WiFi waste of money?

124678

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #92

    Not all areas get all the digital channels

  • Frank Gill
    Frank Gill Club Member Posts: 153 ✭✭✭
    100 Comments
    edited May 2019 #93

    Not having read all the comments on this thread but having just got back from Trewehett Farm ( not clubs fault, but their provider) for us over the weekend the wifi was rubbish, think we will try some other means of connection, easier for grandsons to keep in touch with their mum whilst away.

     

  • GVD
    GVD Forum Participant Posts: 175
    edited May 2019 #94

    Presently in France, and currently on our 4th site. Each and everyone of them had/has FREE wi-fi and NO problem at all. Emphasise FREE, and NO Problem. However when on Club sites at home, NOT Free and difficulty in access, and we are leaving the EU? Makes you think??

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #95

    Instead of 'free' try included. laughing

  • GVD
    GVD Forum Participant Posts: 175
    edited May 2019 #96

    Fair comment, but the prices were also reasonable at between 15e a night to 20e. a night.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #97

    Different country and different prices. In UK prices may not be as cheap for pitches. That is how it goes.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #98

    Again, you're the exception that proves the rule ..... 

  • Tomorrow
    Tomorrow Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited May 2019 #99

    What about people like me that when on sites would be roaming on there phone so data is not an option as so expensive.  If you buy a pay as you go simm data is still really expensive and not able or worthwhile to get a contract as don't have a mainland based address as we live in Guernsey.   So we use site WiFi.  Unless anyone else can suggest something better?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #100

    If you buy a pay as you go simm data is still really expensive

    As I indicated earlier I don't consider the cost of data PAYG as exorbitant. We reckon on using about 0.45 gb a day. So buying 24gb 12 month data simm works out at around 75p a day for general browsing, google maps, emails and forum use plus searching for places to visit etc. 

    If you want to use it to watch youtube etc then it gets expensive. OK the Huawei Mobile router cost us about £70 outlay but then we don't use a smart phone. 

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
    100 Comments
    edited May 2019 #101

    Read the entire thread, 2 post's referring to children, ages not included.

    I can remember umpteen years ago now the start of onsite wifi, commercial, it was a paid for service, and slow, so slow the kids gave up, and streaming telly didn't exist back then.

    The club is here now, but are they clear enough to the familys who dont tour, who go to a site for a holiday, what the paid for service wont do?

    For example, insta-snap'face-Witter?

    Never mind gaming apps and streaming.

    Just said to my 21 year old daughter, who is on her mobile right now, "Fancy PAYG", answer, "Fool".

     Provided the club makes a clear statement before point of sale the limitations of wifi, then carry on carrying on.

    I suspect most heavy users of mobile internet have a hefty if not unlimited data contract anyway, bit like my own unlimited everything.

    In answer to the OP, it all depends on expectations of users and promised delivery by supplier (club).

    For me no it isnt, but others, yes it is!

     

     

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2019 #102

    Just said to my 21 year old daughter, who is on her mobile right now, "Fancy PAYG", answer, "Fool". 

    For some, like me and many others, the need for data (or at least significant data usage) is limited to when on holiday, and hence why PAYG can be the smarter choice rather than contract.

  • Wellys and Mac
    Wellys and Mac Forum Participant Posts: 447
    100 Comments
    edited May 2019 #103

    I agree,

     My mum (86) her mobile is for emergencies, internet is turned off, payg.

    Mine, unlimited, I've used 31gb this month.

    Michelle has a 20gb allowance 

    Both ours are contract.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited May 2019 #104

    We are in a fairly similar situation to ET.  We spend only about 13 weeks in total away in the van these days, previously we did about 10/12 weeks abroad and 8/10 weeks here but we are tied to UK at present due to (voluntary) grandparent duties, and also cannot spend as long away.

    Previously we used exclusively CAMC sites in UK, so we bought a site WiFi pass each year and used our own WiFi or free site WiFi abroad. If you use a lot of CAMC sites with decent WiFi, it is good value.

    For phones, we have our children's old ones with 3 PAYG sims,  we spend less than £30 per year on these and never use data on them as it works out expensive.  Our own WiFi is via a mini router with dongle and a 3 preloaded data SIM, current one has 24GB and 24 months validity for about £40. 

    At home we have a decent broadband package, but no inclusive calls, we use our mobiles if we need to make calls, which is actually pretty rare these days.

    These days we find CAMC sites have become too expensive for us to use all the time, so we are using mainly CLs and a few CCC sites, with only 2 CAMC sites planned this year.  As a result, we are now using our own WiFi all the time unless there is any provided on the site, and find this works fine for us. CCC stopping charging for theirs was an unexpected bonus.

    Our 24GB SIM  will do us for over 12 months, and is handy to have in case we get broadband problems at home, we always keep a spare one too as the time only starts at first use.

    We have frequently looked at contracts, but just cannot justify the cost.

  • MartynandKym
    MartynandKym Forum Participant Posts: 39
    First Comment
    edited June 2019 #105

    Yes ET, (lol), everybody does have different needs and of course you can't get 100GB a month for £80 a year.....but why should the club spend so much money providing an internet service that most high data users will not require due to already having their own arrangements in place?   Seems a waste of money  to me.

    Its great for the odd member like you who is still living in the dark ages and don't stream programmes and who can capitalise on the cheap rates for next to no data use, but times they are a changing. It's only a matter of time before your old flip phone will no longer work and you end up with (god forbid) a smart phone!!

    I guess the reason must be that the other club is now giving free internet on their club sites and its keepy uppy, but I don't think I'd like to try and stream a program at 20.00hrs on a Friday or Saturday night. I fear there could be a few extra comfort breaks than makes it worthwhile.

