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.
Re: Where can I download a hotspot list? 
Linear Mode
