We plan to be coastal cruising in the northeastern USA and Eastern
Canada for 5 or 6 months this year. Last year we were unable to
connect at the Chamber of Commerce in Northeast Harbor where they used
to keep a modem line. The reason was they now have a continuous DSL
connection with an ethernet hub so individual calls don't cost them.

Our 1995 Libretto, a little Toshiba antique that still works fine,
doesn't have an ethernet port. Other marinas we have been in have
WiFi.

Upshot, I bought a new notebook computer that has Wifi, ethernet, usb,
modem. I have my dial-up working, just what I had before. The machine
advertises "No-configuration networking" on the box, which I take to
mean it will network with anything receptive around, either by cable
or wifi.

I can carry an ethernet cable, which I expect to work at NEH, where I
saw the hub box. But I, being an ancient mariner, have no idea how to
use wifi. Can I expect to go into a Starbucks and have my browser
work? How would I know it is connected if it is?

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
me so, or will it just not work?

Maybe I am asking the wrong questions. I appreciate knowledgeable
replies to what I should have asked as well.

TIA




Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Nuke the gay whales for Jesus" -- anon T-shirt

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
me so, or will it just not work?

Based on my quite limited experience with wireless laptops (I own 2 but
haven't traveled yet with them) I suspect that just sitting on a bench
somewhere will allow you to connect, check mail, etc., with few problems.
The knowing folks call this "piggybacking."

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:18:10 -0500, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:


Based on my quite limited experience with wireless laptops (I own 2 but
haven't traveled yet with them) I suspect that just sitting on a bench
somewhere will allow you to connect, check mail, etc., with few problems.
The knowing folks call this "piggybacking."

This can be done on an unsecured network, if you can get close enough.
Typical wifi networks are pretty short range. Google "wardriving" for
techniques and equipment. On even a minimally secured network, you
have to know the magic word or have a MAC address the access point
recognizes or both.

Bear in mind that unless the network was specifically intended for
casual use by passers-by, tapping into it is at best a grey area
legally. At worst, it is criminal unauthorized use of a computer
resource. Hacking, in other words. Harmless, but given an aggressive
cop and a DA that wants to run for governor next year, who knows what
could happen?

People are more suspicious and observant nowadays. Walking around
with a high tech device trying different angles and positions to get a
good signal looks suspicious as hell. If there's a guy in that town
that's been "piggybacking" kiddy porn and you get mistaken for him, it
could be a bad day. Good luck rounding up the pictures of yourself
doing the "perp walk".

Not that this worst case scenario is particularly likely, but most of
us have a lot more to lose than the kids who normally do this sort of
thing. I'm not being judgemental here. I don't see using someone's
spare bandwidth fora few minutes as particularly heinous. I just
think people should realize the downside before casually hacking into
someone else's network.


__________________________________________________ __________
Glen "Wiley" Wilson usenet1 SPAMNIX at world wide wiley dot com
To reply, lose the capitals and do the obvious.

Take a look at cpRepeater, my NMEA data integrator, repeater, and
logger at http://www.worldwidewiley.com/

First and foremost, RTFM....no offence intended, but it does wonders for
understanding!

Now, some hints. The software that controls your Wifi chip (probably Intel
PROset?) will constantly monitor for Access Points while your wifi radio is
turned on, and list any that are available. To link up with any listed AP
you need to construct an acceptable profile within PROset which essentially
sets the protocols/security to be used when talking to the AP. There is a
menu in PROset for doing this. You will also need to know about the
requirements of the AP, unless it is wide open to the world. Once you have
connection to the AP, you have a connection to the net.. You will need to
set your preferences in your browser and mail client to accept connection
over a LAN. How you do all this depends on the software you are using.

To find out the protocols for hooking up at a Starbucks AP, go to their
website and find out what applies in your locality. The site will also tell
you about payment options. Here in Australia, Starbucks provides wifi via
the main telco, Telstra. Here you need to activate a wifi account with
Telstra , or for casual use you can supply your CC details, I think.

Starbucks is a good way of getting things up and running, but they are
expensive. There are many cafes etc which provide free wifi service. Its a
matter of finding them....by word of mouth, a sign in the window, or driving
around with your laptop looking for AP's ! NetStumbler is good, free
software for detecting and analysing AP's.

Remember to turn your radio off when not using wifi....its a significant
drain on the battery otherwise.

alt.internet.wireless has some useful discussion.


"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
We plan to be coastal cruising in the northeastern USA and Eastern
Canada for 5 or 6 months this year. Last year we were unable to
connect at the Chamber of Commerce in Northeast Harbor where they used
to keep a modem line. The reason was they now have a continuous DSL
connection with an ethernet hub so individual calls don't cost them.

