The DigitalRV Blog

Yesterday I never got around to loading the photos from my visit to the Nissan dealer, so I thought I should get them up today. The place was impressive! WiFi, pull in service bays, and nice service managers. Overall the best experience I’ve ever had at a dealership. The only place I’ve liked more when it comes to service is Sullivan Tire in Dover, NH. Those guys were great.

In time travelers will see more places offer WiFi services, other internet services, and who knows what else. People want to expand their offerings to differentiate themselves even more. Funny thing though, the more companies attempt to differentiate the more they look the same in the long run…..

Part of Bancroft’s waiting area

The “Wifi Bar”

The Bancroft Dealership

This morning I had to bring my Nissan Titan into a local Nissan Dealer for my 15,000 mile service, new in cabin air filter (for the guy who’s got all the allergies), and a tire rotation.  Want to make sure everything is ship shape before hitting the road this week.

The dealership I chose is really new, in Auburn, MA.  The dealership’s name is Bancroft.  I don’t know how their service is yet, as my truck is currently in the serive bay as I’m typing this.  But I couldn’t resist posting a blog entry now.  Why you ask?

The Bancroft Nissan Dealership went all out since they’re new.  A superb waiting area (I’ve taken photos that I’ll post later), good front desk customer service, and of course, WiFi.  Yup, they’re geared up for today’s “road warrior” employees, but it pays off for a well connected RV’er too.  I actually feel like I’m in a cyber-cafe rather than a vehicle dealership.

Since my IBook Laptop is equipped with WiFi I’m good to go.  The service manager I spoke with saw my laptop case, and said, “The Wifi area is off to the right.”   The opportunities to stay connected are absolutely growing!  Give it time, hotspots will continue to pop up.  Getting high speed access where you choose to roam might be simpler than you think.  Just pop in to have your tow vehicel or RV serviced and you might find your latest high speed network solution!

Pictures from the dealership will be posted later.  I forgot my handy little San Disk card reader back at the trailer this morning.  I’ve got the camera with me, so I snapped off a few shots.  Can’t remember everything all the time, right?

The past few weeks have reinforced why I’ve gone digital in my trailer. In short, I can really make things work and get things done!

Now that I’ve started being a full-time RV’er, my needs have changed dramatically. Going out for a few weeks with my trailer didn’t mean ground shaking changes. I could put my mail on hold at my post office. The answering machine at home would take care of calls. And for short periods of time I didn’t care much about TV shows or news, trips in the trailer meant a vacation from all of that.

The situation for full-timing is different. I’m no where near retired yet. Actually, I’m trying to get a small business off the ground! And it’s happening out of a 25 foot Airstream Trailer. Not your standard startup business, and surely not a concept you’d associate with an internet startup. I should be perched in a Star Bucks using their WiFi and getting amped up on large quantities of caffeine.

So, how is the digital stuff working for me today, 2 weeks into my full-timing? Who knows how long I’ll be doing this, you’ll have to keep checking in here and at Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles. The digital stuff is working great!

Here’s where I stand today:

• All business that I’m involved with can be conducted over the net. No great worries about being near a post office.
• With my Verizon Wireless Data connection and my Kyocera KR1 I’m good to get on the net wherever cell coverage is available. I might have a few days out of touch, but I’ll call that vacation time.
• Most financial matters can be handled via phone or internet.
• Items that need signatures, etc., can be e-faxed easily.
• My XM radio keeps me up to date with news and entertainment.
• Elgato EyeTV can be used whenever I have the TV itch (haven’t felt like watching reality shows lately)
• Staying in touch with family & friends is a snap. Between my VOIP (voice over IP) through Skype when I have high speed network, and my cell phone, I’m fairly well covered. Once again, those days without cell coverage I’ll call vacation days.
• The total sum of my digital devices fits in two carry on sized bags. For the airline folks, yes my bags will fit in the overhead or under my seat!

So, while I’m adjusting to the changes in lifestyle, the digital gadgetry allows me to manage things however I see fit. There’s one item less for me to worry about. I need to spend more time looking at travel routes, selling the book, “The Digital RV“, and playing with new technology to share with readers.

The Digital RV Blog hasn’t had updates in a few days. A good deal has been happening.

Advertising for the first book on mobile technology, The Digital RV, has started up this month in Highways magazine. Looks like we’ll be seeing a positive review of the book as well in Trailer Life. And the spring issue of Airstream Life Magazine will have something interesting as well. Here’s hoping we see some sales growth to help grow the site, and the community of digital rv’ers.

In other news, the forum will be seeing a new chat coming on line very soon. In addition we’ve been working out integration of a photo gallery for everyone to share their digital pictures from the road and home. So the forum will be adding great features. Keep the requests coming in, and we’ll try to meet them. Pass on the forum info to other RV’ing friends as well. If you tell 5 friends and they tell 5 friends it will be as bad as one of those spoof e-mails that float around the net.

Shortly the inspiration for the Digital RV will be pulling out of Massachusetts and hitting the road for an unknown amount of time. We’ll see where we land! And the whole time blog updates and reviews will be hitting the web. What works on board will be shared with readers, that’s for sure.

On an intersting note, The Digital RV made the Airstream electronic newsletter. I knew nothing about it until a friend passed it along. Too cool! And no, the photo on the page is Johnny Depp, not the author. I know, easy to confuse us eh?
Finally, the author finally got the last big round of medical testing. Not exactly the news I was looking for, but I now know what I must do to manage the medical stuff. If you’re looking for the full update click here to read the personal journals at the “Airstream Chronicles.”

