Whether you live in Swindon or you’re looking to stop by and explore what we have to offer, you’re never lacking for options when camping in our corner of Wiltshire. If you’re staying for a longer period on one grounds or moving between different sites, preparation is key, and this is especially true when it comes to internet access.
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo
It might not be especially traditional, but constant and reliable access to the internet over a variety of devices is now a necessity that we can’t ignore. From curling up for some entertainment before bed to work emergencies, having confidence is key to maintaining the best holiday possible, so what choices do you have?
Your Needs Come First
Before looking into the different internet options available, you need to consider the demands you’ll expect to place on your connection. For example, if the most you expect to use your connection for is light entertainment, such as collecting slots bonus features on casino sites and playing a few games. The bandwidth required for claiming the likes of free spins and deposit matches and taking a few spins is minimal, so simple options are fine. On the other hand, if you need larger data downloads and uploads for work, then the demands placed on your connection will be much greater.
Which Option is Best?
You can separate the internet options at camp sites into three main choices.
The first and rarest option is free or paid camping internet access. This isn’t offered by many more traditional campsites, but it can be a key feature of glamping sites like Moreton-in-Marsh or Wooten Park. While this option can be the most convenient, it can also be the most unreliable. Many active users can reduce the speed of a connection here, or introduce temporary outages, especially in free wi-fi sites like the two examples above.
If you need something faster, then a system like Starlink might be worth considering. This will tend to be more expensive than the alternatives, but if you can find a reliable line of sight to the sky, it can deliver the best connection speeds. Just note that this can also be highly weather-dependent. These also depend on a solid mounting point, so if you're in a tent, as you'd see at a site like Warwickshire Wild Camping or Fossewold Cotswold Camping, then getting connected this way might not be feasible.
Your third option is the most flexible, which is setting up your smartphone as a mobile wi-fi hotspot. Unlimited data is helpful for anyone taking this route, and you should also ensure that you can keep your device plugged in while it’s acting as an antenna. This feature drains battery quickly, so keep this in mind.
Our final piece of advice is to check reviews of the campsites you’re looking to visit to see if any users have used the option you’re chasing and if they’ve faced any issues along the way. Being proactive is the best way to avoid headaches, so you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying your time in the nature and beauty of Swindon.
