Walmarts are now allowing free internet access from their locations. We've seen this on a few stores up until recently. Now all the stores I've had a chance to check have the service available. Speeds seem good, although not what I'd call lightning fast, and I have not had any problems connecting.If you read the Walmart terms of service agreement you'll see that they say they will limit service to certain sites. We've found this appears to include sites with the word "gun" in it someplace and probably some of the porno sites. If you can live with the minimal restrictions, give it a try. Lowes Home improvement centers also has free hotspots available and I've not run into any site restrictions when using their system. Both Walmart and Lowes seem to have good reception in the further reaches of their parking lots, so even if you just want to pop in to check your email, you shouldn't have any trouble.Thank you Walmart and Lowes.

I have only seen a few WIFI hotspots coming from our local WALMART. One is from the Dentists that has a spot in there haha.. All were covered so I never asked any questions...Will have to ask questions as I usually take my wife and sit in truck waiting for her to do her grocery shopping for a couple of hours or more...Roy Ken

Be careful on those free websites; one never knows what hackers are lurking.

Thanks for the tip.I don't know why they would limit access to gun sites since Walmart sells guns and ammunition.

azdryheat wrote:Be careful on those free websites; one never knows what hackers are lurking.What are they going to hack????? If you use your phone for anything to do with banking, bills, or personal info you are always at risk. Smart phones don't make us smarter!!!!!!!!!!!!I use my phone for talking texting pictures and web browsing. If I do any online shopping it is done with a prepaid card not linked to anything. I know I sound paranoid but I have never had any personal or financial problems caused by my smart phone.P.S. And I don't have a Facebook so I still talk to my family. Just my rant thanks

I'm glad that Walmart is adding hot spots. My experience from Texas to Florida to Maine and between is that Walmart construction techniques basically block any usable cell phone signal within the store.I really hate turning on the WiFi capability of my phone in public places because it opens up the phone to cloning/ hacking, but sometimes you have to connect. Besides, I need to be able to find my wife when she wanders off in a store.

Walmart Internet Hot Spots | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Veebyes
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2016
Boy, the services get better all of the time! No reason to leave Walmart now.

Actually WIFI from a Walmart carpark is often available from a bordering restaurant, hotel or some other close open business. Having one of those mini directional WIFI dish antennas help too.
austinjenna
Explorer
Jan 03, 2016
Very interesting. How do they prosecute for this offense?

They don't. They have better things to do
pigman1
Explorer
Jan 03, 2016
2oldman wrote:
I don't know about illegal, but it's just not polite to sit in the parking lot and use 'free' wifi. It's for customers. Maybe that's why it's often so slow.. parking lot bums upgrading to Win10.

Many businesses will only give you the wifi password on your receipt. I don't blame them. Free an open wifi gives rise to your business becoming an office.
Walmart did not have to give access to the ends of their parking lots and with sufficient bandwidth to handle all those who wanted to use it. They easily could have limited it to their store interiors and made sure no one was being a hog, but they did not choose to do this. They chose to give open access. Of course if you want to surf Walmart.com they make this access port very easy to find and use, so they get some business exposure easier than other sites.

My daughter was a Lowes store manager and their headquarters folks wanted to be sure that everyone and anyone who wanted to use their access point could connect, inside and out, easily. It's just good business, and as long as you're in the parking lot, you might as well run in and pick up the ......or whatever.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Dec 29, 2015
sch911 wrote:
gbopp wrote:
sch911 wrote:
Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too.

Very interesting. How do they prosecute for this offense?

Read here
Uh, that article is over 8 years old. Perhaps things have changed since then?
beemerphile1
Explorer
Dec 29, 2015
sch911 wrote:
Fizz wrote:
sch911 wrote:
So... You go sit inside Walmart somewhere and surf? How does this help those who overnight?

Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too. Not sure about other states though...

NOT TRUE
You can't get on to those unless you agree to the terms. Once you do, all is legal.

Making my point! When you agree to the terms you are agreeing that you are a customer. But since you've chosen to sit in the McDonald's parking lot and surf without going in you are a criminal. Welcome to Michigan.

You made two statements that are not the same. Which is it?

You don't have to be a customer to have permission. At McDonald's you agree to the terms and they grant permission. Whether or not you make a purchase is irrelevant.

Also, according to basic tenants of law, if something is advertised as free, no purchase can be required.
sch911
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
gbopp wrote:
sch911 wrote:
Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too.

Very interesting. How do they prosecute for this offense?

Read here
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2015
I don't know about illegal, but it's just not polite to sit in the parking lot and use 'free' wifi. It's for customers. Maybe that's why it's often so slow.. parking lot bums upgrading to Win10.

Many businesses will only give you the wifi password on your receipt. I don't blame them. Free an open wifi gives rise to your business becoming an office.
gbopp
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
sch911 wrote:
Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too.

Very interesting. How do they prosecute for this offense?
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Dec 28, 2015
sch911 wrote:
Fizz wrote:
sch911 wrote:
So... You go sit inside Walmart somewhere and surf? How does this help those who overnight?

Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too. Not sure about other states though...

NOT TRUE
You can't get on to those unless you agree to the terms. Once you do, all is legal.

Making my point! When you agree to the terms you are agreeing that you are a customer. But since you've chosen to sit in the McDonald's parking lot and surf without going in you are a criminal. Welcome to Michigan.
I've used a MickyD hotspot once and I don't remember reading or agreeing to anything about being a customer.

Could you please print out the agreement where it states you have to be a customer to use their hotspot.
sch911
Explorer
Dec 28, 2015
Fizz wrote:
sch911 wrote:
So... You go sit inside Walmart somewhere and surf? How does this help those who overnight?

Also beware that in Michigan it is illegal to use an open Hotspot unless you have permission. This includes businesses like McDonald's and open private Hotspot also. And there have been some people prosecuted too. Not sure about other states though...

NOT TRUE
You can't get on to those unless you agree to the terms. Once you do, all is legal.

Making my point! When you agree to the terms you are agreeing that you are a customer. But since you've chosen to sit in the McDonald's parking lot and surf without going in you are a criminal. Welcome to Michigan.

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Walmart Internet Hot Spots

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