Wireless ethernet in airports?

I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).

Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
exclusively in the wired arena.

For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
"OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
to work.

Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
these protocols/things)?

Thanks for any help,
-Matt
--
Remove the obvious text (including the dash) to email me.

In article <(E-Mail Removed) >,
Matt <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).

Check out AT&T. They seem to be doing a lot of Wireless Networking at
major airports.

The AA Admirals Clubs, DL Crown Rooms, and UA Red Carpet Rooms are being
wired with T-Mobile's wi-fi stuff. You have to subscribe, and they've got
various option, but you might want to check with T-Mobile's web site for
information.

Jeff

"Matt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0817bd0db853718bb43dccb962fb613b@news.1usenet .com...
> I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).
>
> Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
> ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
> exclusively in the wired arena.
>
> For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
> "OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
> service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
> to work.
>
> Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> these protocols/things)?
>
> Thanks for any help,
> -Matt
> --
> Remove the obvious text (including the dash) to email me.

Matt,

Several of the US airports have open signals which your laptop should
receive. There will be an authentication screen which will pop up when you
grab the signal. Sacramento's paid WiFi is up and running.

--Ray

"Matt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0817bd0db853718bb43dccb962fb613b@news.1usenet .com...
> I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).
>
> Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
> ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
> exclusively in the wired arena.
>
> For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
> "OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
> service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
> to work.
>
> Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> these protocols/things)?
>
> Thanks for any help,
> -Matt
> --
> Remove the obvious text (including the dash) to email me.

"Matt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0817bd0db853718bb43dccb962fb613b@news.1usenet .com...
> Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> these protocols/things)?

I have had little luck with airport WLANs things until recently at RDU,
although that started off bad.

Firstly you have to detect the network name: this may be done by scanning
for it using your network card's configuration applet or using the OS's
specific tools (XP for example has its own WiFi aware tools, 2000 doesn't).

Then you set up an access point profile using this. When you open your
browser, if it's not a fully open network and requires a subscription (eg,
TMobile Hotspot), you're taken to a subscription page automatically where
you key in your subscription details or apply for a one-off charge.

Like trying to use a telephone in the US, if using a non-US credit card you
will find it impossible to access the network. I have no idea why this is
the case, but I've never ever managed to use any of half a dozen UK issued
credit cards to make calls or use subscription WLANs in the US. And I know
that I am not alone! Still, it helps you waste loads of time waiting for
your flight to board.

I found that the spillover from a cafe near the AA Admirals Club at RDU had
fully open access without the need to subscribe.

Good luck, Howard

JetBlue has free open WI-FI at their terminal at JFK.

Mike Schumann

"Matt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:0817bd0db853718bb43dccb962fb613b@news.1usenet .com...
> I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).
>
> Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
> ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
> exclusively in the wired arena.
>
> For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
> "OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
> service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
> to work.
>
> Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> these protocols/things)?
>
> Thanks for any help,
> -Matt
> --
> Remove the obvious text (including the dash) to email me.

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 08:29:14 +0000, Matt wrote:

> I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).
>
> Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
> ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
> exclusively in the wired arena.
>
> For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
> "OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
> service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
> to work.
>
> Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> these protocols/things)?

Some are free, some paid.

AC has a free service in their lounges. It's open so you can connect,
but you do need to register for name serving to be enabled.

In some airports, I have occasionally picked up other SSIDs but usually
not been able to stay connected. Probably paid service.

In Germany, in the LH lounges there is a paid
Vodaphone service which I have not tried. As a result, they have disabled
the couple of computers which they used to have on modems. :-(

But aren't these airport hotspots dangerous to use because once connected
anyone sitting near you can access your own PC? Is there a way to prevent
your own PC from being accessed when connected?

--

Jeff McPherson
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(E-Mail Removed)
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free by AVG

"devil" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed). ..
> On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 08:29:14 +0000, Matt wrote:
>
> > I spend a bit of time in airports with my 802.11b laptop, and would
> > love to be able to get more wireless ethernet/internet access at these
> > places (eg, Chicago Ohare, Phoenix, LAX, etc).
> >
> > Anybody know how I can find out more about if/when any wireless
> > ethernet airport endeavors are springing up? LaptopLane seems to be
> > exclusively in the wired arena.
> >
> > For what it's worth, While I was recently in Ohare, I noticed a
> > "OHARERIVER" SSID. I also noticed AT&T advertising wireless internet
> > service (presumably for laptops?) at Denver, but I couldn't get things
> > to work.
> >
> > Will these guys have an unsecured network, or do they need to pass
> > around keys (like WEP, WAP, PSK, even though I don't know much about
> > these protocols/things)?
>
> Some are free, some paid.
>
> AC has a free service in their lounges. It's open so you can connect,
> but you do need to register for name serving to be enabled.
>
> In some airports, I have occasionally picked up other SSIDs but usually
> not been able to stay connected. Probably paid service.
>
> In Germany, in the LH lounges there is a paid
> Vodaphone service which I have not tried. As a result, they have disabled
> the couple of computers which they used to have on modems. :-(
>

Jeff Malka wrote:
> But aren't these airport hotspots dangerous to use because once connected
> anyone sitting near you can access your own PC? Is there a way to prevent
> your own PC from being accessed when connected?
>

Yes, you can use a wireless sniffer to access plain text traffic on the
airwaves. It isn't a problem if you then connect to via VPN to your
corporate server, or make HTTPS or other encrypted transactions.

On Tue, 06 Jan 2004 23:44:08 +0000, mrraveltay wrote:

> Jeff Malka wrote:
>> But aren't these airport hotspots dangerous to use because once connected
>> anyone sitting near you can access your own PC? Is there a way to prevent
>> your own PC from being accessed when connected?
>>
>
> Yes, you can use a wireless sniffer to access plain text traffic on the
> airwaves. It isn't a problem if you then connect to via VPN to your
> corporate server, or make HTTPS or other encrypted transactions.

Sniffing packets is not quite the same as "access you PC" though. Sure,
you shouldn't move highly confidential stuff, but that's pretty obvious.

Anyway, you would think that in most scenarios, even what for you is
confidential is meaningless for the kid next door running a packet sniffer.