You, Technology and the Club

We have not used maps for years ,as they tend to be a bit big when unfolded as one drives ,  OS are worst,  as you need so many on a journey 

Although using the Sat Nav (route checked and waypointed if required) for getting to the site. We do have an up to date AA or similar A3 map book for this country and the spiral bound Michelin atlas for France, as a back up. Plus OH likes to follow the route.

Use PC for access to Club web site - find it difficult to navigate on my I-pad.

Find the map with the handbook handy for seeing CL locations - unless I have missed it you cant see a map of them.  If you are going some where near county boundaries web site is a night mare.  Also distance/direction from named town useful when trying to locate possibile sites.

Do use web site for pictures, reviews, google maps etc.  Navigation is usually on big map book for the long distances and OS maps for "last bit" and while we are away.  OS references essential.  Wouldnt want to rely on Sat Nav - sometimes they do very strange things like try & make you turn round when you know you are going in correct direction, or if there is a diversion a hard copy map is often useful.

Dont have any internet in van - on phone or anything else.  Research before we go.  Having changed from caravan to motorhome and going away more frequently we are considering having something like mifi installed.  As I understand it, much more versatile than site specific wifi.  Only used Club wifi once - when we were in London for a whole week at Crystal Palace - found it sort of useful!

The Site Directory and map are essential for us when planning our trips, as we go away for up to 10 weeks at a time, and not just an odd site or two as most do, and find with the map we can get an overall picture of our projected trips. I much prefer the hard copy OS  maps to those in digital format as again they give a much wider range of view of what's in the area than those on laptop or i pad etc. As we use CLs  mainly there are frequent times when we have no or very poor WiFi reception, not good if we wish to view future destinations if we didn't have the SD to call back onto.

Having changed from caravan to motorhome and going away more frequently we are considering having something like mifi installed. As I understand it, much more versatile than site specific wifi.

It is not something that needs installing, they are small stand alone mobile units. Here are just a couple of those available from Amazon. Choose your unit, buy a pay as you go or contract  Data sim on a Network of your choice and your online. A favourite of many is a Pay as You Go sim from the 3 network. These are available in various sizes, but the 12 and 24 GB ones, valid for 12 and 24 months respectively, are good value.

I've just got the EE mini wifi - only used it once so far, but was brilliant. Entering into a monthly contract might not be everyone's choice, but for various reasons, it suited me.

Really impressed with it - seems to pull in a much stronger signal than the phone does and in addition to providing a signal for up to 10 devices, it's great for catch-up TV, Netflix, Prime etc. which we tend to watch when we are away in winter - no buffering whatsoever.

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

I do most of my planning at home. One of the most useful tools I use for UK journeys is the digital 1:50K OS maps loaded with both Clubs' POIs. It is very easy to rapidly search an area to see what sites are available and see what the area is like around a possible site and the access to it. It is also easy to switch to the 1:250K road maps for an alternative view. I load the same POIs onto my sat nav so both are as up to date as the Club maintains their POIs which is better than the handbooks but not as good as the Clubs’ web sites and site finder Apps. For more detailed site information I will either use the Clubs’ Apps or web site. If your using the Clubs’ Apps you can get a route to your chosen site very quickly via the “View on Map” button. If you are running the App on the same device as your sat nav, you may be able to chose to use your own sat nav App for directions otherwise this does work with Google Maps. I run my OS mapping on my desktop, tablet and laptop.

I also keep any guide books I need on my tablet using the Kindle App to search and read these.

I usually have a laptop, tablet and a smart phone with me when away so I have plenty of backup should one device fail. I have recently switched my phone service to Giff Gaff which is a more flexible service provider than the main network providers. No contract and you can change the level of service required on a monthly basis or top up as required. The only time I use Club WiFi is to access the Club’s web site.

 The only paperwork I carry is a road atlas and the CMC handbook. I have digital membership to the C&CC so carry none of their paperwork. I have not had a problem yet and you are just as likely to misplace or damage paperwork as you are to have problems with technology.

It works for me.

peedee

Low roaming charges and Giff Gaff have maide my MiFi redundant. Giff Gaff service is provided on the back of the O2 network and, so far, the coverage has been good but my wife's phone runs on Three mobile giving us choice should one network not be available. Service is never a problem "over there" because of the many providers you can use when roaming.

peedee

The user and all related content has been Deleted User