Good Verizon Signal or Free WiFi Near the Coves?

I'm camping up at Stillwater tonight and fishing the Fort in the morning - company welcome, but I really should get a little work done while I'm up there. Verizon's map shows coverage, but in my experience, that is a lie. Has anyone found any spots with good coverage or poachable WiFi in the OC - FR area?

The closest place I recalled that has Verizon  signal is Timber Cove.

The closest place I recalled that has Verizon  signal is Timber Cove.

Thanks, I never got a good signal there but it's been a while, I'll give it a try. I've been able to phone and send and receive texts occasionally, but I need to download some fairly large data files that won't be available until I'm already up there, so one bar doesn't usually cut it.

The Timber Cove hotel had a decent wifi signal the last time I stopped in, but it looks like they're only serving hotel guests. Sorry - don't remember the password if there is one, but the signal reached out front into the parking area.

Cheers,
Brad

I've been toying with the idea of living in a RV/Trailer and traveling while working.  Biggest problem of course is getting internet on the go.  I found this page that can help you determine the location of near by cell towers, and even give an idea of the heights and distance and blockages are from the tower:  https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/cell-tower-map-united-states/

I've been toying with the idea of living in a RV/Trailer and traveling while working.  Biggest problem of course is getting internet on the go.  I found this page that can help you determine the location of near by cell towers, and even give an idea of the heights and distance and blockages are from the tower:  https://www.scadacore.com/tools/rf-path/cell-tower-map-united-states/

Nice site, thanks. I toyed with idea as well, but satellite seemed like the only option for many areas, and it was expensive and slow. Cellular coverage has gotten a lot better since then, but is still poor in many areas I like to visit.

Yep, that is true.  Skylink should hopefully solve that by next year for mobile users. 

One other piece of advice is to get a hotspot with external antenna.  This is preferred over a Cell Booster, as the boosters do not actually help with data speed issues.  A phone or a regular hotspot has a tiny antenna.  Almost any panel directional antenna is gong to be far better than what a phone or hotspot can give you. 

One other piece of advice is to get a hotspot with external antenna.  This is preferred over a Cell Booster, as the boosters do not actually help with data speed issues.  A phone or a regular hotspot has a tiny antenna.  Almost any panel directional antenna is gong to be far better than what a phone or hotspot can give you.

Good to know, thanks, normally I would just tell my partner I'm going fishing, deal with it, but this is peak season for the companies we work with so he really needs this data tomorrow morning. Something like one of those hotspots with an antenna would certainly help with the rolling semi-retirement which I am contemplating. Little spendy for just one trip though.

I get 3 bars marked on map…Verizon I use there jetpak $65 per month unlimited but it’s slow a lot of times…

The coverage at fort Ross and ocean cove is terrible which is a good thing more time to focus on fishing

The coverage at fort Ross and ocean cove is terrible which is a good thing more time to focus on fishing

If I've got a choice of spending 20 minutes in the parking lot at Fort Ross looking at some data, writing a short report, and sending a couple of emails, and then going fishing on a weekday, or NOT going fishing on a weekday, and still having to look at data, write a report, and send some emails, I prefer the first option, but to each their own.

Well here's the answer: I'm getting a perfectly good signal at Stillwater Campground, and can get my work done over coffee in the morning before heading over to the Fort. Thanks to all who replied.

Thanks for the intel about a signal in Stillwater -- I can sometimes get a connection at the pullout overlooking the cove to send a text, but it was never good enough to do anything data intensive and wasn't even reliable for texts.

Cheers,
Brad