Continue from Where’s the Wi-Fi?

Although it’s unlikely you can have your pick of airports, a little planning can help you make the most of the Wi-Fi-friendly ones. Have a layover in Atlanta? Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport tops the Forbes Top 30 Most-Wired Airports report, with airport-wide Wi-Fi access via five providers.

Heading to Las Vegas, Denver, or Phoenix? Forbes’ No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 most Wi-Fi-friendly airports, respectively, all offer free hotspot access. If you have a layover in an airport that lacks Wi-Fi, you may
be able to get it through your airline. Delta’s Crown Room Clubs and American Airline’s Admirals Clubs, for instance, offer free T-Mobile Wi-Fi; many locations offer day passes for purchase for nonmembers.

If you want to surf wirelessly in the most locations, make sure your hotel offers Wi-Fi. According to JiWire, hotels top the list of hotspot locations, with over 48,000 worldwide. A few years ago, luxury and upscale convention hotels such as the Adam’s Mark Dallas and the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi led the charge to wireless access, but today you’ll find Wi-Fi in more humble abodes, as well.

According to Wi-Fi Free Spot, nearly 50 hotel chains or groups offer Wi-Fi, although not all locations have it. Those that offer free Wi-Fi access in most locations range from the budget-priced (AmeriSuites, Staybridge Suites, La Quinta Inns, Homewood Suites, and others) to higher-end hotels. Some offer lobby and public-area access only; others offer guest room access only; a few offer both.

If you prefer to head out with no plan for Wi-Fi access, a Wi-Fi locator tool will let you find a network without the hassle of setting up your notebook. The Canary Wireless digital hotspotter is one of the more expensive sniffers, and it is one of our favorites. It provides a useful, scroll-through information display including network ID, security (encrypted or open, locked or unlocked), encryption type, type (802.11b/g/n), and number of access points for all the networks within range.

Iogear’s Wi-Fi HotSpot Finder is more basic, with a lightup indicator that shows signal strength if it finds a network (802.11b/g only). Nevertheless, its one-button simplicity will appeal to on-the-go sniffers who don’t want to evaluate a lot of data. Kensington’s key fob-style Wi-Fi Finder Plus parallels Iogear’s in functionality but can also sniff out Bluetooth devices and includes a tiny flashlight.

One other product like, ZyXEL’s AG225H Wi-Fi Finder and USB Adapter, performs double duty. Away from your notebook, it sniffs out Wi-Fi signals (802.11 a/b/g/n) and provides a display similar to that of the Canary product. Plug it into your notebook, and it turns the PC into a Wi-Fi access point that can connect to 802.11 a/b/g (but not 802 .11n) networks.

Wi-Fi On The Go
Now that you know where and how to find Wi-Fi on the road, you should be set to go. However, although Wi-Fi security wasn’t the focus of this article, it is something to consider. Most free Wi-Fi is unsecured, and even networks that require login are not always encrypted. For that reason, a good firewall and with file sharing turned off is a must if you surf unsecured.

One last thing: If you see ads on a free Wi-Fi connection, don’t be concerned you’re being spammed or attacked. Ad-supported Wi-Fi, led by JiWire and its Ads For Access program, is catching on. It may soon enable companies to bring free, secure Wi-Fi to more locations than we ever dreamed possible.

Tags: Wi-Fi

Since 2006, when Wi-Fi information and services firm JiWire proclaimed Wi-Fi hotspots had topped the 100,000 mark globally, the list of hotspot locations has continued heading skyward. As of March, JiWire reports there were nearly 250,000 free and for-pay hotspot locations in 136 countries. (That number isn’t 100% all inclusive, but JiWire’s registry is likely the most comprehensive available.)

The good news for U.S. travelers is that more than a quarter of those hotspot locations are located stateside. Nevertheless, coverage is far from ubiquitous, even in densely populated urban areas where hotspots are most common. For example, Portland, Ore., the No. 1 hotspot city per capita, according to the Forbes 2008 America’s Most Wired Cities report, boasts only six hotspots per square mile, on average.

Factor in the realities that many hotspots have a range of 300 feet or less and that hotspots cluster where people congregate, and the picture turns into a surrealist landscape. Without advanced planning or the right tools, you can easily find yourself stranded in a Wi-Fi desert. The nearest Wi-Fi oasis might be only 1,000 feet away, but you’ll never know it’s there.

