Where can I download a hotspot list?

I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).

I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.

Anyhow, my point is this: I have searched for websites that list WIFI
Hotspots. There seem to be many, but what good are they when I am on
the road. I first have to find a hotspot before I can see the list.

Is there a downloadable/searchable list I can download for the USA?
That way I can put the list on my laptop harddrive and search for a
spot whereever I am located at the time. I'd expect the list to be
some sort of database or other common format. I'd appreciate any
links to such a list.

Thanks

LM

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>
> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>
> Anyhow, my point is this: I have searched for websites that list WIFI
> Hotspots. There seem to be many, but what good are they when I am on
> the road. I first have to find a hotspot before I can see the list.
>
> Is there a downloadable/searchable list I can download for the USA?
> That way I can put the list on my laptop harddrive and search for a
> spot whereever I am located at the time. I'd expect the list to be
> some sort of database or other common format. I'd appreciate any
> links to such a list.
>
> Thanks
>
> LM

Its really hit and miss. If you travel a lot one of the best items you
can purchase is an aircard or a cellphone that can do tethering. Works
wherever you have reception and maybe even at your house.

On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:49:17 -0400, George <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
>> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
>> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
>> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>>
>> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
>> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>>
>> Anyhow, my point is this: I have searched for websites that list WIFI
>> Hotspots. There seem to be many, but what good are they when I am on
>> the road. I first have to find a hotspot before I can see the list.
>>
>> Is there a downloadable/searchable list I can download for the USA?
>> That way I can put the list on my laptop harddrive and search for a
>> spot whereever I am located at the time. I'd expect the list to be
>> some sort of database or other common format. I'd appreciate any
>> links to such a list.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> LM
>
>Its really hit and miss. If you travel a lot one of the best items you
>can purchase is an aircard or a cellphone that can do tethering. Works
>wherever you have reception and maybe even at your house.

What is an aircard?

On 28 Apr, 03:28, letter...@invalid.com wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:49:17 -0400, George <geo...@nospam.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >letter...@invalid.com wrote:
> >> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. *I have successfully connected
> >> while on a trip. *Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
> >> lot. *I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
> >> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours). *
>
> >> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
> >> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
> >> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
> >> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
> >> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. *I could
> >> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
> >> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>
> >> Anyhow, my point is this: *I have searched for websites that list WIFI
> >> Hotspots. *There seem to be many, but what good are they when I am on
> >> the road. *I first have to find a hotspot before I can see the list.
>
> >> Is there a downloadable/searchable list I can download for the USA?
> >> That way I can put the list on my laptop harddrive and search for a
> >> spot whereever I am located at the time. *I'd expect the list to be
> >> some sort of database or other common format. *I'd appreciate any
> >> links to such a list.
>
> >> Thanks
>
> >> LM
>
> >Its really hit and miss. If you travel a lot one of the best items you
> >can purchase is an aircard or a cellphone that can do tethering. Works
> >wherever you have reception and maybe even at your house.
>
> What is an aircard?

Probably a USB connected device for your PC
that allows internet access over the cell-phone
network.

I am in the UK and so things may vary. Can be quite cheap
here now, especially of bundled with another service
or you accept strict dowbload limits. Not really for movies.

Many of the phone companies have hotspots in cities. Loads and
loads of them. Can be very costly for short term use.


http://maps.fon.com/
FON have some presence in the US now. Google was
and may still be free but you either have to pay -
MUCH cheaper than phone companies - OR :

If you provide a hotspot and it is logged on to the network
use of other hotspots is free. You need a broadband connection
and to buy one of their routers. (well you can make one
but it is not for a beginner).

They have 250,000 hotspots worldwide but
that is still a lot of square miles per hotspot.

http://www.fon.com/en/
http://wiki.fon.com/wiki/FON_Prepaid_WiFi

You could try a google search for your prospective destination
and "free wifi".

In the UK now all home broadband comes with a free
router all set up with WPA so pretty much all home
routers are encrypted.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:49:17 -0400, George <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>>> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
>>> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
>>> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
>>> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>>>
>>> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
>>> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
>>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>>>
>>> Anyhow, my point is this: I have searched for websites that list WIFI
>>> Hotspots. There seem to be many, but what good are they when I am on
>>> the road. I first have to find a hotspot before I can see the list.
>>>
>>> Is there a downloadable/searchable list I can download for the USA?
>>> That way I can put the list on my laptop harddrive and search for a
>>> spot whereever I am located at the time. I'd expect the list to be
>>> some sort of database or other common format. I'd appreciate any
>>> links to such a list.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> LM
>> Its really hit and miss. If you travel a lot one of the best items you
>> can purchase is an aircard or a cellphone that can do tethering. Works
>> wherever you have reception and maybe even at your house.
>
> What is an aircard?

It is a device you connect to your notebook either by using the card
slot or USB which allows you to use the cellphone data network.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>
> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.

I disagree with this usurpation of the bandwidth of others. You are
saying that you want to make heavy usage of the bandwidth of others who
have chosen to configure their network insecurely. They didn't configure
insecurely with the intention of you taking their bandwidth away from them
and interfering with the best usage of something to which they are
entitled. They configured insecurely either out of ignorance or out of a
wish to provide a convenience to their clients to not require a WPA or WEP
configurational disadvantage.

Your usage of someone else's bandwidth is not 'casual'. It is a heavy
intentional usage which will impact on others, which heavy intentional
usage you are making for downloading large files, which with the attitude
of someone who takes something from others which doesn't belong to them,
is likely to be copyrighted content.

What exactly is keeping you from subscribing to better bandwidth than
dialup at home?




