Slashdot Mirror

I prefer a broadband connection at home and a combination of T-Mobile's hotspot service and free wifi for when I'm out. If you're a T-Mo customer and don't need everywhere connectivity, it's a nice solution. T-Mobile's Hotspot service is available at Starbucks, Borders Books, Kinkos and a lot of Airports for an extra $20/month in the US. They also have roaming agreements in Europe with companies like Vodafone Orange.

There are also a number of places, like Panera and many public libraries, that have free wifi for those times when you a) just can't stomach another carmel machiatto, or b) can't find one. Try a wifi locator to find places in your city. I just found out all the Hooters here in Texas have free wifi. Why am I not surprised. ;-)

With the recent announcement that AT&T is taking over the hotspots at Starbucks ADSL from AT&T will give you free access at Starbucks, that is if you can live with AT&T and their supposed monitoring agreement with the NSA. If you're a T-Mo customer you'll still be able to use Starbucks since they just announced that an agreement with AT&T that lets their customers continue to use the Starbucks hotspots.

You said you and your wife are out a lot. If you have a choice as to where you're out to, then keep the broadband at home. If you're a consultant who's in a different office or hotel every day of the week, then the 3G cards makes more sense. I still wouldn't sacrifice the home broadband either way.

If I want wireless while I'm out and about, I go to Panera or a local cafe that offers it for free....
So BFD if it changes!
I use http://www.wififreespot.com/ to find free wifi when I'm away from home. (No, I don't work for them or get money for it :)

Here is a nice lil list I found a while ago of US airports with free wifi, enjoy.

http://www.wififreespot.com/airport.html

1) You have a choice as to whether or not to use a wireless connection. This isn't just about RECEIVING a signal - it's about configuring your computer to receive it, and transmitting signals back as well. This is nothing at all like walking by and "seeing" a picture.

Not always. Many default setups will detect an open network and connect to it with no action on the users part.

2) Being a technically minded person, it can easily be argued in a court of law that you were aware this "magical free wireless" connection was owned by someone, and was probably owned by the coffeeshop. If someone leaves their bike out on the public sidewalk unattended, are you free to take it for a spin? No. Illegal. Not yours despite someone being ignorant enough to leave it unlocked. The fact it's on public property is meaningless.

There are lots of people who intentionally leave connections open for people to use. Take a look here. It isn't unreasonable to assume that an open, unencrypted network is intended for public use. The bicycle analogy simply isn't the same thing. I've yet to find a web site which lists spots you can go to find free bicycles to ride.

3) Not only do you know the signal comes from some owner, but there's not just the TOS of the "wireless connection" (which may be posted inside, or may be nonexistent) -- there is the TOS of the ISP serving bandwidth to the coffeeshop.

The ISP's TOS is an agreement between the shop and the ISP. It has nothing to do with me. I'd assume that the TOS are such that it allows the coffeeshop to share it's bandwidth as it sees fit. If not, then is the shop violating those TOS' by allowing customers to access its bandwidth? I'd be willing to wager that there IPS's TOS don't say "You're allowed to share this bandwidth if you want, but only with people who are paying customers of yours."

I'm growing really tired of the way people are trying to justify what they know is stealing by arguing that because a wireless signal is "intangible" or "encroaches public property", it's somehow public domain. It's not. Someone owns the device that's transmitting it, and someone pays for the connection to the internet that it's using.

And I'm growing really tired of people who don't understand basic principles. By all means, it's your bandwidth. Share it or not, as you choose. But if you choose not to, then take steps to make it clear that it's not an open access point. If you don't, then I'm perfectly justified in assuming that it's an intentionally open spot, just like thousands of others all across the US.

obviously, it's fairly unlikely that anyone is purposely sharing their wireless network

Sure, I can't imagine anyone doing anything crazy like that.

A good resource is Wi-Fi-FreeSpot. I, too, travel around the US a lot, and usually try to find free wi-fi. This site helps greatly.

I recently spent a month driving around the country with my laptop. I blogged a lot of the way without having to purchase a T-Mobile Hot Spot subscription. I did stop in a Panera Bread in Arkansas, but I was in a hurry and didn't check to see whether their WiFi worked.

This site http://wififreespot.com/ was particularly helpful for finding spots. Also, it seems that a lot of motels (especially the small independent ones) are starting to offer free WiFi with their rooms.

Also, in places where WiFi isn't available, I just used a 90-day AOL dialup trial offer which I just cancelled after the trip was over. If you're on a budget, check into a Motel 6 (free local calls) and use it. They have a grip of access numbers and I didn't have to pay long distance charges.

Come on over. I run one from my home and have installed another with three D-Link APs in a theatre in town that services the conference rooms, lobby and town square. Public, open, meant to be used by the public who happens to notice them. The theatre one is good PR for the theatre and the bandwidth consumed by passers-by is negligible. Somehow, the tents with leeching masses of bandwidth-thirsty vampire geeks have failed to materialize there. Maybe it's got something to do with the bad summer weather we've had. You just haven't been looking, have you?

And what do you mean, "posted as such"? With .public in the SSID? Wardriving symbols on the pavement outside? On billboards? Mimes on the sidewalk gesturing for you to tune in, log on and geek out[1]? Neon-sign equipped blimps floating by, featuring husky female voices urging you to try out the new hotspot?

[1] )( Tune in, log on, geek out... Hey, that's practically a Cafepress license to print money! Gold! Thar's gold in them here hills! Gold I tell you!

Wear a watch that beeps when there is an internet connection nearby, and stop and check out email?
Well for wardriving you could use
1.Use a zaurus(or any other PDA with wi-fi)
or
2.use This device
or
3. us this directory to find free hot-spots

How do I know that the unsecured AP I'm using isn't unsecured on purpose? In addition to the hundreds of advertised free hot spots, there must be thousands of unadvertised ones that were left unsecured precisely so passing users could borrow some bandwidth. [Whether, given the context of this arrest, that's a smart thing to do is a moot point.]

I have been in contact with a friend in Tallinn, Estonia and he tells me that Tallin is full of publically accessible Wi-Fi hot spots. You can see more on this page, referenced at Wifi Free hot spots.