Ok.  The Digital RV Blog will remain mostly about tech.  The personal / full timing journals will pop up over on Gadget’s Airstream Chronicles.  If there are “cross-over” entries I’ll post them on both.

There, that was an easy decision.

Recently I got a notification that the latest map sets were available from Garmin. So I ordered their update dvd. It took a few weeks, but I finally received it before I pulled the Airstream out of the town I lived in.

So, this morning I’m updating the 2610. Just started the update, and it will take a while.

The 2610 only came with a 128MB CF card. But a few months ago I found a 1GB card on the cheap. I picked it up, and it works fine in the Garmin. Now I can load the Eastern Seaboard, and all the way out to Wisconsin southward. While having to update a unit might be inconvinient to some travelers, it isn’t that bad. And with my new card, the need to update the GPS isn’t so bad. Not like my trip west with the GPSV (updated that every day).

Trying to figure out some organizational stuff regarding the Digital RV’s blog, so I thought I’d see what folks thought.

Since I’ve started into full timing I’m going to keep a daily journal of what’s happening.  Now the intent of the Digital RV blog was to do tech reviews, and update folks on the latest useful gadgets I come across that would be helpful to other RV’ers.

I’ve got another blog site as well.  Basically, I’m trying to decide if the daily stuff should go here as well, or the other blog location at HikenBike.net.  From the standpoint of simplicity, popping everything here would be best.  Tech posts will still go up here as well, and they’ll be marked under tech categories.

So now I wonder what readers think.  Post comments, please. 

Now that I’ve settled into my Airstream and gotten organized, “normal” daily activities are being established. Just like at home the morning web work goes on. Backups, stats checks, e-mail, and reading the latest news.

In addition to the standard stuff some new items have dropped into the routine. Cleaning the trailer seems to be one new activity. I’ve noticed some mildew on the curtains, so I’ve been trying to figure out how to get them down and clean them. Not as easy as you’d think though.

Other activities have cropped up too. Back on the Appalachian Trail I noticed something that all hikers did when they hit town. After filling their stomachs, getting showers, and town chores, all hikers would invariably go to the local “outfitter” shop to look at hiking gear. Almost like moths to a flame. Well, now I pop into local RV shops to see what they’ve got.

Each shop carries the exact same stuff. Just like each hiking outfitter had the same goods too. But for some reason, folks with a hobby just can’t help but check out new stores where they’re at to see if there’s something different.

I haven’t just been going to poke around. New batteries are in order (since I bought the wrong sized batteries recently ). So, looking around RV stores right now has some purpose.

And finally, getting some purpose has also been a task each day. I’m still in a holding pattern waiting on medical tests, paperwork, and decisions about my former home (can’t mention the town now). But eventually all these things will reach some kind of resolution for good or bad. And once they do, what next? I’m sure it will be a trip somewhere. Maybe a favorite spot in the south (Damascus, VA), and maybe to meet up with friends (and make new ones too). But thinking about “what’s next” has occupied a good deal of time.

I’ve been living out of my personal “digital rv” for a few days now. Almost settled in. Things are getting organized, cabinet space for specific items has been worked out, etc. It really takes a little while to get your own system of where you want things to go when living in a small space.

So, I thought I’d provide some shots of what it’s now looking like in my 25 foot Safari. And no, I didn’t really clean up prior to taking the photos. Things are as they appear.

The “living area”. Complete with blanket on couch, Macintosh, and stuff on the dinette!

Sleeping quarters, with a “Life is good” blanket.

My credenza work area. You’ll note the IBook, Lacie firewire drive, and Sesame Snack sticks (a must for any digital rv’er).

The “Communications Center”. Oh, and the cooking area too.

Well, there’s what my Airstream normally looks like when I’m on the road. Actually, it’s very similar to my time contracting in WV and living in it for a month.

What didn’t you see? Well, the KR1 was in the cabinet when I was taking photos. My IPod is put away for the moment. Most of my media was organized today as well. As I noted in the book, space is at a premium, and that’s why I’ve gone digital for my RV. And amazingly enough, I’ve got space to spare in my cabinets again (now that I organized :)).

Today was a dreary, gray day. Ok though. Gave me a bit of time to organize more, and square away where I want everything. It really does take a few days to work out a system in a smaller living space.

Given the cold weather I’ve exhausted the first tank of propane. I’d been running it since last week checking out all my systems. So my dad and I took a run to a local RV dealer to get a refill. $16.50 for a fill on the 30 lb tank. Last year I was paying $7.00 for a fill up, then in the summer my local shop went up to $15.00. Yeouch. Fortunatley, the tanks get great mileage when it’s not freezing.

Drove around a bit more.  Found a local bank, went out through Worcester.  Then we headed back home.  Hit one more RV dealer to check out batteries too.  I’d bought the wrong size batteries the other week you know….  ;)  Check the forum if you want to know more about my goof up.

When we returned I hit the net for a few more.  The KR1 has been running great.  I’m impressed.  I thought I’d find a few more flaws with it, and so far only the “reset” after dropping cell signal is the only issue.  Like I’ve noted before, I’m sure that when a firmware upgrade comes along the issue will be addressed.

Now I’m just wrapping up and getting ready for some rest.  Day 3 of full timing.  I’m sure the stories will get more interesting once I finish up with the physicians and take a quick hop southward.