Tired of working from home? Put the office on wheels

N VivionN VivionN VivionN VivionN Viv Nick Vivion, who lives and works full-time in a mobile home or recreational vehicle, says, “I had always wanted to do this” (RV). “I used some of my house money to buy myself a mobile home with no mortgage and no rent. Then he disappeared without a trace.” Mr. Vivion, the founder of Ghost Works, a public relations agency based in the United States, has been a digital nomad for the past four months, living and working full-time in a mobile home. He’s not on his own. The RV Industry Association believes that one million individuals live in RVs in the United States alone, ranging from seniors to full-time roaming employees. However, for individuals who also want a reliable internet connection, dissatisfaction might be high, especially in a large country like the United States. “I studied until my eyes bled about all the many alternatives and things to do and prepare,” Mr Vivion recounts from his mobile home in Texas. “However, you can never be completely prepared… When you’re continuously trying to get off a client call and want to wrap it up before they use all of the info, it can be really stressful.” Mr. Vivion claims that his original mobile WiFi hotspot frequently failed, leading him to experiment with other choices until settling on a commercial bus router similar to those used by interstate transportation firms. “I rapidly realized the need of redundancy,” he continues. Keeping people like Mr. Vivion connected, working, engaged – and comfortable – is becoming an increasingly important element of the worldwide mobile home market, which is estimated to be valued over $42 billion (£30 billion) by research firm Research And Markets. Netflix has the right to use this image under a Creative Commons license. “The truth is that first-time travelers, as well as seasoned travelers, may be hesitant to stay in an RV because they are afraid of having to leave their comforts behind,” says Joanna Franco, host of Netflix’s The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals. “However, the experience is approaching that of staying in a typical home – with significantly better amenities,” Ms Franco says. “RV technology is improving in terms of usability.” The Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC), established in Indiana, is one of the companies that provides solutions for digital nomads, offering a variety of caravans (or trailers in the US). Demand for mobile connectivity has increased, according to ATC CEO Robert Paden, as a new generation of nomads takes to the road. “Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen a very high surge in those new to camping and off-grid living.” Many of them still want to stay connected for reasons like remote job or family, so we’ve noticed a rise in demand for features that enable reliable access.” His business sells solar panels as well as cell phone signal enhancers. “It’s amusing, because the notion is that you can be completely unplugged while yet watching Netflix,” Mr Paden explains. Jennifer demo photography is a copyrighted image. “While there are some clients who do not want to have anything to do with technology in their RVs, the vast majority want access to the same entertainment they have at home.” Road trips, according to Mr. Paden, are no longer just about getting away and disconnecting from the digital world for a new generation of consumers. “It’s about prolonging stays and expanding experiences,” he says, adding that this includes bringing technology from home. Brian Demo is a veteran US Marine Corps helicopter mechanic who is now a master RV technician and expert at JustAnswer, a company that matches individuals with inquiries with subject matter experts. He’s noticed that mobile houses are becoming increasingly complex. “Some of these coaches have computer systems that are mini-tablets that you can use to run the entire RV,” he continues. More Business Technology How to land a high-paying cybersecurity job How will airlines avoid losing your luggage in the future? Why are tiny investors flocking to the stock market? In 60 seconds, a valuable car part was taken. How your food is being engineered by farmers and scientists Mr Demo cites In-Command as an example of a company that makes control systems that allow customers to remotely operate a range of features from anywhere in the world. “You can control the electrical system in your coach, operate your leveling jacks, and even alter the temperature for your air conditioning or furnace all from your phone,” he says. According to Mr Demo, the epidemic has increased demand for networking technologies. “As more people relied on higher internet speeds to complete work remotely, there was a greater reliance on cell phone hot spots, particularly among families with children who attended home school. “Trying to cram everyone into bandwidth-hogging video conferences put a pressure on home networks.” Netflix has the right to use this image under a Creative Commons license. According to Kevin Taylor, the creator of Powerful Signal, WiFi at mobile home parks is often spotty, thus his company specializes in signal amplification devices for mobile phones. Each amplification system includes an antenna that is mounted outside the mobile home and captures signals from nearby towers. “That signal is then transferred by cable inside the RV to an amplifier, which increases the signal power and feeds it to [another] antenna within the RV, which rebroadcasts the signal to the cellular devices inside the vehicle,” he continues. According to Mr. Taylor, these antennas are always improving, so travelers will be better connected than ever before in the near future. Mr Taylor explains, “We replaced out an antenna for a customer on a system the other day, and his internet speeds doubled.” “With all of the high-bandwidth applications presently in use, this is critical.” “The majority of the advances we expect to see are in new apps for cellular devices that can be utilized anywhere,” he says, adding that this will increase demand for signal boosters in RVs. Nick Vivion, for one, feels that these technologies will become more frequent as more professionals hit the highways, hoping to avoid high housing prices and having been exposed to remote work as a result of the pandemic. He says, “I’m meeting pilots, nurses, insurance brokers, and all types of people.” “It’s gotten a lot more enticing. It isn’t even a matter of necessity. It’s as if I’m able to find the ideal apartment. It’s simply that it’s on wheels.” Mobile phones in the United States Travel/nRead More