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Topic Review (Newest First)

  • 11-25-2008, 11:38 PM
    NightStalker
    In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
    >
    > My apologies- I forgot this was crossposted to the iPhone group.
    >
    >
    >


    No probs - see my reply to dgates above. And thanks to you for the
    civil reply too

    --

    NightStalker
  • 11-25-2008, 11:37 PM
    NightStalker
    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] says...

    > If there are enough non-U.S. iPhone owners reading the newsgroup, and
    > I'm asking a U.S.-only question (which I actually didn't know that I
    > was), it might make sense for me to put something into my subject --
    > like "U.S." or "(US-only)"
    >


    Heheh No problem - no offence meant, and hopefully none taken. But
    I'd guess that with Usenet being worldwide, that there are a lot of
    folks reading it who are not US-based. And I just find it interesting
    that so many 'Merkins simply assume that the rest of the world is the
    same as the USA. Not you in particular, but it's a common theme on
    Usenet.

    And thanks for the civil reply, too - makes a nice change from some
    threads!

    --

    NightStalker
  • 11-25-2008, 05:53 PM
    Todd Allcock
    At 26 Nov 2008 06:41:15 +1000 NightStalker wrote:


    > I just love the way that some folks who live in the USA make sweeping
    > generalizations and assumptions that the rest of the world does it the
    > same way as they do.


    My apologies- I forgot this was crossposted to the iPhone group.

    It's a pretty fair assumption that anyone participating in
    "alt.cellular.attws" is in the United States, since AT&T is an American
    mobile operator.

    > We do NOT have cheap internet access, we don't
    > have the speeds that USA, South Korea and a couple of other places get,
    > and we certainly don't have free wifi all over the place.
    >
    > My iPhone sniffs wifi networks all over the place, but they are all
    > secured, and privately-owned. And those in cafes, airports etc (the
    > very few that have them) are NOT free.


    Again, my apologies for forgetting the crosspost.


  • 11-25-2008, 04:29 PM
    Ca|in Rus
    NightStalker wrote:

    > Here in Australia, there are very few free wireless networks.
    >
    > The occasional one at a privately-owned cafe might be found, but most
    > chains like Macdonalds etc do NOT have WiFi here - at least up in
    > Queensland where I live. Not sure about Sydney or Melbourne.
    >
    > Even airports' WiFi here is charged at ridiculously expensive rates -
    > it's most definitely NOT free.


    The same here in Germany.
    But there is more here. Not only we have ridiculously expensive rates
    for commerial wifi hotspots, but also ridiculously stupid laws. People
    are sued for running a (more ore less intentional) free wifi hotspot
    (not everyone cares about encryption), this way offering free access for
    filesharers. :-\
    The faux-pas word of the year: "Mitstörerhaftung".

    Greets to the outback,
    Calin

    --
    In a perfect world, spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a
    cell with many men who have enlarged their penisses, taken Viagra and
    are looking for a new relationship.
    Quelle unbekannt
  • 11-25-2008, 04:16 PM
    dgates
    On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:41:15 +1000, NightStalker
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
    >> Like Larry, many people leave their APs open as a courtesy
    >> to allow anyone passing nearby to have internet access
    >>

    >
    >See my reply above. What a Utopian world you lot must live in.
    >
    >Here in Australia, we pay for bandwidth, and some of our ISPs charge for
    >uploads as well as downloads...


    >I just love the way that some folks who live in the USA make sweeping
    >generalizations and assumptions that the rest of the world...


    You make a good point.

    For the sake of my question though, I suppose that, without stating
    it, I was looking for thoughts from others in situations similar to my
    own.

    So, when I'm asking "What do most of you do about public wi-fi?" or
    "What's the rule of thumb around coffee houses and McDonalds
    restaurants?", I should really preface that with "I'm in Los Angeles,
    California, and I'm looking for input from others in similar cities."

