RV Blog Hampered By Google Glitch

My fellow RVers and avid readers of RV Now please accept my apologies for not having exciting and interesting photos to go along with my articles. Google, the company who provides this blog service has a problem with itself. Every now and then it gets all wrapped around the axle and is unable to upload photos. Since photos are integral to my articles and make reading about the RV lifestyle more interesting if not intriguing, then please proffer your forbearance as I await the soon return (fingers crossed) of the photo capability of Google. Otherwise I'll have to describe each photo with the sound and sense and color nuance of a professional writer - Yuck! I hope you get the picture - soon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing

Iron Out Your Problems With This RV Computer Table

We are still in the process of obtaining a permanent computer desk for Marilyn, but in the meantime we found that a conventional ironing board serves the purpose well. It's a long surface so you can pile stuff on it and it adjusts to any height you need. It also folds up and stores under the couch when not in service. Not a bad use of space in a pinch. Jim

Cool Cookies For Your Laptop Computer

Who doesn’t love warm cookies fresh out of the oven? Cookies and milk go together like cookies and computers. Yes, we all have cookies on our computers (unless you intentionally remove them) because they perform tasks like automatically signing you into Google or other sites you frequently visit. You also pick up unwanted cookies as you surf the net and therefore you need to empty out your computer’s cookie-jar once in a while. This will speed up your computer and keep it from over-tasking the memory. Another nice thing you can do for your laptop computer is give it more ventilation. You can purchase a unit designed specifically for this purpose which has a muffin fan installed, or you can make your own. Full time RVer Marjorie Morrison made a laptop ventilation platform by using a cookie cooling rack. She modified the rack by attaching felt pads to the bottom corners so it wouldn’t scratch her RV table (note: she inverted the cookie cooling rack so the wire legs are pointing up and then attached the felt pads.) It works great and costs much less.

Make Your Toy Hauler More Powerful!

Bob Kendall wanted to have a desk in the back of his toy hauler 5th wheel, but there was no 110 power, phone line, 12 volt outlet, or satellite cable hook-up. He uses a satellite internet system and needs a convenient place to hook into his modem. He designed this multi-function box that includes all the functions he needs in a very nice application. As you can see he ran conduit up from the floor into the box which is screwed into the bulkhead (Navy talk for “wall”). After he removes his mini-cooper out of the toy hauler, he has easy access to his electrical and cable hook-ups when he sets up his desk.

So, What Is A Blog Anyway?

Several people have asked me this week about RV Now and I told them it was a blog. Then they asked me, “what is a blog?” Well, I must confess, I didn’t know what the word “blog” stood for. So I looked it up and it turns out that it is a portmanteau (a fancy word that means two words are blended together like the words spoon and fork to make the word “spork”). Blog is the blending together of the words “web” and “log” where entries are written in chronological order and displayed for viewing on the world wide web. Now you know the rest of the story! Jim

Get Hooked Up With Satellite Internet On The Road

Glenn Simpson likes to say, “Do you want me to tell you the truth or do you just want me to make you feel better?” He is a straight shooter who knows his stuff when it comes to internet satellite applications. He has been selling satellite internet systems since 2003 and is a super nice guy (honest too). He has been a featured speaker/lecturer/expert panel member at the Gila Bend Hughes.net satellite rally for the last 3 years I’ve been attending and probably even before that. When he gives a presentation, people listen because he knows what he’s talking about and he also holds some innovative patents on satellite internet gear. He is famous for his “Dish-On-A-Stick.com” website and company. You can reach him through his website here Dish On A Stick or you may call him at (602) 615-2936. Or you may email him at grsimpson@earthlink.net.

Glenn is a full time RVer and has a booth in the Yuma, Arizona Market Place. For these kinds of systems it is best that you actually physically go and purchase the system from someone like Glenn because you will get a fully functioning system with no problems and you will get something even more valuable, personalized instruction on how to set-up and maintain this system.

GPS Navigation Laptop

The night before we travel I load up our route on Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 and plan our trip. Once the trip is planned I save it to a file, but not just ANY file, I’ll get to that in a moment. The next morning I plug my laptop into the inverter in the truck, plug my dash mounted GPS into my USB port and fire it up. During this part I’ve been heard to say things like, “Lay in a course for the Arizona Quadrant Mr. Chekov.” “Aye, Captain!”

Do any of you talk out loud like that? Hmmmmmm?

Well, if you ever watched Star Trek you would appreciate the fact that science fiction has increasingly left the pages of fiction and become fact including modern navigation.

