The internet is a lifeline for 'dwellers but it not always available in the ways it is for sedentary folk. There are two major challenges:

1. intermittency - the nomad will sometimes be completely out of range of internet access. i.e. no wifi or mobile data available.
2. limited bandwidth - there is internet access but it is dodgy or very congested, as in an RV park or when shooting long distances to an open wifi access.
3. security - know what is safe and what is not
4. expense - mobile data is $$$ compared to residential broadband

The Alfa AWUSO36-series

fixme

Mobile (or “cell” data) is the internet access provided by mobile telecomm networks:

• Verizon has the most coverage, including uut-of-the-way places. This makes it the most popular carrier among nomads and boondockers. Verizon is infamous for being expensive and for doing jerky things like limiting built-in features on their phones. It can be a bit of a love-hate relationship.
• AT&T and T-Mobile are about the same – full coverage near cities and spotty coverage in the boonies.
• Sprint is rarely used due to minimal coverage

Perhaps counterintuitively, having a non-Verizon carrier can actually be desirable at RV meetups, since everyone else is likely to be hammering the Verizon towers.

Often you can buy data at cheaper rates. Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) are resellers who buy excess capacity from major networks and sell it to customers at reduced prices. Examples: Boost (Sprint network), U.S. Mobile (Verizon network) and many others.

The tradeoff is that your data may be deprioritized when a particular tower gets congested. Your data will still work, it'll just be slower when all those folks paying full retail start streaming Netflix at 7pm or whatever. Can't put up with that? Pay full price and take your chances with congestion anyhow.

If you want to find an MVNO for your preferred network, search for “verizon mvno”, “T-mobile mvno”, etc.