How caravan parks and campgrounds can improve cellular coverage

Beyond the stunning landscapes and breathtaking wildlife, South Africa has become a haven for caravan enthusiasts seeking adventure and connectivity. In today's digital age, reliable cellular reception is no longer a luxury but a necessity, even when exploring remote locations. As an owner or manager of a caravan park in South Africa, you may be wondering how to provide your guests with seamless connectivity. Fortunately, Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are available to enhance cell service in key areas of your campgrounds, whether it's situated next to a bustling highway or nestled in the serene tranquility of nature.

How DAS Helps Enhance Cellular Coverage in Caravan Parks & Campgrounds

Your caravan park's poor cellular coverage could be due to several reasons, including the distance from cell towers, the surrounding terrain like mountains, hills, and trees, and building materials. Depending on your park's location, you might be affected by one or all of these factors. But don't worry, a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) can help you overcome these challenges.

So, what exactly is a DAS? It is a device composed of one or more signal amplifiers and multiple strategically placed antennas in large areas, significantly improving cellular coverage. DAS comes in different types, some designed for outdoor use while others work best indoors. For your caravan park, two DAS systems that will work best are:

Cellular Signal Boosters (A.K.A Passive DAS)

Boosting cell signal inside your Caravan park's indoor common areas, meeting room, office, coffee shop, and on-site cabins can be achieved with cell signal boosters. These devices use exterior cellular antennas that capture the strongest signal available from distant cell towers. The signal is then relayed to the amplifier through professional-grade coaxial cable, bypassing any building materials that may weaken or block incoming cell signal. The amplifier significantly boosts the signal and sends it to the indoor antenna(s) for broadcasting.

These boosters take advantage of the building's walls to further help the signal bounce around, making them unsuitable for outdoor use. With the amplified signal, your customers can enjoy seamless connectivity while staying in their cabins, playing in the game room, washing clothes, or enjoying the pool house.

Additionally, a reliable cell signal allows for better communication between staff members, improving park management and productivity. To further enhance the customer experience, consider investing in multiple caravan signal boosters to rent out to customers, allowing them to enjoy quality signal right in their caravan. This could result in more traffic as many campers prefer staying in parks with good cell phone reception. However, it's essential to note that an existing outside signal is required for all booster systems to function effectively, even if it's weak.

Outdoor Active DAS

These outdoor Active DAS systems are specifically designed for outdoor use and can provide superior coverage to every caravan and tent site in your campground, ensuring your customers can enjoy reliable cellular connectivity. However, it's worth noting that these systems can be a lot more expensive compared to passive DAS. Installation can also take longer due to the complexity of the system.

Outdoor Active DAS directly connect to a cellular network, making them more powerful, and require one DAS amplifier per carrier that you want to improve coverage for. Fiber optic cables are used to relay the signal to the distributed antennas, allowing for longer cable runs in larger areas and better signal quality. However, approvals from each network operator whose signal you're trying to enhance are necessary and can take at least six months to obtain.

Once installed properly, an Outdoor Active DAS can provide strong cellular connectivity throughout most or all of your caravan park or campground. Your customers can enjoy streaming music by the campfire, have an outdoor movie night with a projector, and stay connected to social media, significantly enhancing their camping experience.

Benefits of Better Cellular Coverage in Caravan Parks & Campgrounds

Having reliable cellular coverage is crucial not just for customers but also for property owners. Let's explore a few reasons why:

Safety

A park or campground can be prone to emergencies, such as medical situations or vehicle accidents. With a dependable cellular connection, first responders can be contacted quickly, avoiding the need for customers to hunt for a landline or desperately search for a signal.

Better Reviews

In today's world, customer reviews can make or break a business. Many campers heavily research their trips, including looking at coverage maps, perusing reviews, asking questions on forum boards, and checking Hello Peter. Reliable cellular coverage is one of the top features they seek in a campground. Meeting this need can lead to outstanding reviews and make it easier for others to discover your park and visit.

Longer Stays

A reliable cellular connection can lead to extended customer stays. Device-dependent customers will not immediately leave once they realize the coverage is spotty. They may choose to stay longer, especially if they need a strong connection to work remotely.

