RV Internet Options (and Karma Go review)

In the ideal world, you’d get into your RV and entirely ignore the outside world as you wander around for the weekend (or the whole year). In the real world, however, you’re going to need the Internet for something.

Let me just give it to you straight: any sort of mobile data usage is bound to be expensive — especially if you’re going to want reliable connectivity for work or a fast connection for Netflix.

Dana and I chose the Karma Go as our primary connection (while relying on our respective AT&T and Verizon cell phones as backup hotspots).

Pros:

  • LTE / 4G radio so the speeds aren’t half bad.
  • Super small in case you need to take it with you elsewhere.
  • Battery powered so you’re not always pulling from the RV’s electrical system.
  • Pay-as-you-go option, in case you don’t need to use it often.

Cons:

  • It doesn’t quite work everywhere, especially if you’re boondocking. (That’s where your personal cell phone hotspots are going to come in handy.)
  • Once the battery dies, you’re going to have to turn the inverter on to recharge.
  • You can only have ~5 devices connected simultaneously so it may not be a good option for someone with a large family.

Overall, it’s not a bad choice and I’ve been happy with it. Get a Karma Go for yourself and give it a shot.

PRO TIP: if you’ve got an AT&T phone, choose the Rollover Data option and select a plan that has slightly more data than you use on a regular basis. Over time, you’ll have a bunch of “excess” data available for use and you’ll thank yourself for thinking ahead when you decide to binge watch Stranger Things on Netflix while boondocking out in the woods one night.