My laptop shows our position on a computer generated map. I’m never lost, EVER! As I drive it speaks to me (just like the computer in Star Trek) and tells me stuff like, “Turn right in 2.8 miles.” Now if I can just program it to say, “Captain, we are approaching a Cracker Barrel.” Now that would be progress! But wait, perhaps it is possible. This tiny device is a GPS receiver attached to my computer via a USB port.

Let me just say that these GPS navigations systems are worth their weight in gold – PERIOD! If you don’t have one installed in your RV – be good this year and maybe Santa will bring you one. No kidding, these systems will save marriages, reduce stress and blood pressure and save you money in gas. How does it save you money in gas? When you add up all the missed turns I used to make and the five miles we had to drive down the freeway to the next off ramp then five miles back…. well, you get the point. God bless the people who made these systems possible!
“Bones, how’s my blood pressure?” “Well Jim, you’re a lot calmer now that you have this new fangled navigation system.”

Our navigation system not only directs us where we want to go, but it can also be programmed with extremely important features like the location of low clearance bridges, WalMarts, dump stations, Costo locations, Corps of Engineers campgrounds, casinos, Flying J stops, Military Family Campgrounds, State Parks, Camping World, Wifi campgrounds, and other useful places.

I customized a map with these things downloaded on it and saved it to a file I named, “Standard Travel Map.” Before I lay out our trip on Streets and Trips I call up this file then add the trip plan to it and save it with a different name. This way I preserve my “Standard Travel Map” file for use on the next trip. As we travel it shows us where the low clearance bridges are located so we can avoid them, and yes, even where the next Cracker Barrel restaurant is.

Free download for these data points here: http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfolinks.htm
This is a service provided by the Discovery Owners Association website: “How many times have you found yourself fumbling through your campground books, road maps and numerous other data, wondering if a member campground, dump site, or WalMart was nearby? Thanks to the collaborative efforts of many Escapee and DOAI members, a database has been developed that works with your Delorme Street Atlas, Delorme MapNGo, or Microsoft Streets and Trips mapping program to make all this information readily available on your computer screen. In the spirit of the DOAI and Escapee RV clubs, this information is shared freely with the RV community.”

Here is the website where you can find help files to get you up and running, “More power Scotty!” http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm

All this new technology can “boldly” make your RVing adventure even more enjoyable when you learn how to use it. Science fiction has a funny way of turning into reality, now if I can just get them to make a cloaking device I wouldn’t have to wash and wax the coach as often. “Mr. Chekov, accelerate to warp speed.” “Aye Captain!”

Data Storage Back-up

This is not exclusive to RV'rs by any means, but many of us use computers in our rigs and because of the bumpy ride, outside use, and any number of small abuses we need to back-up our data. There are now many ways to do this, CD, Zip Drives, Portable Drives, and my favorite the external USB connected hard drive. These units come in several memory configurations. The one I use, pictured here, holds the data for both our our lap-top computers and has room for one more. Make sure you back-up your data and if and when your computer or the internal hard drive goes down, you will be prepared. These external storage devices are getting cheaper every year so don't delay - back it up! Jim

Satellite Internet Perfect for RVs

We are traveling today, so I am posting this on the 20th for the 21st posting.You may be wondering how we manage our stock transactions, banking and bill paying. We do it all on line. Online banking is safe and secure (as long as you have a firewall, good passwords and don't do stupid stuff like answer an email purportedly from Ebay saying you just bought a new set of tires while in Alabama but you are in Arizona -Yikes I better answer them right back and get those tires taken off my account -then the email asks you for your password...No, No, No, NO! - FIRST - log off - then log back on to the site you know is the REAL Ebay and then do the inquiry using your password - got it? Good!) So how do we get the internet while on the road? Sattelite. We subscribe to Hughes Sattelite and enjoy high speed internet whether we are in Nova Scotia, Canada or Scottsdale, Arizona. I like the tripod model (roof mount is available and more expensive) because you can move it to where the reception is the best. I drilled holes into the side of the trailer where the sattelite modem is located and inserted the cable fittings. Both Marilyn and I have wireless enabled laptop computers through a Linksys wireless router. the printer is also wireless. Very convienient to use as you can use your computer outside as well as at the desk.

I secure the tripod with two stakes at opposite angels and secure the stake eyes with a caribiner, tensioner connected to a chain which is secured to the tripod eyebolt.

If you want to purchase one of these systems, just post your email and I will put you in contact with a vendor. The price for the whole set-up is around $1,300.00. However it can be done cheaper. The fee is around $60.00 a month and you must sign up for a two year contract. The nice thing about this system is that if you are not a full-time RV'er you can use it at home and then take it on the road with you. It disassembles for easy storage.