    Good luck to you ET, long may your flip phone give you the power!

     

     

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
    500 Comments
    edited June 2019 #106

    Despite being well into our 60's, the majority of our friends and family have smart phones with a 4G allowance either by contract or PAYG. Most use them and accept them as being part of life these days, and accept the associated costs..... e.g. we use the phone's calendars quite a lot, your phone is with you all the time and can be used for anything it can do either on t'internet or whatever, or messaging via various platforms to communicate. Rarely do we either make or receive actual voice calls. A tiny minority of people that we know see no value or benefit in having a smart phone. I wonder what the actual percentage of members who pay to use the CC site Wi-Fi is ?    It isn't great value for people who don't use club sites a lot, and even then, for those who have smart phones, would be similar to hiring a car, even though you already own one...undecided 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #107

    Its great for the odd member like you who is still living in the dark ages and don't stream programmes and who can capitalise on the cheap rates for next to no data use, but times they are a changing. It's only a matter of time before your old flip phone will no longer work and you end up with (god forbid) a smart phone!!

    I have a spare sweetheart so worry not. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #108

    It isn't great value for people who don't use club sites a lot, and even then, for those who have smart phones, would be similar to hiring a car, even though you already own one...

    For folk that don't make much use of CC sites site wifi is dear as it s on many sites. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2019 #109

    “Its great for the odd member like you who is still living in the dark ages and don't stream programmes and who can capitalise on the cheap rates for next to no data use, but times they are a changing. It's only a matter of time before your old flip phone will no longer work and you end up with (god forbid) a smart phone!!”

     

    I think, M&K, that the really great thing is that we can each make our own choices which are personal to us and they should not attract criticism from others. We are all different but that does not make any one of us right or wrong. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2019 #110

    Its great for the odd member like you who is still living in the dark ages and don't stream programmes and who can capitalise on the cheap rates for next to no data use, but times they are a changing. It's only a matter of time before your old flip phone will no longer work and you end up with (god forbid) a smart phone!!

    They are not all that smart.😂

    We recently spent a week at Longleat. Mobile phones don't work very well there. The OH's older iPhone emptied its battery in about 8 hours doing nothing. Even my newer one used 40% searching for a non existent  network, according to its diagnostics. 

    The silver WiFi, which worked admirably, with only a few blips, was very welcome.😀

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #111

    We recently spent a week at Longleat. Mobile phones don't work very well there. The OH's older iPhone emptied its battery in about 8 hours doing nothing. Even my newer one used 40% searching for a non existent network, according to its diagnostics. 

    MartyandKym may take the Micky but, like you presumably, I find CC Wifi a good standby at such times but also find it economical due to our usage of CC sites. This year I expect to use CC wifi on about 55 evenings - about 24gb data for which £27.50 is fine. We will use a similar amount of data on a data sim which will cost £40. Free wifi on a number of sites.   

    Also I like the fact that our mobiles' charges last 10 days. Our Huawei mobile router may need more regular charge when in use but we are unlikely to e wandering around with two dead phones wink

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #112

    Well good luck to all those who think the "free" wi-fi now provided by the other club will bring them into the 21st century ahead of others...see here for what they are actually providing. wink

    C&CC wifi LINK

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #113

    Only used it on one site this year and that was at St Neots. Worked fine but not too bothered really. I have my mobile router and data sim. 

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited June 2019 #114

    The C&CC Wi-Fi at Bala was abysmal. It's a small site and we could see the mast, but it was almost unusable. But the 4g coverage was good.

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
    500 Comments
    edited June 2019 #115

    Now that the Camping Club no longer charge for WiFi, everyone that can log onto it will be inclined to do so. Numbers of phones and tablet devices logged on could therefore rise from perhaps 10 on a site to perhaps 100, maybe more. As each persons share of the connection is that much reduced the speed per device is bound to also reduce, so no charge for WiFi is a mixed blessing. Iv'e been on 3 sites since the change, and my 4G has always been much much faster so far, as in ten times faster !

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #116

    Numbers of phones and tablet devices logged on could therefore rise from perhaps 10 on a site to perhaps 100, maybe more.

    One reason that I am happy to pay for CC wifi (I get enough usage)

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited June 2019 #117

    In this case at Bala - there was about 10 units on site. Mostly couples "of a certain age" like us - so not many devices per caravan/tent.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,144 ✭✭✭
    10,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2019 #118

    Since leaving home this trip, I’ve used C&CC’s Wi-fi at 3 sites. It’s varied from slow to very good but, on each site, it was worse in the evenings. Same old!

    I also found one person on a CAMC site trying to download something and complaining about the speed. That person didn’t see why a download wasn’t allowed/recommended as it cost enough. Oh well, I tried. 

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,389 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited June 2019 #119

    I only ever use site WiFi to access the Club's web site. I  find using my phone as a hotspot gives a better service. Last time out I had no problem streaming Amazon Prime via a 4G signal. Only problem is you can quickly get through your data allowance if you are not careful.

    peedee

  • avondriver
    avondriver Forum Participant Posts: 85
    First Comment
    edited June 2019 #120

    Although I agree performance on many of our sites is abysmal I do wonder when people say Wi-fi is free everywhere else. For example Travelodge charge £3 a night with the first 30 mins free. BA charge £4.50 an hour in flight. It all depends on where you are and bandwidth availability.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2019 #121

    Same here - just use site wifi for CT, anything else on the phone (really just browsing and checking emails so I never get close to my allowance!)

    As far as C&CC "free" WiFi is concerned, we recently stayed at 2 sites. At Wolverley it worked fine, but at Kingsbury Water Park it was very hit and miss.