[djjava]

I remember reading in the forums that some new powerbooks users were able to bum of a hotspot without paying. I've also read that some AE users can't get onto a hotspot at all.

I ask because my local starbucks is becoming a hotspot in october, and my graduate school provides free WiFi, and I'm curious to know what users have experienced with their new powerbooks w/AE with some of the WiFi services.

I've searched the forums a bit, but I figured i'd ask the question again, because sometimes answers are hard to find.

[rjt1000]

hi djjava,

well i dont think you will have any luck bumming off the wi-fi setups at starbucks. you will need to get an account from t-mobile. they were offering a free 24 hr trial, but after that you will need to pay. https://accounts.hotspot.t-mobile.co...802/signup.jsp

however, many people and business have wi-fi setups and dont bother to enable the encryption or mac address security features. you can bum a ride on these--and its probably even legal--although its nice to ask the owner first.

also some parks and public places have free wi-fi access.

to find some freebie wireless networks, try these links;

http://www.wi-find.com/
http://www.wifinder.com/

Or do a google search on "wireless internet CITY", obviously replacing CITY with the name of your location.

I've been surprised at how many free wireless networks can be found.


Best wishes,

Rich (Pismo G3 500 Airport)

[Iron Lung Ryan]

Originally posted by djjava:
I remember reading in the forums that some new powerbooks users were able to bum of a hotspot without paying. I've also read that some AE users can't get onto a hotspot at all.

I ask because my local starbucks is becoming a hotspot in october, and my graduate school provides free WiFi, and I'm curious to know what users have experienced with their new powerbooks w/AE with some of the WiFi services.

I've searched the forums a bit, but I figured i'd ask the question again, because sometimes answers are hard to find.

Hey man, I use wireless internet at my school, University of Kentucky, all day with my 12"PB and AirEx. When i first connect in the morning it aasks for my student long/password, but you can choose guest and still use the internet. if you have any large universitys i would check them out. There are at last 3 starbucks on campus and they all have wireless there.

[djjava]

i hope people don't think i was trying to find out about bumming off a hotspot... tho that would be cool. I guess now that my local SBUX is finally going WiFI, I gotta look into what plan best suits me.

anyone in Boston ought to know that Newbury St has a new WiFI service that is free. it think it is called OpenNewbury.com or something. Tehre are quite a few locaitons up and down newbury st that are free wifi spots.

[[APi]TheMan]

Applications like MacStumbler or iStumbler will actively scan the air and find wireless networks within range and give you lots of information about the network (whether they've got Wireless Encryption (WEP) turned on, the name of the network (SSID), and other useful information). You can use these to find networks around town or work. Meh.

I've had lots of success with my Airport (non Extreme) in my Pismo.

[riverfreak]

Originally posted by [APi]TheMan:
Applications like MacStumbler or iStumbler will actively scan the air and find wireless networks within range and give you lots of information about the network (whether they've got Wireless Encryption (WEP) turned on, the name of the network (SSID), and other useful information). You can use these to find networks around town or work. Meh.

Seek and you shall find (Kismet not available for X?)

[DanielPritchard]

...my graduate school provides free WiFi, and I'm curious to know what users have experienced...

I have the PowerBook 12" with AirPort Extreme. No problems with my campus' Cisco LEAP*-authenticated WiFi network (SFSU), two Netgear WGR614's (802.11g), and lots of unsecured access points.

But if your school uses LEAP, you can't connect from the Internet Connect program, because it only works with "Password" authentication. Put the AirPort icon on your menu bar if not already, and then when you select your network or hit "Other" and type one in, it gives you the choice of WEP (40- or 128-bit, hex or ascii), "Password," and LEAP. The icon is more convenient to use anyway.

* LEAP is basically just authentication with username and password instead of just a single key, so you can control individually who's allowed to connect. It's only supported by (1) expensive Cisco cards for the PC, (2) AirPort cards of all flavors, and (3) some new 3com cards for the PC.

[cambro]

It's good practice to just turn on Airport every now and then, it doesn't cost you anything, and the airport pull down menu will give you the names of all the networks currently available. Just choose one and see what happens.

You'd be surprised at the number of places that have unencrypted networks (intentially or otherwise). This is especially true in college environments.

Now if I could just find a rogue signal near home...

[dialo]

www.wifimaps.com is offline right now for some reason, but when they come back you can check out some great maps of all sorts of spots in your area.