Higher Return on Investment

With more people interested in staying at your park, and some staying for more extended periods, your investment in cellular connectivity will pay for itself, and your business will become more profitable.

Improved IoT Management

If your park has any IoT applications, such as vending machines, ATMs, credit card-operated laundry machines, or smart sensors on hookups, a quality cellular router with a robust internet connection is critical. Reliable signal strength ensures that all applications run smoothly without interruptions.

A dependable cellular signal can relieve congestion from the Wi-Fi network, leading to faster data transmission for all IoT applications. Additionally, IoT signal boosters can guarantee that any machinery reliant on these connections receives a constant signal for real-time data transfer and monitoring.

Is WiFi enough?

Although WiFi is a great amenity to offer, it has its limitations. WiFi routers operating on the 2.4 GHz frequency can reach up to 90m outdoors, depending on the model and manufacturer, while routers operating on the 5 GHz band provide faster speeds but with a shorter range. Obstructions such as trees, buildings, and caravans can weaken the WiFi signal, reducing the range. Even with multiple transmitters, a WiFi network may not be strong enough to provide reliable coverage throughout a park or campground. Additionally, WiFi networks have less capacity than cellular networks and can easily become overloaded when multiple devices are connected, resulting in reduced speeds for all connected devices. Many campers prefer a consistent cellular connection because it is more reliable, faster, and secure. Distributed antenna systems such as Outdoor DAS or signal boosters can work alongside WiFi networks, offloading congestion and providing a backup network in case of internet outages.

Cell Signal Boosters for Caravan Parks & Campgrounds

Best Signal Booster for your Caravan

WilsonPro Single Room Signal Booster Kit

• Affordable cell phone reception - where it is needed most
• Amplifier with up to +70 dB of gain.
• Coverage for all mobile networks, across multiple devices
• Improves 2G, 3G and 4G LTE signal
• Available with broadcasting Desktop or Panel Antenna.
• Needs no WiFi connection or monthly fees. One time purchase.

As expected, the WilsonPro Single Room Signal Booster Kit is specifically designed to provide coverage in the most crucial areas of your caravan. This cost-effective and flexible solution is capable of significantly enhancing your cellular signal inside your caravan. Furthermore, when paired with a vehicle expansion kit, it can also serve as a reliable signal booster for your car. With this versatile product, you can ensure that you have a stable and strong cellular connection regardless of your location. 

Best Signal Booster for Your campground facilities

 WilsonPro A1000 Signal Booster Kit

• Most popular larger areas booster.
• Boost 2G, 3G & 4G LTE
• Works for all phones & networks. MTN, Cell C,
  Vodacom & select Telkom bands.
• Complete kit, easy to install.

Best Signal Booster for your vehicle

weBoost Drive AM100-Pro Signal Booster Kit

• Most powerful vehicle signal booster
• Boosts 4G LTE, 3G and 2G for multiple users in a vehicle
• Works for any phone using MTN, Cell C,
  Vodacom and selected Telkom bands
• Complete kit, easy to install.
• Better voice, text and internet guaranteed.

The weBoost AM100-Pro Drive is a versatile tri-band cellular repeater designed specifically for vehicles in South Africa. Whether you're driving a car, SUV, bakkie or boat this mobile repeater has got you covered. With a range of options available, you can choose from a hardwire or AC power supply, and use an OTR antenna for trucks or an inside antenna for boats. What's more, it can boost up to four cellular devices simultaneously and has a high uplink power, ensuring reliable signal even on the most remote roads.

How May We Help You?

Bolton Technical is a leading provider of cell phone signal boosters, devices that amplify 4G & 3G LTE for any phone with any carrier for home, office, or car. We’ve boosted over 1,000,000 m² of signal for homes, buildings, and vehicles across America and Canada and now that same power is boosting signal across South Africa.

• Free consultation (ask us anything) with our South African-based customer support. Email us or Call us today.
• Free shipping over R500 to Major South African cities. Usually ships same day.
• 30-day money back guarantee. You want to make sure you're satisfied.

Our goal is simple: keep people connected. Ask us anything and we'll be glad to help.