    My whole subtopic about being at McDonalds and finding Wi-Fi networks
    called "attwifi" or "WayPort" is actually related to other threads
    here -- "AT&T will buy WayPort..." and "Free Wi-Fi for iPhone is back
    (this time for good)" (again, regarding the U.S. company AT&T).


    If there are enough non-U.S. iPhone owners reading the newsgroup, and
    I'm asking a U.S.-only question (which I actually didn't know that I
    was), it might make sense for me to put something into my subject --
    like "U.S." or "(US-only)"
  • 11-25-2008, 02:45 PM
    Mike
    NightStalker wrote:
    > In article <[email protected]>,
    > [email protected] says...
    >>> I'm amazed at these threads.....
    >>>
    >>> Where you guys live, aren't there just free, open wifi hotspots at almost
    >>> every restaurant, coffee shop, bakery-with-a-deli, hotel, motel and shops
    >>> all over your cities....free for everyone?

    >>

    >
    > Unfortunately, many, if not most of us, live in the real world. Here in
    > Australia, there are very few free wireless networks.
    >
    > The occasional one at a privately-owned cafe might be found, but most
    > chains like Macdonalds etc do NOT have WiFi here - at least up in
    > Queensland where I live. Not sure about Sydney or Melbourne.
    >
    > Even airports' WiFi here is charged at ridiculously expensive rates -
    > it's most definitely NOT free. You have to log on, then sign up for,
    > say, 15 minute blocks of time, at about $5 per block. That was in
    > Brisbane airport only 2 days ago.
    >
    > Your view above about free wifi spots at every cafe, coffee shop etc etc
    > is a very unrealistic view of the world that most of us live in. It is
    > very USA-centric. There IS a big world outside the USA you know...
    >


    There's plenty here in the UK and even some trains have them.

    I've even found that from the gent's I can pick up a signal from a
    nearby costa coffee. However I think using the average 3G signal
    available in other parts of the office is better than spending any
    longer than necessary in the crapper.

    Mike
  • 11-25-2008, 02:41 PM
    NightStalker
    In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
    > Like Larry, many people leave their APs open as a courtesy
    > to allow anyone passing nearby to have internet access
    >


    See my reply above. What a Utopian world you lot must live in.

    Here in Australia, we pay for bandwidth, and some of our ISPs charge for
    uploads as well as downloads. Why the heck would ANYone leave their
    WiFi open for passers-by?

    I pay $119.95 a month for 20Gb total bandwidth (10Gb during the day, and
    10 during off-peak hours - i.e. overnight). And that is at ADSL speed -
    not ADSL2+ which I cannot get through our exchange.

    I just love the way that some folks who live in the USA make sweeping
    generalizations and assumptions that the rest of the world does it the
    same way as they do. We do NOT have cheap internet access, we don't
    have the speeds that USA, South Korea and a couple of other places get,
    and we certainly don't have free wifi all over the place.

    My iPhone sniffs wifi networks all over the place, but they are all
    secured, and privately-owned. And those in cafes, airports etc (the
    very few that have them) are NOT free.

    --

    NightStalker
  • 11-25-2008, 02:33 PM
    NightStalker
    In article <[email protected]>,
    [email protected] says...
    >
    > >I'm amazed at these threads.....
    > >
    > >Where you guys live, aren't there just free, open wifi hotspots at almost
    > >every restaurant, coffee shop, bakery-with-a-deli, hotel, motel and shops
    > >all over your cities....free for everyone?

    >
    >


    Unfortunately, many, if not most of us, live in the real world. Here in
    Australia, there are very few free wireless networks.

    The occasional one at a privately-owned cafe might be found, but most
    chains like Macdonalds etc do NOT have WiFi here - at least up in
    Queensland where I live. Not sure about Sydney or Melbourne.