Our 1995 Libretto, a little Toshiba antique that still works fine,
doesn't have an ethernet port. Other marinas we have been in have
WiFi.

Upshot, I bought a new notebook computer that has Wifi, ethernet, usb,
modem. I have my dial-up working, just what I had before. The machine
advertises "No-configuration networking" on the box, which I take to
mean it will network with anything receptive around, either by cable
or wifi.

I can carry an ethernet cable, which I expect to work at NEH, where I
saw the hub box. But I, being an ancient mariner, have no idea how to
use wifi. Can I expect to go into a Starbucks and have my browser
work? How would I know it is connected if it is?

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
me so, or will it just not work?

Maybe I am asking the wrong questions. I appreciate knowledgeable
replies to what I should have asked as well.

TIA




Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC
J36 Gjo/a


"Nuke the gay whales for Jesus" -- anon T-shirt

Panera Breads offer free wifi to their customers. Most likely all stores are
not on-board yet. I seem to recall that Borders Bookstores also offer wifi
access. I don't know if their service is free.

I heartily agree about theft of wifi services. Just because an access point
is unsecured does NOT give anyone free-rein to use it!

HTH

Vic

--
__________________________________________________ ______

Victor Fraenckel - The Windman
victorf ATSIGN windreader DOTcom
KC2GUI

Home of the WindReader Electronic Theodolite
Read the WIND

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long
and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival."
- Winston [Leonard Spencer] Churchill (1874 - 1965)

"Dost thou not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?"
-Count Oxenstierna (ca 1620) to the young King Gustavus Adolphus

"People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough
men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
-George Orwell


"Glendon" wrote in message
...
| First and foremost, RTFM....no offence intended, but it does wonders for
| understanding!
|
| Now, some hints. The software that controls your Wifi chip (probably Intel
| PROset?) will constantly monitor for Access Points while your wifi radio
is
| turned on, and list any that are available. To link up with any listed AP
| you need to construct an acceptable profile within PROset which
essentially
| sets the protocols/security to be used when talking to the AP. There is a
| menu in PROset for doing this. You will also need to know about the
| requirements of the AP, unless it is wide open to the world. Once you have
| connection to the AP, you have a connection to the net.. You will need to
| set your preferences in your browser and mail client to accept connection
| over a LAN. How you do all this depends on the software you are using.
|
| To find out the protocols for hooking up at a Starbucks AP, go to their
| website and find out what applies in your locality. The site will also
tell
| you about payment options. Here in Australia, Starbucks provides wifi via
| the main telco, Telstra. Here you need to activate a wifi account with
| Telstra , or for casual use you can supply your CC details, I think.
|
| Starbucks is a good way of getting things up and running, but they are
| expensive. There are many cafes etc which provide free wifi service. Its a
| matter of finding them....by word of mouth, a sign in the window, or
driving
| around with your laptop looking for AP's ! NetStumbler is good, free
| software for detecting and analysing AP's.
|
| Remember to turn your radio off when not using wifi....its a significant
| drain on the battery otherwise.
|
| alt.internet.wireless has some useful discussion.
|
|
| "Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
| ...
| We plan to be coastal cruising in the northeastern USA and Eastern
| Canada for 5 or 6 months this year. Last year we were unable to
| connect at the Chamber of Commerce in Northeast Harbor where they used
| to keep a modem line. The reason was they now have a continuous DSL
| connection with an ethernet hub so individual calls don't cost them.
|
| Our 1995 Libretto, a little Toshiba antique that still works fine,
| doesn't have an ethernet port. Other marinas we have been in have
| WiFi.
|
| Upshot, I bought a new notebook computer that has Wifi, ethernet, usb,
| modem. I have my dial-up working, just what I had before. The machine
| advertises "No-configuration networking" on the box, which I take to
| mean it will network with anything receptive around, either by cable
| or wifi.
|
| I can carry an ethernet cable, which I expect to work at NEH, where I
| saw the hub box. But I, being an ancient mariner, have no idea how to
| use wifi. Can I expect to go into a Starbucks and have my browser
| work? How would I know it is connected if it is?
|
| If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
| me so, or will it just not work?
|
| Maybe I am asking the wrong questions. I appreciate knowledgeable
| replies to what I should have asked as well.
|
| TIA
|
|
|
|
| Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC
| J36 Gjo/a
|
|
| "Nuke the gay whales for Jesus" -- anon T-shirt
|
|

Rodney:

WiFi isn't that difficult. Depending on your version of Windows, you should
see a 4 vertical stairstep bar icon in your lower right hand corner. If at
least one of these is green, it tells you that you have a WiFi signal. Then
double click on that icon to show a pop up window, then click properties,
then click the Wireless Networks tab. This will show you which wireless
networks are being sensed by your WiFi receiver. If it is a pay network, and
the title should give you a clue, then click on it and start your browser.
You should then see a sign up screen. Give them your credit card and you
will be in business.

