of total loss at what Progressive thought was the actual cash value.  Long story short, they would charge me more but still bulk at paying what the truck was appraised at.

However she did find a company that would insure the truck at an agreed value of $55.000.00 the company is called "Nationwide" does anyone have any experience dealing with this company?  I would like to have the opinion of others who have dealt with Nationwide, good or bad before I commit to doing this, thanks.  Going with Nationwide would cost me 61 cents a day more then staying with Progressive, I am leaning real hard towards Nationwide.

Dave

Very interesting.  I asked my agent to requote my Progressive policy, which had gone from $580 four years ago to $1150 this year.  She came back with a quote from Progressive quoting $850.  Her quote stated an ACV of $32,000 ($7,000 over NADA).  According to what I am readin gon this thread, Something doen't sound right.  Any suggestions on what I am not understanding?

Sorry if you read the original submission.  I had AGV, instead of ACV.

Now the question comes up;  even if Progressive states and ACV of $32,000 when ti came time to do an eval upon damage, would not they came back and do an actual cash value at time of accident, irrespective of what they stated the ACV was when I signed up?