    Even airports' WiFi here is charged at ridiculously expensive rates -
    it's most definitely NOT free. You have to log on, then sign up for,
    say, 15 minute blocks of time, at about $5 per block. That was in
    Brisbane airport only 2 days ago.

    Your view above about free wifi spots at every cafe, coffee shop etc etc
    is a very unrealistic view of the world that most of us live in. It is
    very USA-centric. There IS a big world outside the USA you know...

    --

    NightStalker
  • 11-25-2008, 12:36 PM
    Todd Allcock

    "dgates" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...

    > I was hoping to hear a reply on this. I'm new to using a portable
    > wifi device, and I don't know what most restaurants do.
    >
    > I was at a nice coffee house yesterday, sitting on their patio, and my
    > iPhone spotted a Wi-Fi network called "all dogs go to heaven."
    >
    > Based on some advice from a friend of mine, I'm wary of connecting to
    > other people's Wi-Fi without permission. But, at the same time, I
    > didn't really want to ask a waiter "Is this your Wi-Fi network? Can I
    > join it? Do I need a password?"
    >
    > Also, recently, I was behind a few cars at the McDonalds drive-thru,
    > and I saw two networks. IIRC, they were "attwifi" and "WayPort." I
    > think I tried connecting to "attwifi." (I suppose this would make a
    > better story if I could remember what happened when I did.)
    >
    >
    > So, I too am wondering: What do most people do when they're at a big
    > city coffee house, or a McDonalds, or wherever, and their device
    > prompts them to join some Wi-Fi network?


    Generally I just connect, unless there's some hint I shouldn't. While at my
    kids' Tae Kwon Do school, for example, I saw a nearby network named "Not
    Yours" so I respecfully ignored that one. However, in your example, anyone
    with the knowledge to name a WiFi access point ("All Dogs...") certainly has
    the knowledge to block access either with an encryption key, or by MAC
    address filtering, so I would assume if it was left open, it was left open
    intentionally. Like Larry, many people leave their APs open as a courtesy
    to allow anyone passing nearby to have internet access, and use other
    methods to secure their files and data on their connected computers.



  • 11-25-2008, 11:19 AM
    Ca|in Rus
    dgates wrote:

    > Based on some advice from a friend of mine, I'm wary of connecting to
    > other people's Wi-Fi without permission.


    You better be. :-)

    > But, at the same time, I didn't really want to ask a waiter "Is this
    > your Wi-Fi network? Can I join it? Do I need a password?"


    Why not ask?

    > So, I too am wondering: What do most people do when they're at a big
    > city coffee house, or a McDonalds, or wherever, and their device
    > prompts them to join some Wi-Fi network?


    1. Ask for permission. If it really is a free hotspot set up for guests:
    no problem.
    2. Use VPN to protect yourself whenever you are in a not trustworthy
    network (like free wifi hotspot). If you don't, everyone can sniff your
    traffic including all of your cleartext passwords. Really, everyone (e.
    g. not only the network/ap owner, but also every other guest within
    radio range).

    Take care,
    Calin

    PS: f'up2 m.p.m.i

    --
    In a perfect world, spammers would get caught, go to jail, and share a
    cell with many men who have enlarged their penisses, taken Viagra and
    are looking for a new relationship.
    Quelle unbekannt
  • 11-01-2008, 01:39 AM
    Kevin Weaver

    "JKconey" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    >
    > "iPhone News" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >> Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
    >>
    >> Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
    >>
    >> Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the
    >> Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
    >>
    >> You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
    >>
    >> The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was
    >> requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot
    >> location.
    >>
    >> Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot
    >>
    >>
    >> http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...ssing-wifi.jsp

    >
    >
    >
    > Who stays at a hotspot for 24 hours? This is the real issue isn't it? We
    > want to wi-fi with AT&T wherever we are without all the cloak and dagger.
    >
    >
    > --
    > "When you win, nothing hurts".... Joe Namath
    >
    > JK
    > www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com
    >
    >

    If this were not the case, then someone with another's AT&T cell phone
    number would get free Wi-Fi. The Password txt is sent to make sure only the
    holder of the iPhone is the one using the Wi-Fi.