David

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 15:18:10 -0500, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
me so, or will it just not work?

Based on my quite limited experience with wireless laptops (I own 2 but
haven't traveled yet with them) I suspect that just sitting on a bench
somewhere will allow you to connect, check mail, etc., with few problems.
The knowing folks call this "piggybacking."

I suppose that depends on where you are, but it did work here. I just
called up the thing that searches for connections and it identified a
long list of nodes, most of them password secured with first names lie
Mary and Chad, but others unsecured. One of the unsecured had a strong
signal, so I tried it. My web browser and mailer both worked fine.

I am amazed. I guess most of the nodes were my neighbors in this large
(about 500) apartment bldg. The node I used had a commercial sounding
name.

Thanks



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Nuke the gay whales for Jesus" -- anon T-shirt

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 23:33:07 GMT, "Glendon"
wrote:


To find out the protocols for hooking up at a Starbucks AP, go to their
website and find out what applies in your locality. The site will also tell
you about payment options. Here in Australia, Starbucks provides wifi via
the main telco, Telstra. Here you need to activate a wifi account with
Telstra , or for casual use you can supply your CC details, I think.

Starbucks is a good way of getting things up and running, but they are
expensive. There are many cafes etc which provide free wifi service. Its a
matter of finding them....by word of mouth, a sign in the window, or driving
around with your laptop looking for AP's ! NetStumbler is good, free
software for detecting and analysing AP's.

Remember to turn your radio off when not using wifi....its a significant
drain on the battery otherwise.

alt.internet.wireless has some useful discussion.


Thanks much. THis is helpful. My computer automated much of the matter
as I discovered after my first post. RTFM was unnecessary as it turned
out. This computer advertises "no configuration connectivity" on the
box and really doesn't have much of a M to RTF.

It did have a card that showed where the antenna switch was. Very
useful, since it isn't at all conspicuous.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a

"Happy is he that taketh thy little ones and dasheth them upon the stones." __Psalm 137

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 17:43:20 -0800, "David&Joan"
wrote:

Rodney:

WiFi isn't that difficult. Depending on your version of Windows, you should
see a 4 vertical stairstep bar icon in your lower right hand corner. If at
least one of these is green, it tells you that you have a WiFi signal. Then
double click on that icon to show a pop up window, then click properties,
then click the Wireless Networks tab. This will show you which wireless
networks are being sensed by your WiFi receiver. If it is a pay network, and
the title should give you a clue, then click on it and start your browser.
You should then see a sign up screen. Give them your credit card and you
will be in business.

David

Thanks, David.

Mine (XP) doesn't show that particular signal, but I did find the icon
that raises a list of detected nodes.


Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

Smoking in a bar is like peeing in a punchbowl.

Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:
"Armond Perretta" wrote:
Rodney Myrvaagnes wrote:

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something
tell me so, or will it just not work?

Based on my quite limited experience with wireless laptops (I own
2 but haven't traveled yet with them) I suspect that just sitting
on a bench somewhere will allow you to connect, check mail, etc.,
with few problems. The knowing folks call this "piggybacking."

I suppose that depends on where you are, but it did work here. I
just called up the thing that searches for connections and it
identified a long list of nodes, most of them password secured with
first names lie Mary and Chad, but others unsecured. One of the
unsecured had a strong signal, so I tried it. My web browser and
mailer both worked fine.

I am amazed. I guess most of the nodes were my neighbors in this
large (about 500) apartment bldg. The node I used had a commercial
sounding name.

Yes, this will probably not work well on the Eastern Shore in Nova Scotia.
But then cell phones are pretty "iffy" there also.

Someone mentioned the legalities of "piggybacking" (which are far from
clear). The best reading is that as long as you are using another owner's
bandwidth and nothing else, you will not cause harm and are unlikely to
encounter difficulties. This is an ongoing topic in the wi-fi newsgroups.

The real reason that "piggybacking" is possible is that the average user is
blissfully unaware of the security aspects of wi-fi and does not secure his
or her setup. As long as web browsing is the activity, that's just fine.
But I would not do any banking or online purchasing on an unsecured network,
and even a "secured" network is vulnerable in many cases.

It boils down to how much effort an attacker is willing to put into breaking
in my network (and I suspect the answer is "not much.")

--
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.home.comcast.net/