Wi-Fi

[Pony]

Went to Applebees today for lunch.....havent been there in about a month and noticed they have a huge sign on the door that reads "WE HAVE WI-FI"..............so sure enough you can connect to the internet wirelessly in the restaurant.<br /><br />Then last week Milwaukee gave the ok for citywide wi-fi and will become the first major city to do so. Wont be at the taxpayers expense and will cost $20 a month to give people a cheaper internet option besides DSL and Cable<br /><br />Any of you guys expirience this in your towns.....I mean Milwaukee is a fairly large area to have wireless internet in. The applebees thing was just wierd........who goes into a restaurant for lunch/dinner and NEEDS to be online????<br /><br /><br />Maybe next time while im eating my BBQ riblets and country style mashed patatoes I will bring my laptop and talk on iboats.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Wi-Fi

I know of some McDonalds that have wifi.<br /><br />From what I hear, the Milw deal will be limited, only certain areas, mostly public spaces, etc. May or may not be able to connect from inside your house. <br /><br />Oh come on now, p dot o dot n dot y dot<br />Getting a bit carried away with the name thing aren't you?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Wi-Fi

Sort of. I can take a short drive around my neighborhood and find literally hundreds and hundreds of open networks. It really is surprising just how many people have wireless networks around here...around 70% of them are unlocked. <br /><br />There was something in the paper a while ago about the city spending $400,000 on some sort of super high speed internet connection to later offer wirelessly, I'm not sure what's going on with that...

 

[heycods]

Re: Wi-Fi

I bet we get that out here soon. <br />25 miles from the nearest town of any size, and they cant afford to fix the streets. Yaa, well maby my great grandkids.

 

[matthews_jim]

Re: Wi-Fi

A small town south of Orlando, St. Cloud just east of Kissimmee, has wi-fi throughout the city.<br /><br />I have not heard or read any comments about how well it is doing.

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Wi-Fi

If this trend keep up I forsee most American towns would have wifi in the future. Most things would be accomplish on the internet anyway, good way for the local gov. to make money of our net usage rather then the telecom companies. What a great way for big brother to keep an eye on us too.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Wi-Fi

Originally posted by gonefishie:<br /> If this trend keep up I forsee most American towns would have wifi in the future. Most things would be accomplish on the internet anyway, good way for the local gov. to make money of our net usage rather then the telecom companies. What a great way for big brother to keep an eye on us too.

Don't worry about Big Brother, you are protected by your right to privacy agreement.

 

[QC]

Re: Wi-Fi

FWIW, if I am traveling and let's say a couple of us are preparing for a meeting in the afternoon. I could see us going to Applebees before somwhere else becasue of wi-fi. We often go to Starbucks for just that reason. We can get coffee etc. and catch up on our email etc.<br /><br />Basically, when I am traveling I am thinking wi-fi all of the time.<br /><br />Edit: I am REALLY looking forward to country wide wi-fi. With that I could basically work on any lake that I could get cell service too. Throw a hook and just sit there

 

[dolluper]

Re: Wi-Fi

Nortel has developed a way to give internet service in remote sticks

 

[Colorado04]

Re: Wi-Fi

I use a Sierra Wireless Aircard SB555. Anywhere there is cellulare service, I can get a 1 meg. connection using the Aircard (cellulare modem). Next generation of Aircards coming out soon will boost speeds up to 11 meg. It is very convenient. I, rather the company pays one bill no matter where the world I use the service. I use the service to access the corperate portal to connect to the backbone and work like I was in the office when I'm travelling. Just and FYI. Not really practical for the average user though.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Wi-Fi

Most of the Wi-Fi "hotspots" at resturaunts etc. around here are pay sites. <br /><br />The McDonalds deal is like $2.95 an hour.<br /><br />Watchout... this is the next Government "entitlement". Making sure that the least of us have internet access. Of course that will lead to "free" computers to some. And of course, you need a laptop for Wi-Fi to be of any use.

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Wi-Fi

Sadly, I think cagey is on to something here.

 

[CJY]

Re: Wi-Fi

As Zm, states, you can probably already get it for free if you live in a residential area. My daughter recently move from my home, which I have set up to be wireless. She took her computer with her when she moved(about 10 miles away) and later called saying she could still connect to me. I knew this was not the case because my router was good for approx. 100 feet. She has connected to someone else's account. <br /><br />It's kind of scary being one with a wireless network. If someone from outside my home connects through me, it is my IP that shows up if they were to conduct illegal activities on-line. Therefore, I would be responsible. My PC-cillin has a scan that I can run anytime to find out what is connected through my network. Between keeping it password and scan protected, I should be ok, but who knows with technology today.

 

[Pony]

Re: Wi-Fi

Originally posted by gonefishie:<br /> If this trend keep up I forsee most American towns would have wifi in the future. Most things would be accomplish on the internet anyway, good way for the local gov. to make money of our net usage rather then the telecom companies. What a great way for big brother to keep an eye on us too.

Only thing is this wont be "run" by the city. Its a private organization........which is why its not going to be paid for with taxes etc.<br /><br /><br />Pretty sure the applebees Wi-Fi is free, I saw no listing of a price anywhere. Could be wrong though.

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Wi-Fi

Originally posted by P.O.N.Y.:<br /> ......who goes into a restaurant for lunch/dinner and NEEDS to be online????<br />

I see it all the time here. Denison is a fiarly small town but we have 2 local colleges, at the Starbucks, I Hop and a few others all those college students sitting arround drinking coffee and smoking with their laptops

 

[KaGee]

Re: Wi-Fi

CJY,<br /><br />My router is password protected making it nearly impossible for my neighbors to welch on my bandwidth.

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Wi-Fi

all WIFI routers SHOULD have ecryption turned on and only allow aproved MAC addresses to access...also PLEASE change the default password in your linksys router...EVERYBODY knows what the factory default is...<br /><br />That is, unless ou want strangers hogging your bandwidth and possibly accessing your PC's <br /><br />=JMW

 

[Pony]

Re: Wi-Fi

Exactly.....I can connect to 3 other peoples' wireless connections from my room. I dont do it but I could. More people should have the common sense to protect themselves.<br /><br /><br />Have to say Wi-Fi is great though......I love the fact that I can take my computer to school and sit in the Student lounge or in the plaza or anywhere outside and check email etc. Good to have since a lot of classes now have online components.

 

[SwampNut]

Re: Wi-Fi

who goes into a restaurant for lunch/dinner and NEEDS to be online????

I do. Very often. In fact I pick restaurants and hotels based on having wireless access. I can also use my cell phone to get high speed access, but then it ties up the phone (can't make calls at the same time). If I can keep working, then I'm more likely to leave where I am and go out to eat vs. order in so I can continue to work.