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Internet Connectivity at The Redwoods In Yosemite

HomeInternet Connectivity at The Redwoods In Yosemite

Stay Connected In Yosemite National Park

Most homes in The Redwoods In Yosemite portfolio have the best internet available in the rural region. This is fast enough to check emails, stream videos, and even attend that quick conference call, as long as your group isn’t too big.

The limited internet options available in the Yosemite region are not as fast as the high-end, expensive plans available in urban tech centers. Still, it’s more than adequate for regular use.

The best internet in this area at any price provides roughly 12 Mbps down and 1 up. For reference, Netflix only requires a minimum of 1.6 Mbps, and a 1:1 Zoom video conference takes 0.6 Mbps.

Also, Verizon LTE is broadly available throughout the Wawona area. These speeds will vary depending on how many people are connecting. However, generally, you can expect a faster connection this way; approximately 20 Mbps down and 2 up.

Tips for Maximizing Bandwidth

If you aren’t used to mountain WIFI, and you find your internet bogging down on a critical task, there are a few simple things you can do to manage your bandwidth more effectively.

  1. Turn off Auto-Sync and Update Functions. Most devices are set up to perform all kinds of bandwidth-intensive actions as soon as they connect to Wi-Fi. For example, phones are often set up to automatically sync photos and video to the cloud. This means they are extra busy after returning from a day of exploring Yosemite. All of those background processes pull bandwidth away from the task at hand. In addition to auto-syncing photos and media to the cloud, the other big culprit is background app updates/refreshes. Take time to pause these processes to focus more on the available bandwidth on your critical task.
  2. Put unused devices in airplane mode. It can be hard to find all the settings that burn bandwidth in the background. An easy way to make sure your devices aren’t stealing bandwidth while you’re not looking is to put them into airplane mode while not in use.
  3. Pre-download movies and other entertainment when possible. What are the kids going to do while Mom is on a conference call in the other room? Rather than getting on TikTok or YouTube, Mom’s call will be smoother if they are watching videos that you pre-downloaded at home.
  4. Be aware of video quality. If you do end up streaming video, remember that higher quality video costs you more in bandwidth. The sharp picture is nicer. But, if you reduce the quality, more people may be able to do other things at the same time.
  5. Bonus Tip for Video Conferences: Use a land-line for audio, if available. It’s no big deal if the video freezes due to limited bandwidth. Keep the audio conversation going with a solid land-line connection. This eliminates conversation lags and people talking over each other because of audio delays.

Time for a Digital Detox anyway?

Another approach to dealing with limited bandwidth is to simply lean into the situation and cherish the limited screen time. Bring some board games or a deck of cards. Start that book that has been on the to-read list for much too long now. Try out a new offline hobby. Talk to each other. The options are endless.