Chronicles of a Broadband Junkie: Navigating the Digital Wave whilst on a Motorhome Adventure

Nomadic Camping Valencia

I find myself ensnared by the allure of the internet, even dating back to the era before broadband, when my initial AOL account brought forth the captivating notification, "you've got mail." This enthrallment persists, and the dopamine rush remains steadfast.

To elaborate, I derive pleasure from the intricacies of uploading and downloading, extending beyond mere social media to encompass films, live sports streaming, and an insatiable desire for speeds seemingly elusive. The frustration that accompanies sluggish data transfer parallels the discomfort of a stone in my shoe or indigestion.

Acknowledging this as an addiction is undeniable. Yet, in the realm of personal vices, everyone possesses at least one don’t they ?. Some exhibit an unnatural attachment to their mobile phones, while others lean towards intoxicating liquors or substances and I of course mean coffee. In this realm of personal choices, mine leans towards the pursuit of death by fibre-speed broadband, or at the very least, the absence of it. If I’m really pushed I would also have to confess, especially in the week of Sir Bob Charlton’s funeral, my love for all things Manchester United , but that’s a little off topic.

Although my addiction admission may sound absurd, your subsequent reactions are unlikely to shame me out of it. My life orbits around ebooks, podcasts, sports, and music. Surprisingly, I do not yearn for social media as much as one might assume, primarily due to a shortage of time and much of it I find repetitive.

In moments of reflection, I marvel at the technological strides we've made. My childhood was marked by just a radio and a black-and-white TV, not owned but rented from a company called Redifusion. A weekly ritual involved a man knocking on our door to collect the rent money. I was always pleased that we could pay him, unlike my mate Kevin’s family who used to crouch behind the settee and pretend not to be in These were challenging times for working families.

Given this backdrop of progress, it's unsurprising that I've been swept up in the digital world's relentless tidal wave. How do I navigate this in my motorhome, one might wonder? Quite well, actually. I've sustained my daily wifi fix in 20 European countries, excluding the UK, where, in some regions, the situation is dire and positively medieval.

Brexit, whilst I’m devoid of political sentiment, has posed challenges. Politics, with its incessant droning regardless of the merit of alternate opinions, holds little appeal to me . I just want to roam but Mobile Roaming was a product of the EU, is not now an inherent right, and is requiring of more lateral solutions.

In our motorhome, we fitted Mobile Wifi System which serves us adeptly, accepting SIMs from the nation of our current location. Procuring a UK SIM card, specifically from EE, offers Roaming benefits, albeit we observed speed limitations after four weeks of upload activity despite the promise of unlimited roaming. In particular upload speeds seem to be throttled back after about a month on the road. Shopping around for the best deal is advisable, considering the dynamic nature of offerings. This the link to the company that fitted our device. https://www.motorhomewifi.com/

If these measures fall short, local data SIMs prove effective. A visit to the local phone shop allows for the purchase of a DATA SIM, a tactic successfully employed in Germany, Spain, and Portugal. This strategy accommodates our heavy usage patterns, such as uploading videos on one SIM while indulging in sports on another, particularly during events like the World Cup.

We refrain from utilising local unsecured broadband connections and ensure constant access to a VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that establishes a secure and encrypted connection over the internet. It enables users to create a private network over a public network. The primary purpose of a VPN is to enhance privacy and security by encrypting the data that travels between the user's device and the VPN server. This encrypted connection helps protect sensitive information from potential eavesdroppers, such as hackers or cybercriminals, especially when using public Wi-Fi networks. Additionally, VPNs can be used to bypass geographical restrictions and access content that might be restricted in certain regions. We use NORD VPN but there are various VPN service providers available, each with its features and strengths. The choice often depends on individual preferences, specific needs, and the level of security or anonymity one seeks. Some other well-known VPN providers include ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark. It's essential to research and choose a VPN service that aligns with your requirements for privacy, security, speed, and global server coverage.

To fellow addicts, despair not; assistance is within reach.

Berlin Germany