WirelessTrips.com Campground Review: Danforth Bay Camping Resort, Freedom, New Hampshire
I’ve had Danforth Bay on my list of “wanna-visit” campgrounds for the past several months. Their website is impressive and it really looked like a “resort.” We were finally able to visit and it was as big and as impressive as the website claims. This was probably the biggest campground we’ve visited and there were tons of activities for the children. Right after we arrived, Richard got to work on trying to get online through their (non-existent!) wifi service while I took the children to the pool. They were having a huge pool party with a DJ. Children were dancing, the sun was shining and everyone was happy. It was a great summer day!
Once the children were appropriately waterlogged, we drove back to the RV (we’d taken the Suzuki to the pool because the place is HUGE) and found Richard watching TV. He’d completely given up on getting online because we had no connection whatsoever. Our biggest complaint was this statement in their brochure: “�Wireless Internet access is included in your site rate. While wireless Internet service is available throughout the park, we cannot guarantee that each and every site will have adequate signal strength at any given time.�
Richard drove around the campground and couldn’t find any signal at all except right near the office. So, it’s our opinion that this campground grossly misrepresents their wifi coverage. AND, you get charged for it anyway! I feel like we (and all their wifi-seeking guests) were duped so I’d like to give this place one marshmallow. But, the children had a great time here, swimming, kayaking, watching a guy swallow fire and swords, and more. If you don’t need wifi, this is a great place to visit. If you need wifi, don’t bother.
Three out of five marshmallows.
Danforth Bay Camping Resort
196 Shawtown Road
Freedom, NH 03836
P(603)539-2069
F(603)539.5681
http://www.danforthbay.com/
July 5th, 2005 at 9:17 pm
I am off to Danforth Bay this weekend. How was the cell phone connection? Did you have any troubles?
July 5th, 2005 at 9:38 pm
Actually, phone coverage was pretty good. That is what we used to get online while we were there.
July 6th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
Thanks for your comments regarding wireless Internet here at Danforth Bay. I’m glad I stumbled upon your post.
Our wireless network has been a challenge this season. On top of technical issues, I just did some homework on my end and found out that a lightning strike damaged some equipment during the last week of June (around the 23rd/24th). Our local cable provider needed to replace equipment and our tech people needed to do the same (both at the Great East Bath House area). In total, our wireless signal was greatly diminished for about 10-14 days.
We are now back up and running and as of tomorrow, when two additional transmitters are being installed, we will have nearly 75% of the park covered. With our dense tree-cover and rolling hills, it is tricky to do, but we are working to enhance to signal. Offering wireless Internet at no charge is something that sets us apart from other resorts, so we need to make sure it’s pretty much bulletproof. It was certainly not our intention to dupe anyone with our promotional materials.
I hope that you choose to visit us again so that you can truly enjoy a “wireless trip” at Danforth Bay. And I’m glad your children had fun so that we earned those two extra marshmallows!
July 19th, 2005 at 7:42 am
I just got back from a week at Danforth Bay and I also had difficulties with the wifi. I was hoping that the service was recovered from the lightning storm as Scot mentioned, but we did not have coverage on our site.
July 19th, 2005 at 11:51 am
I’ve been keeping an eye on this forum to check for further responses, and I’m truly surprised about your post, Tracy. We tested and tested and we were very happy with the results. On Friday, July 8th, one of the co-owners of the resort literally traveled every single road in the resort with a laptop and had a signal everywhere, albeit somewhat weak in some places due to topography and tree-cover. I don’t know where you personally stayed during your visit to Danforth Bay, but I do know that the Lovell Loop area has some pockets that have a fairly weak signal.
We will definitely keep on top of this, and we will continue to work towards improving our wireless network. It has been interesting to read these posts and I am glad I stumbled upon this website. If I learn anything more, I’ll post here once again.
Hope to see you again here at Danforth Bay in the future.
July 19th, 2005 at 9:16 pm
Scot, If it helps, we were at site C11 and my husband tried on numerous ocassions to get a WiFi connection and he was unsucessful. Don’t worry that minor detail was not enough to keep us away, we already rebooked for next year because we had so much fun! You guys have a great campground.
July 26th, 2005 at 1:24 pm
I just got back on Saturday, I must say I was fairly close to the main building, E11, we had no signal. I used my NetStumbler around the park and only got signal at the entrance to the park. Sorry for a bad WIFI review, but as of July the 23, the access was very limited
September 5th, 2005 at 11:54 pm
I’m a seasonal camper at Danforth Bay, and until July had to go to the office to get a signal. Once theyhooked up the transmitter at the Great East bathhouse, I’ve never had a problem; good or excellent signal all the time.