Tech: WiFi

Subject: Tech: WiFi
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 03:57 PM

There are several companies offering subscriptions and/or pay-per-use plans for WiFi using their own network of hotspots like AT&T (Freedomlink), an outfit called Hotspotzz and several others. There are also free hotspot locations at local libraries, some campgrounds, some hotels, etc.

If we travel this year I would like to know what I should know about WiFi access while on the road. What company plans (if any) are worthwhile, what risks (if any) there are to personal data, what difficulties are encountered, what else I should consider.

Any mudcatters have any experience or advice to offer?

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: open mike
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 10:39 PM

i have a card for my lap top
it is made by (or called) D-Link.

It offers access to e-mail at many
free wi fi hot spots. YOu can also
get a sbc (or maybe it is at&t now)
extension if you are a DSL customer
of theirs..i think it is $2 per month.

Quite a few state parks in California
offer access via the SBC phone company.
Also lots of coffee shops, cafe' and
stores, UPS offices too as i recall.

you can google wi fi or hot spots and
get a list of places in the area that
you want to locate access spots in. I
do not know about the saftey aspects
but i would think that you would want
your virus protection and spy and ad
programs up to date and activated.

it is amazing technology, but scary to
think that all those waves are bouncing
off of everything, including your brain!

good luck and let us know what you find out.
there are different services and you can
test the signal strenght of them at each
location.

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 10:48 PM

You may (or may not) get some help from a recent PC Magazine article:

The Well Connected Traveler.

The article gives "sample kits" used by several professional travelers, with some comments on what you need and what's good for which purpose.

Security using WiFi is a real problem. The two approaches are to not have anything "personal" on the machine that hooks up, or to subscribe to a "Virtual LAN relay" service, that encrypts everything on the WiFi link but lets you access your regular computer/network at home for anything sensitive through the service's server.

Physical security of the computer also needs some consideration. Laptops are about the only thing more theft-prone than a good guitar.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:36 PM

AT&T lets you add Freedomlink (now called AT&T WiFi) to your DSL service for only $1.99/mo, but not for my particular domain in AT&T. I called and spoke to their sales people, who gave me some coupon numbers to use for free until my domain gets included. So I guess I'll try it when we hit the road, if we can find any McDonald's or Barnes & Noble or UPS parking lots on our way. They also claim to have some sort of firewall that improves security. I wonder if I should also load Zone Alarm. Thanks for the info, Open Mike.

Interesting article, John in Kansas. I always carry a regular phone cord, ethernet cable, plug adaptor, everything else I can think of, yet there's always some way the internet foils me on the road! In many ways, I'm already looking at this technology as so archaic...

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 09:32 PM

The best idea I've seen related to WiFi is the VPN service. Regardless of what security you have on your own laptop, when you hook into a "public" hotspot you really have no way of knowing how secure that particular server is. By using the hotspot server to send only encrypted transmissions, you get back to essentially the same security you have at your home PC. Of course it is another fee to pay, and some software to install - and another service provider to train.

Note that this is just an "unbiased observer" comment, since I haven't attempted to actually use any of this stuff.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 06:04 PM

Tried the AT&T WiFi coupon on the Mass Pike in Lee, MA in the service area parking lot where there was a participating McDonald's. Worked fine! A new technology actually working the way it's supposed to the first time. However, the McDonald's on the other side of the highway (coming home) was non-participating, so the joy is limited. Now I want the service added to my account for $1.99/mo like all the other AT&T DSL customers!

Subject: RE: Tech: WiFi
From: GUEST,JTS
Date: 08 Apr 06 - 06:11 PM

There are lots of free places, especially if you have to buy food anyway. Panera bread is my favorite. Here is a site which lists free hotspots by state. If you are using hotels all best Westerns and Microtels and most Days Inns have wifi included in the price of a stay. http://www.wififreespot.com/