Ron <ronclifford@peoplepc.com> wrote in
news:8smo14ljgrs7642iboiobjl7u63n9tbn1m@4ax.com:

> There are locations where the WiFi is not open, and there if you
> have ATT dsl or an iPhone, you also have access to log into ATT wifi.
> At a Holiday Inn, just go to the front desk, and say "my spouse lost
> the WiFi password", and they'll hand you a sheet with instructions.
>
>

Our local mall was locked up tight with easily-broken WEP codes. I
thought that was awful, having my own open hotspot for anyone to use.

I approached a couple of stores whos SSIDs I could identify and talked to
their managers, who were all convinced hackers were going to eliminate
their company books if they let anyone use their internet bandwidth,
which goes 99% totally wasted. I convinced 4 of them this was not the
case who had small networks with simple routers hooked to cable
modems....not company mainframes with restrictive firewalls to prevent
browsing or downloading. You many now use all 4 systems by simply
connecting to them. No bad vibes in months and months and I can sit with
my little Linux tablet inside the food court (2 are on the food court),
eat some lunch, and have lots more serious bandwidth than Alltel on my
sellphone provides (EVDO). One of the stores took my suggestion and has
a sign at the entrance offering FREE WIFI to attract geek customers. We
would all be doing ourselves a big favor to BUY FROM THEM to help keep
free wifi available to all. If you buy from any FREE WIFI labeled store
or restaurant, be SURE to THANK the manager and make sure he knows you
are buying BECAUSE OF his free wifi offering.....especially cafes and
restaurants.