How can you prevent the grim scenario depicted above? One possibility is JiWire’s Wi-Fi Hotspot Helper for Windows XP. The device locates nearby Wi-Fi access points by cross-referencing your location against a database, stored offline on your PC, of more than 200,000 verified hotspots. Bonus features are a Wi-Fi mailer, which moves email through blocked hotspots, and enterprise-grade encryption and firewall security. The trial is free, but Vista users are out of luck. If you are a Skype or iPhone user, JiWire also offers a free finder utility without the security and email perks.

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Another CES has come and gone, giving us more new-product announcements than an army of tech journalists could give their proper due. As usual, the big players grabbed the lion’s share of the pub, while smaller companies garnered less, including Canary Wireless and its second-gen Digital Hotspotter HS-20, a Wi-Fi detector/analyzer with a scrollable, backlit LCD (96 x 64) displaying network ID, encryption status, signal strength, and other details of 802.11b/g/n networks.

The 2-ounce HS-20 runs on two AAAs, doesn’t need additional software, and measures just 2 x 3 x 0.5 inches. Canary also says the use of a true 802.11 engine means there are no false Bluetooth readings. The HS-20 is expected to start singing in Q1 2008.

To set up your wireless router, follow the manufacturer instructions that are included with the product. Some vendors might have written guides, and some might want you to use a CD that will help with the wireless router setup. The installation instructions will most likely have you configure some initial settings, but you will need to keep in mind several things, as discussed in the following list. Do not worry if you are not prompted during the setup to configure all these items, because you will have a chance to change all the settings later.

• Do not use security or encryption methods.
• Use a service set identifier (SSID) that describes your business/organization or attentions. For example, a café might use “Free Hotspot at Bob’s Café.” If the hotspot is being put in just for the local youth club, you might want to use something such as “Youth Club Hotspot.”
• Configure a channel that is not being used by other nearby wireless networks. You should also try to use the non-overlapping channels of 1, 6, and 11. However, try to avoid channel 6, because it is the default channel that most wireless devices use; therefore, it is likely the most congested channel.
• Use mixed mode so that users who have either B or G wireless adapters can connect to your hotspot.

A free access hotspot solution is simple and inexpensive, but it does not provide any real “hotspot features,” such as user control and management. However, some small setup might not need these features. Your small free wireless hotspot might simply want to provide the public with wireless Internet access without the thrills. By offering a free hotspot, you might attract more customers to your business.

The simple free hotspot solution is set up just like any other simple wireless network, such as those uses in homes. A wireless router connects to the Internet via an Internet modem.

The hotspot users wirelessly connect to the wireless router. They are not prompted with a splash or redirection screen with this solution; therefore, the hotspot users have uncontrolled access to the Internet. Most wireless routers, however, let you set some restrictions and filters to help control users, but these functions are not as extensive as those offered by a “real hotspot gateway.

The overall steps to complete when setting up a simple free access solution are as follows:

Step 1. Get a Wireless Router

Step 2. Set up the wireless router.

Step 3. Configure additional settings.

Hosting a hotspot does not come cheap, yet the benefits usually outweigh the costs. Typical operating costs you should anticipate while deploying your Wi-Fi hotspot are as follows:

• Internet service
• Equipment
• Installation
• Ongoing support

Internet Service Provider

If you do not already have an Internet connection available for the hotspot, that will be one of your first expenses. Business-class Internet service prices and terms depend on the type of service and features among the various ISPs.

If you are deploying a small hotspot, as in a small café or office that will not have loads of users, you will likely get away with paying around $100 per month for an Internet connection. However, if you are setting up a hotspot in a large hotel or community center, you will probably have a great deal of users, which would require a higher-quality Internet connection that might cost more than $300 a month.

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The overall benefit or goal of hosting a Wi-Fi hotspot at your location is being able to offer high-speed wireless Internet access there. In addition to satisfying the needs of connectivity for your customers and visitors, you and your staff can take advantage of having the Internet readily available.

Other benefits of hosting a Wi-Fi hotspot include these:

• Attract people to your location
• Generate additional revenue
• Create a private network for your own use

Attract People to Your Location
Hosting a Wi-Fi hotspot, in any type of business, should attract new people to your location and entice them to return and stay longer. For retail stores such as cafés and bookstores, this access helps fill empty seats. For businesses such as hotels, having Wi-Fi Internet access available for guests might be essential to prevent losing potential customers.

Obviously, for people to find your hotspot in directories, you must submit your information. If you set up your hotspot to be part of a network, your information would likely be listed automatically in their directories. You can also submit your hotspot to universal directories that list any hotspot, free or fee-based, whether it is independent or part of a larger network.

The best way to attract users to your hotspot is to display signs advertising that you have a hotspot at your location. These signs could simply say “Wi-Fi Hotspot Here” or “Wireless Internet Access Available.”

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