Sigmawifi’s Cloudcases are designed to keep Wi-Fi channels open during a natural disaster.
Natural disasters stole headlines in 2021, from hurricanes to wildfires, tornadoes and more. For park owners, that means being prepared for any disaster is key when it comes to protecting campers.
Usually, the ability to communicate is one of the first things to get hit when any natural disaster occurs. This can hamper an owner’s ability to get updates on evacuation statuses, communicate with outside agencies to manage recovery efforts, help campers communicate with family members and park staff…etc.
Eli Morse, CEO of Sigmawifi, said that his company has begun distributing a unique Wi-Fi box that can help eliminate communication issues by keeping Wi-Fi up and running when a disaster hits.
Called a Cloudcase, the units come in a hard-shelled case that is designed to withstand the elements, according to Morse. Each unit includes a router and battery inside that includes room for eight sim cards. The Cloudcases connect to cellular networks to distribute Wi-Fi when other modes are disrupted.
“The system allows owners to have access to the four major carriers, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile,” he explained. “They could have two sim cards from each carrier installed in the unit. That enables them to bond together for increased signal strength. They work very well in remote areas, and they’re ruggedized, so they can handle dust, water, rain and snow.”
The unit can operate while the case is shut, and it is designed to automatically connect when a power outage or other issue pops up knocking out the main source of communication/Wi-Fi at a park. Morse said each Cloudcase can connect up to 50 people at the same time.
Sigmawifi has already sold a number of these units to Sun Communities, the parent company of Sun Outdoors, Kampgrounds of America Inc. parks and has also worked with Equity LifeStyle (ELS) Properties.
“We also have a large number of construction clients that use these cases when they are out in remote areas to get Wi-Fi access,” Morse highlighted.
The Cloudcases are designed to remain plugged in at an office while they are not in use and Morse said that the trickle technology the battery has enables it to stay plugged in while not impacting the longevity of the battery.
“A standard battery will last up to eight hours, but owners can also install a battery that will cover a 24-hour period,” noted Morse. “You can also connect it to solar power.”
Morse said he always tells park owners to have some redundancy in their systems for emergency purposes, and he said that this system offers that.
“This device allows owners to have failover and redundancy, and in those really challenging locations in the U.S. where you might not have a cell signal, or you might have one bar on your phone, you’ll be able to run Zoom calls through this thing,” he explained.
In the event that a disaster eliminates cell service in a location, Morse said that the ability to connect to multiple carriers should help alleviate issues.
“It also has this component called WiFi Win behind the cover that is an extender,” he said. “That Wi-Fi extender allows it to connect to any signal. This can act as a Wi-Fi extender and pick up a weak signal and then re-broadcast it.”
Morse said the Cloudcase can also connect to satellite connections if owners are interested in connecting to StarLink, when it launches, or another satellite provider.
Morse also touts the product for parks that have limited availability to good internet as a way for RVers to connect to even a weak cell signal.
“This will operate at higher speeds than DSL, and it would be an alternative to rural locations that have very weak cell signals,” he explained.
The company offers different models from residential to commercial which can range from a few thousand up to $6,000.
To learn more, head to https://www.sigmawifi.com/.