--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
>> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
>> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
>> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>>
>> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
>> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>
> I disagree with this usurpation of the bandwidth of others. You are
> saying that you want to make heavy usage of the bandwidth of others who
> have chosen to configure their network insecurely. They didn't configure
> insecurely with the intention of you taking their bandwidth away from them
> and interfering with the best usage of something to which they are
> entitled. They configured insecurely either out of ignorance or out of a
> wish to provide a convenience to their clients to not require a WPA or WEP
> configurational disadvantage.
>
> Your usage of someone else's bandwidth is not 'casual'. It is a heavy
> intentional usage which will impact on others, which heavy intentional
> usage you are making for downloading large files, which with the attitude
> of someone who takes something from others which doesn't belong to them,
> is likely to be copyrighted content.
>
> What exactly is keeping you from subscribing to better bandwidth than
> dialup at home?
>
>
>
>
Too cheap or too poor, but then he just got a laptop.

LouB wrote:
> Mike Easter wrote:
>> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>>> I'd
>>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>>
>> I disagree with this usurpation of the bandwidth of others. You are
>> saying that you want to make heavy usage of the bandwidth of others who
>> have chosen to configure their network insecurely.

>> Your usage of someone else's bandwidth is not 'casual'. It is a heavy
>> intentional usage which will impact on others,

>> What exactly is keeping you from subscribing to better bandwidth than
>> dialup at home?

> Too cheap or too poor, but then he just got a laptop.

Just to make my arguments clear; I'm not disagreeing with the basic
premise of wardriving.

I'm also not disagreeing with his usage of the library's bandwidth and
connectivity as long as that usage is appropriate.

What I am disagreeing with is his seeking out and finding some insecure
network in his local neighborhood and usurping that network's bandwidth in
a thoughtless, selfish, greedy manner. The idea that every insecure
network is just there for the plucking of many many gigabytes to the
detriment of the owner or clients of that insecure network by a selfish
thoughtless usurper seems to me to be unethical and thus immoral.

The idea that anything that isn't illegal or, even if illegal, if you can
get away with it, must be OK, doesn't suit me.



--
Mike Easter

Mike Easter wrote:
> LouB wrote:
>> Mike Easter wrote:
>>> (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>
>>>> I'd
>>>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>>>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>>>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>>>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>>>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>>> I disagree with this usurpation of the bandwidth of others. You are
>>> saying that you want to make heavy usage of the bandwidth of others who
>>> have chosen to configure their network insecurely.
>
>>> Your usage of someone else's bandwidth is not 'casual'. It is a heavy
>>> intentional usage which will impact on others,
>
>>> What exactly is keeping you from subscribing to better bandwidth than
>>> dialup at home?
>
>> Too cheap or too poor, but then he just got a laptop.
>
> Just to make my arguments clear; I'm not disagreeing with the basic
> premise of wardriving.
>
> I'm also not disagreeing with his usage of the library's bandwidth and
> connectivity as long as that usage is appropriate.
>
> What I am disagreeing with is his seeking out and finding some insecure
> network in his local neighborhood and usurping that network's bandwidth in
> a thoughtless, selfish, greedy manner. The idea that every insecure
> network is just there for the plucking of many many gigabytes to the
> detriment of the owner or clients of that insecure network by a selfish
> thoughtless usurper seems to me to be unethical and thus immoral.
>
> The idea that anything that isn't illegal or, even if illegal, if you can
> get away with it, must be OK, doesn't suit me.
>
>
>
Agreed since he says he wants to d/l 15meg files.
In which case he should go to a public hot spot like Perkins.

Lou

On Tue, 28 Apr 2009 07:39:22 -0700, "Mike Easter" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> I just got my first laptop w/wifi card. I have successfully connected
>> while on a trip. Mostly at motels, by just parking in their parking
>> lot. I also picked up a signal at McDonalds but they wanted me to
>> pay, which was not possible because they were closed (after hours).
>>
>> I mostly want to do this when I am on the road travelling, but because
>> I live in a rural area and can only get dialup internet at home, I'd
>> like to find a nearby free connection so I can download large files.
>> For example, at home on dialup it takes well over an hour to download
>> a 15meg file, where using the WIFI only takes a few minutes. I could
>> even watch Youtube videos on this laptop, which at home I can only
>> watch them after I download them to my own harddrive.
>
>I disagree with this usurpation of the bandwidth of others. You are
>saying that you want to make heavy usage of the bandwidth of others who
>have chosen to configure their network insecurely. They didn't configure
>insecurely with the intention of you taking their bandwidth away from them
>and interfering with the best usage of something to which they are
>entitled. They configured insecurely either out of ignorance or out of a
>wish to provide a convenience to their clients to not require a WPA or WEP
>configurational disadvantage.
>
>Your usage of someone else's bandwidth is not 'casual'. It is a heavy
>intentional usage which will impact on others, which heavy intentional
>usage you are making for downloading large files, which with the attitude
>of someone who takes something from others which doesn't belong to them,
>is likely to be copyrighted content.
>
>What exactly is keeping you from subscribing to better bandwidth than
>dialup at home?

There is no local HI SPEED internet available. Just because those of
you in the cities have it, does not mean it's available all over the
USA. These farming areas have little to offer for internet. In fact
until 2002 there was not even dialup available.

And I'm not stealing anything. The Library has it there to be used by
the public and that is what I am doing. The only time I have tapped
into other systems is when I travel, and that's when I have gone to
motels and truckstops which also offer it free. Granted, I am not
staying at those motels, but those few times a year I travel, is no
big deal. And as far as the truck stops, the reason they have it is
for travellers, which is perfectly legal. I have never hacked into
anyone's private connections, which in most cases are locked anyhow,
and if they are not locked, I can not get this thing to connect to
them.

LM