HotSpot Finders

Enjoy wireless Internet while you're away from your desk using a wireless hotspot finder

Hotspot finders help you find a wireless Internet signal. WiFi is the technology that enables a 802.11 network signal to be broadcast into the air. Short for wireless fidelity, the signal has relatively short range, covering a small business or store location unless WiFi repeaters are used to boost the signal over a wider range, such as a hotel building or airport.

Locations where WiFi signals can be received are called WiFi hotspots. Many businesses advertise this service in order to attract customers. National chains such as Starbucks or McDonald's may have WiFi; also check your local coffee shops. Online WiFi hotspot finder websites help you find hotspots in advance.

What you need to take advantage of public WiFi:

1. A portable computing device that surfs the Internet: most likely, a laptop computer, though some phones, PDAs, and handheld gaming devices also use WiFi.

2. An Internet browser and an email client if you want to access your messages.

3. An optional membership to a pay WiFi provider gives you more choices when there are no free WiFi hotspots available.

 

Use a free WiFi hotspot finder from your home or office computer

Plan ahead when using free WiFi finders on the Internet. Search for WiFi hotspots in the locations you'll be travelling to before you leave your office.
Try: Use the wireless hotspot finder from USA Today to find both free and pay WiFi hotspots. Find free hotspots with Wi-Fi Free Spot. AnchorFree has a WiFi searchable database to download to your iPod. Find WiFi hotspots worldwide by location with WiFinder.

Buy a pocket hotspot finder device

If you're not the plan-ahead type, you may not know where the nearest hotspot is located. Consider purchasing one of these small gadgets to let you know if you happen to be within range of a WiFi signal.
Try: Choose from a variety of hotspot Finders at TigerDirect. Purchase a WiFi detecting watch at ThinkGeek.com.

Download free hotspot finder software to make wireless connection easy

Conveniently install hotspot locator on your laptop to find a WiFi signal. These applications also make connecting to various WiFi networks much easier.
Try: Download the JiWire Hotspot Helper or Easy WiFi Radar from Makayama, software that helps you find and connect to WiFi hotspots on the road.

Make your own hotspot with wireless hotspot software

If your business serves the public and having a WiFi hotspot in your location would attract more customers, consider setting up your own hotspot. Software helps you do that, including pay and free options, though you may also need to purchase wireless hardware.
Try: Create a WiFi hotspot for your customers with HotSpotSystem.com or FirstSpot for hotspot finder software.

Sign up for a pay service that is hotspot locator and provider all in one

If you frequently travel to locations where WiFi is not free, you can save one-time use fee by purchasing a membership plan. Connect to pay WiFi hotspots in various locations, including restaurants, hotels and airports.
Try: Pay a monthly fee to get reliable high-speed Internet access from Boingo Wireless. Choose from several rate plans, including prepaid, to be able to access WiFi from any T-Mobile HotSpot.

 

• Use an antivirus software and a firewall to keep your computer secure when using public WiFi. Consider getting a special program to protect your passwords if you use your browser's password saver to store them.
• If you connect to a network at work or at home and your workgroup name is "MSHOME" (the default workgroup name in Windows), change the workgroup name to something less common so other WiFi users won't be able to share your files when you're using public WiFi.
• If your device is relatively new, it already has WiFi built in; for older laptops, you can purchase a wireless networking card.

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