who uses WiFi???

[Thrill]

Hey fellow climbers, skiers, backpackers, mountaineers, etc….

 

I wanted to know if some of you have used WiFi after your adventures to update your web pages, pictures, blogs, send emails about your adventures, check in with family and friends, etc?

Please send me your comments about how you got to using it, what you like and your general thoughts on WiFi.

 

Thanks

Jimmy

[cj001f]

WiFi in a public setting or WiFi at home? Do cellphone/PDA browsers count?

 

Which publication is this article for?

[Dr_Crash]

Yes, inquiring minds want to know!

 

And since I post my TRs from my laptop, it's always using WiFi (from home or work). Not something like "I get my digital camera prints uploaded on the laptop, race to the closest Starbucks with a WiFi hotspot and post" though...

 

drC

[mtnnut]

Not sure what information you are looking for. Yes, it works. Yes, it is convenient. Typically, locations with WiFi have high speed access, so they are going to be faster than a dial up line. Most of the time the WiFi speed is slower than if you plugged straight into the ethernet port like you would with DSL, but it still is pretty good.

 

Some networks restrict you from using your POP email for sending mail out, but usually you can receive it (probably to avoid responsibility for spammers). I'm guessing here, since otherwise I'm not sure why sometimes it doesn't work for me. Web based email like hotmail and yahoo are no problem though.

 

Free access points

http://seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/WhereToGetOn

http://www.wififreespot.com/

[iain]

Before you fork down for an internet connection be sure there is not free internet access to be had floating through your livingroom already...all it costs is a 802.11 card...

[slothrop]

Like on a road trip, where you might have a laptop and wireless access? I don't bother to bring a computer with me on trips because it'd probably get stolen. Back at home on my wired DSL connection and desktop PC, I'll write TRs and post photos, etc. I've got a laptop with WiFi, but just use it for work when I need to get out of the house (I work from home).

 

The only real advantage of wireless internet access today is that it gives you mobility within a small space (coffeeshop, campus quad, office, library) and you don't have wires to tangle with. WiFi isn't yet widespread enough that you can expect to get online from everywhere, or flexible enough that you can drive around with a constant connection. It's also more prone to eavesdropping and someone stealing your bandwidth than a wired connection.

 

That said, it's often easier to get public internet access with a wireless connection than with a wired one. Not many coffeeshops have Ethernet jacks, but many have wireless access points.

[EWolfe]

Stuart's and The Black Drop in Bellingham.

 

[scott_harpell]

Before you fork down for an internet connection be sure there is not free internet access to be had floating through your livingroom already...all it costs is a 802.11 card...

 

That's what I got. Thanks neighbors!!!

[foraker]

this is why i use secure wifi.....i ain't payin' for the neighbor's kid to surf internet porn. i get enough of that from the wifey.

[Dr_Crash]

this is why i use secure wifi.....i ain't payin' for the neighbor's kid to surf internet porn. i get enough of that from the wifey.

 

Secure WiFi isn't secure and the neighbor's kid can use a secure WiFi LAN as easily as an unsecured one. All you get from WEP is a reduction in effective speed. Use MAC address control instead. A bit more painful when friends visit, but at least it works.

 

drC

[foraker]

Dr. Crash, that's what I meant. thanks for the clarification.

[Thrill]

thanks guys.. you all rock.

Sorry I was a bit vague.. I meant to be. That way you all would just pour it all out. thanks again.

 

WiFi in Portland is beginning to spread pretty well in the city. People can go on a nice climbing trip all weekend long and then go to Pioneer square on their lunch that following Monday to connect and update. I’m looking for those such people so I can get your feedback and maybe a few quotes.

 

Thanks again!

[nonanon]

I'm posting from a PTP node. I read about it in the WW. Other than being free, it's the same old internet. If I wanted to, I could go over to the park and post, but if I were going to the park I'd rather take the dog and a frisbee.

[iain]

For Portland users:

http://www.personaltelco.net/

[cj001f]

WiFi in Portland is beginning to spread pretty well in the city.

But there's no WiFi at the Airport And no plans to add it

 

But I didn't know about this one:

Rocky Butte

NE Rocky Butte

Website

Maps and more information are available from the wiki page and from NodeDB.

 

Spraying at the crag

 

If your in Moab Eddie McStiff's offers free WiFi

[ivan]

i wouldn't have half as many posts as i do if it weren't for most of my neighbors having wifi

 

not that i'm a remotely moral person, but should i feel morally revolted coasting on other's signal?

[iain]

I wonder if you could be convicted of cable fraud...

[scott_harpell]

I don't think so... I just turn on my computer and hit that red "O" and I can talk to my friends... I don't get it... its like magic...

[nonanon]

I just turn on my computer and hit that red "O" and I can talk to my friends...

 

That's what I do too!

Then, up pops a little grey box that says, "Enabling."

[eternalX]

Most of the time the WiFi speed is slower than if you plugged straight into the ethernet port like you would with DSL, but it still is pretty good.

 

While a 100BaseT line (100Mbps) is faster than the lowest standard of wireless (11Mbps), as soon as you get to the phone line, you're going to slow down to whatever your DSL line is, usually less than 1Mbps. The only time the speed becomes a factor at all is if you're doing a lot of traffic on your home network with others, not usually with the conneciton to the internet and now, newer standards support 54Mbps and above.

 

WiFi is great. I use it at home. I use while on the road. I use it at local coffee shops. It's easy and fast. I now only stay at hotels with free WiFi access, which includes most Mariott's even in places like Knoxville, where i'm going on thursday.

[eternalX]

I wonder if you could be convicted of cable fraud...

 

That's the cool thing about Speakeasy DSL. They actually promote sharing your broadband connection with others, runnig a server, whatever.

[dryad]

should i feel morally revolted coasting on other's signal?

 

I wouldn't feel too guilty. If somebody really didn't want you to use their signal, they'd password-protect it.

[cj001f]

I don't think so...

People have been charged in Canada with "theft of telecommunications service" for pirating WiFi. I'd bet charges in the US will happen sooner rather than later.

[Thrill]

it's hard to say if charges would happen... since some of us... like myself .. have WiFi set up at home and actually hope that the neighbors use it. it's like having your porch light on and thinking people shouldn’t use it to walk down the sidewalk.

 

Someone should file charges against those guys that charge like $5/hr to use their hookup at the coffee shop.. talk about rape and pillage.

[rbw1966]

Is there a way of knowing if one of my neighbors has wifi before I shell out the dough for a card?