Finding Wi-Fi on the Road

McDonalds says the wifi is only free to customers and the OP doesn't eat there. He eats the complementary breakfast at the motel and free samples at the grocery store.

If a WIFI Hot Spot isn't protected by a password it is not illegal to access it! Tacky or Bad Form perhaps but Not Illegal !

It isn't like You are looking into their personal files! Nor can You access their Bank Records Etc.

sch911 wrote:
Jacking WiFi hotspots is illegal in some states.... Just sayin!

What are you "just sayn"? Is it illegal to use wi-fi at the golden arches? Isn't that why they have it?

rockhillmanor wrote:

I'm on the road full time and staying connected for work and life is important to me

And you don't find it inconvenient driving all over 24/7's to get free wifi?

When I went full time I too needed to stay connected to take care of my finances and pay bills......I bought a mobile broadband, $65/mo for unlimited access!

I couldn't fathom full timing driving a MH and trying to find a McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts to park by to get free wifi to do my personal finances. Not to mention the lack of security.

You seem to be missing the point. It is a fundamental right to have others provide what you want and need for free. Here are a couple of other tricks. Walk in the front door of any mid line hotel in the morning and act like you belong there. Then you can eat the free breakfast buffets. I prefer Residence Inns, but there are many fine establishments.
You can do the same with RV parks, drive your Class A, C, or B in like you are staying there, pull into any empty site, dump your tanks, fill with water and even hookup the power to top off the batteries. The best time is between noon and 2 PM, since they have probably already done their checkouts and the arrivals haven't started to come in.
Getting around most security systems is a piece of cake. For Wifi, just walk up to the front desk with your laptop and tell them you were going to sit in the lobby for a while and forgot to bring down the code from your room.
Need to use the showers and restrooms at a campground, but they are code locked? Bounce around like you really have to go and ask any guest. Tell them you forgot the code, and you are parked in the back forty. You'll get the code 99.9% of the time.
With stealth camping, conning your way to showers and meals, and boldly taking water and dumping privileges, you can start taking back what you are rightfully owed and show those greedy business people who won't share they products with the deserving. That is the message of the 21st century.

I'm on the road full time and staying connected for work and life is important to me

And you don't find it inconvenient driving all over 24/7's to get free wifi?

When I went full time I too needed to stay connected to take care of my finances and pay bills......I bought a mobile broadband, $65/mo for unlimited access!

I couldn't fathom full timing driving a MH and trying to find a McDonalds or Dunkin Donuts to park by to get free wifi to do my personal finances. Not to mention the lack of security.

Jacking WiFi hotspots is illegal in some states.... Just sayin!

Wi-Fi Free Spot
I don't know anything about it, I just remember seeing it while browsing the net.

endlesstravel wrote:
I'm on the road full time and staying connected for work and life is important to me. I don't pay for wi-fi. I find hot spots that are strong enough that I can use in my camper from the parking lot. I would love to hear other people's techniques for finding wifi.
Here are my usual spots:
Starbucks: Usually the strongest signal of all the places listed.
McDonalds
Corner Bakery Cafes
Denny’s
Dunkin’ Donuts
FedEx: Strong Signal
Whole Foods
Office Depot
Panera: Strong Signal
Caribou Coffee
Tim Hortons
Coffee Bean
Tea Leaf
Public libraries: Occasionally will need a passcode, that you can get at the front desk.
Hotels and Motels
RV Campgrounds
Book Stores...yes they still exist
Large truck stops: Flying J, Love’s, Pilot, and TA
Websites to help you find locations:
AnchorFree:Only shows free wi-fi hotspots.
JWire’s Wi-Fi Hotspot Shows you paid and free
Google Maps: Go to the “Find Businesses” tab under the search box. Enter “wifi hotspot” in the first box and the address in the next box. It will show you an extensive list of paid and free Wi-Fi hotspots.
Wi-Fi Boosters for Your Laptop
Wi-Fi adapter for your laptop that will help your computer find stronger signals. For a even stronger boost you can get a Wi-Fi antenna that you keep in your camper window.
Also, a great resource I like for Finding Free Wi-Fi on the Road finding free wi-fi

:R

THIS POST is the reason as to why you should always HIDE your WiFi SSid and or set the encryption codes from default.

I personally find "free WiFi" to be unreliable (dropped connections and variable connection speeds due to poor signal strength) and not worth chasing it as a real viable on the road means to get Internet.

If the campground "offers" WiFi for "free" I will use it, but it never is as good as my home DSL connection and just basically serves the purpose of checking emails. But as for surfing leaves a lot to be desired.

Last time I checked, the WiFi at large truck stops was pay as you go.