    I stayed at a hotel once that had a starbucks next door. The hotel did not
    offer Wi-Fi so I had to go to starbucks 3-5 times a day to get e-mail. It
    was a good thing that the company picked up the Starbucks tab but it would
    have been cheaper to pay a few bucks more for the hotel with Wi-Fi.


  • 11-01-2008, 12:18 AM
    JKconey

    "iPhone News" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    > Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
    >
    > Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
    >
    > Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the
    > Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
    >
    > You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T
    > Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
    >
    > The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was
    > requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot
    > location.
    >
    > Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T
    > Wi-Fi hotspot
    >
    >
    > http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...ssing-wifi.jsp




    Who stays at a hotspot for 24 hours? This is the real issue isn't it? We
    want to wi-fi with AT&T wherever we are without all the cloak and dagger.


    --
    "When you win, nothing hurts".... Joe Namath

    JK
    www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com


  • 10-30-2008, 07:55 PM
    Larry
    Ron <[email protected]> wrote in
    news:[email protected]:

    > Luckily as an ATT dsl elite subscriber, I just use
    > my dsl login name and password.
    >
    >


    I'm amazed at these threads.....

    Where you guys live, aren't there just free, open wifi hotspots at almost
    every restaurant, coffee shop, bakery-with-a-deli, hotel, motel and shops
    all over your cities....free for everyone?

    I keep seeing these threads on many newsgroups and it looks like we silly
    Charlestonians have something the big city boys are missing. Every
    restaurant where the meal is more than Waffle House already has free wifi
    here anyone can use. Some of them require you to look at their company
    spam and have a nanny proxy running to keep the 12-year-olds from watching
    old men screwing little girls at the tables, but they ALL let you use it
    for free. Most places have abandoned these logon service nonsense as
    customers don't really like them and simply stop at the direct-connect
    restaurant 3 doors down, instead.
  • 10-30-2008, 04:47 PM
    Ron
    Luckily as an ATT dsl elite subscriber, I just use
    my dsl login name and password.


    On Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:40:33 -0700, "Mike Jacoubowsky"
    <[email protected]> wrote:

    >"iPhone News" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
    >>
    >> Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
    >>
    >> Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the
    >> Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
    >>
    >> You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the
    >> AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
    >>
    >> The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was
    >> requested. Another request must be submitted when using another
    >> hotspot
    >> location.
    >>
    >> Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the
    >> AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot
    >>
    >>
    >> http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...ssing-wifi.jsp

    >
    >That seems like an awful lot of trouble for something that ought be be
    >able to be done automatically, without user intervention. AT&T cotrols
    >the hardware, AT&T controls the infrastructure.
    >
    >--Mike Jacoubowsky
    >Chain Reaction Bicycles
    >www.ChainReaction.com
    >Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA
    >
    >
    >"iPhone News" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    >news:[email protected]...
    >> Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
    >>
    >> Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
    >>
    >> Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the
    >> Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
    >>
    >> You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the
    >> AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
    >>
    >> The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was
    >> requested. Another request must be submitted when using another
    >> hotspot
    >> location.
    >>
    >> Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the
    >> AT&T
    >> Wi-Fi hotspot
    >>
    >>
    >> http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...ssing-wifi.jsp

    >

  • 10-30-2008, 04:44 PM
    Ron
    On Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:58:22 -0400, iPhone News <[email protected]>
    wrote:

    >Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
    >
    >Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
    >
    >Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the
    >Acceptable Use Policy. Tap 'continue'
    >
    >You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T
    >Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
    >
    >The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was
    >requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot
    >location.
    >
    >Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T
    >Wi-Fi hotspot
    >
    >
    >http://www.wireless.att.com/learn/in...ssing-wifi.jsp



    and if text messaging is turned off on my account?
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