Alan Browne wrote:
> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US (Southwest).
>
> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
> hound out a free spot.
>
> Anyone?
>
> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'. Santa
Fe comes up with 32.
John McWilliams wrote:
> Alan Browne wrote:
>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US (Southwest).
>>
>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>> hound out a free spot.
>>
>> Anyone?
>>
>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>
> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
Linked to a specific carrier.
> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'. Santa
> Fe comes up with 32.
Step left out: clicking on a link with the key word "free" in it. Not
all will be, I'd guess, and not all may be in business when one is there.
John McWilliams wrote:
> Alan Browne wrote:
>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US (Southwest).
>>
>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>> hound out a free spot.
>>
>> Anyone?
>>
>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>
> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>
> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'. Santa
> Fe comes up with 32.
I've done the Free WiFi hound routine before and it does work. There is
a website that tracks free WiFi spots (can't find it now, but there is
at least one that uses Google maps to locate WiFi hotpsots).
However I have to stay in touch with some business activity so for $20 -
$30 it is a tiny investment in sure comms. And where my chosen service
might not exist I can use the free WiFi's as a backup. Many hotels have
WiFi as well (perversely the economy hotels/motels offer it for free;
and the expensive hotels usually charge $9.95 per day...).
I do not do Starbucks. (Well, I fail on that vow in the odd airport...)
I find independent cafe's or restaurants that serve good coffee without
the designed-to-impress-Americans fluff. And they usually have WiFi.
John McWilliams wrote:
> Alan Browne wrote:
>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US (Southwest).
>>
>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>> hound out a free spot.
>>
>> Anyone?
>>
>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>
> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>
> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'. Santa
> Fe comes up with 32.
>
Depending on where you travel, you may find that free Wi-Fi is
available, if you know where to look. Many truck stops offer it, as do
many state roadside parks (almost all major Texas roadside parks have
it). I have used several of these access sites, and they work well. In
addition, some cities have free access near libraries, and city halls,
and some citied (Corpus Christi, Tx., for example) have free Wi-Fi
access throughout the major part of the city business district, and at
the airport.
Alan Browne wrote:
> John McWilliams wrote:
>> Alan Browne wrote:
>>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US
>>> (Southwest).
>>>
>>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>>> hound out a free spot.
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>>
>>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>>
>> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
>> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
>> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>>
>> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'.
>> Santa Fe comes up with 32.
>
> I've done the Free WiFi hound routine before and it does work. There is
> a website that tracks free WiFi spots (can't find it now, but there is
> at least one that uses Google maps to locate WiFi hotpsots).
>
> Example map from another site of free WiFi:
> http://www.wigle.net/images/rigled-images/national.png
>
> However I have to stay in touch with some business activity so for $20 -
> $30 it is a tiny investment in sure comms. And where my chosen service
> might not exist I can use the free WiFi's as a backup. Many hotels have
> WiFi as well (perversely the economy hotels/motels offer it for free;
> and the expensive hotels usually charge $9.95 per day...).
>
> I do not do Starbucks. (Well, I fail on that vow in the odd airport...)
>
> I find independent cafe's or restaurants that serve good coffee without
> the designed-to-impress-Americans fluff. And they usually have WiFi.
>
> Cheers,
> Alan.
>
>
If you are REALLY a cheapskate, you can always drive up to a motel, and
access their system from the parking lot... I didn't recommend that!
Ron Hunter wrote:
> John McWilliams wrote:
>> Alan Browne wrote:
>>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US
>>> (Southwest).
>>>
>>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>>> hound out a free spot.
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>>
>>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>>
>> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
>> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
>> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>>
>> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'.
>> Santa Fe comes up with 32.
>>
> Depending on where you travel, you may find that free Wi-Fi is
> available, if you know where to look. Many truck stops offer it, as do
> many state roadside parks (almost all major Texas roadside parks have
> it). I have used several of these access sites, and they work well. In
> addition, some cities have free access near libraries, and city halls,
> and some citied (Corpus Christi, Tx., for example) have free Wi-Fi
> access throughout the major part of the city business district, and at
> the airport.
As I said I'm well versed in finding free WiFi's ... but for this trip I
need the certainty of WiFi for business reasons. Free WiFi would be the
backup. So I'm willing to pay for it.
That's what I'm looking for. I'll probably go with Boingo for $9.95 per
month and then cancel it when I get home.
Ideally there would be a one month pack. This seems more common in
Europe (and in US airports, but not on the road).
Ron Hunter wrote:
> John McWilliams wrote:
>> Alan Browne wrote:
>>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US
>>> (Southwest).
>>>
>>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having to
>>> hound out a free spot.
>>>
>>> Anyone?
>>>
>>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to long
>>> term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>>
>> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
>> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
>> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>>
>> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'.
>> Santa Fe comes up with 32.
>>
> Depending on where you travel, you may find that free Wi-Fi is
> available, if you know where to look. Many truck stops offer it, as do
> many state roadside parks (almost all major Texas roadside parks have
> it). I have used several of these access sites, and they work well. In
> addition, some cities have free access near libraries, and city halls,
> and some citied (Corpus Christi, Tx., for example) have free Wi-Fi
> access throughout the major part of the city business district, and at
> the airport.
Alan Browne wrote:
>
> ...I'm well versed in finding free WiFi's ... but for this trip I
> need the certainty of WiFi for business reasons. Free WiFi would be the
> backup. So I'm willing to pay for it.
>
> That's what I'm looking for. I'll probably go with Boingo for $9.95 per
> month and then cancel it when I get home.
You might look into a Verizon air card though it's like $100 for the
card & $60/mo for 5GB: don't email your photos back home on that plan! I
thought about that but apparently it's not really suitable for daily use. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/s...edPhoneId=2730
> Ideally there would be a one month pack. This seems more common in
> Europe (and in US airports, but not on the road).
>
>
Alan Browne wrote:
> Ron Hunter wrote:
>> John McWilliams wrote:
>>> Alan Browne wrote:
>>>> I've been trying to find a one month WiFi package for the US
>>>> (Southwest).
>>>>
>>>> eg: I pay once and then get WiFi access where available w/o having
>>>> to hound out a free spot.
>>>>
>>>> Anyone?
>>>>
>>>> (I've found Boingo and MobilityPass but they're more oriented to
>>>> long term packages rather than 1 shot packages).
>>>
>>> Free WiFi spots might in fact be a better way to go, so you're not
>>> 'locked out' in a particular town due to the absence of that carrier.
>>> Also, Starbuck's coffee shops have a pay as you go 'service' afaik.
>>>
>>> I did a test for you by entering 'cafe WiFi locations new mexico'.
>>> Santa Fe comes up with 32.
>>>
>> Depending on where you travel, you may find that free Wi-Fi is
>> available, if you know where to look. Many truck stops offer it, as
>> do many state roadside parks (almost all major Texas roadside parks
>> have it). I have used several of these access sites, and they work
>> well. In addition, some cities have free access near libraries, and
>> city halls, and some citied (Corpus Christi, Tx., for example) have
>> free Wi-Fi access throughout the major part of the city business
>> district, and at the airport.
>
> As I said I'm well versed in finding free WiFi's ... but for this trip I
> need the certainty of WiFi for business reasons. Free WiFi would be the
> backup. So I'm willing to pay for it.
>
> That's what I'm looking for. I'll probably go with Boingo for $9.95 per
> month and then cancel it when I get home.
>
> Ideally there would be a one month pack. This seems more common in
> Europe (and in US airports, but not on the road).
>
>
You can pretty much count on finding a McDonald's just about anywhere in
the US, so that would be a good alternative, if you don't mind paying.