WiFi Hotspots

[halfwaytree]

When you log onto a WiFi connection at a restaurant, coffee shop or Library etc... I have heard some of them will charge while some offer the service for free. If they are going to charge you do they tell you up front when you try to log on or do you just get a surprise when you get your internet or phone bill at the end of the month?

I am new to WiFi and I have been logging on all over town at different places lately and not once have I received a message that establishing a connection is going to result in me getting charged.

Just wondering.

[bee_bop]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When you log onto a WiFi connection at a restaurant, coffee shop or Library etc... I have heard some of them will charge while some offer the service for free. If they are going to charge you do they tell you up front when you try to log on or do you just get a surprise when you get your internet or phone bill at the end of the month?

I am new to WiFi and I have been logging on all over town at different places lately and not once have I received a message that establishing a connection is going to result in me getting charged.

Just wondering. </div></div>

Littleman says:
<span style="color: #660000">For anyone to be able to charge you for your use of their Internet service, they would first have to authenticate you, which could be a requirement for you to log-in, with a password, or some other feature. Before allowing you to log-in, there would most likely be a notice that the service is not free.

Of course you could be using anybody's WiFi, unless you specifically connected to a particular WiFi signal, if this WiFi was intended to be private, but the owner neglected to put some form of restriction as to who can connect to it, then you would still be guilty of a crime, under U.S. law, so be careful.

Surfing on someone else's Internet connection, that wasn't authorized, can get you arrested if the owner took it seriously enough, which most don't unless you repeat the offense too many times.</span>

[halfwaytree]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

Thanks for that Littleman.

All the establishments I visit with intent to log onto their WiFi advertise that they host a &quot;WiFi Hotspot&quot;. I just was wondering if I was being charged for using it as I am yet to get my monthly phone/internet bill.

[dahjah]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

naah dem cyaan chawge yuh dat way.

Soun like yuh buy a new laptop, wah kind?

[halfwaytree]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emperah_dahJah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">naah dem cyaan chawge yuh dat way.

Soun like yuh buy a new laptop, wah kind? </div></div>

Dat would be sweet but it is the iPhone mi usin' to connect.

[dahjah]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

ohh lawd yuh had fi bi one a dem who fuss it ee

[Seveen]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emperah_dahJah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">naah dem cyaan chawge yuh dat way.

Soun like yuh buy a new laptop, wah kind? </div></div>

Dat would be sweet but it is the iPhone mi usin' to connect. </div></div>

your iPhone is it's own &quot;hot spot&quot;

you aren't using their WiFi

and the charges are already included in your bill

[halfwaytree]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Emperah_dahJah</div><div class="ubbcode-body">naah dem cyaan chawge yuh dat way.

Soun like yuh buy a new laptop, wah kind? </div></div>

Dat would be sweet but it is the iPhone mi usin' to connect. </div></div>

your iPhone is it's own &quot;hot spot&quot;

you aren't using their WiFi

and the charges are already included in your bill </div></div>

Hey seveen! How's things? Was thinking about your group down in Negril. NEXT TIME!!!

As fas as my phone goes, it will use the edge network by default unless you set it to use the G3. Which literally sucks the baterry life right out of it. . However it will continually scan for an open WiFi connection and will allow you to log onto one if it is available. The dang thing has five radios in it. WiFi, Bluetooth, G3, Edge and GPS. I have used all except for the Bluetooth thingy.

Anyway, glad to hear they not going to charge me extra.

[Seveen]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

THAT trip was a one in a million - too much fun

and we all got along and had TOO MUCH FUN

i thought about you when i went to MiYard - with shoes on this time

and no cake . . . didn't want to miss a minute

[halfwaytree]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
and no cake . . . didn't want to miss a minute </div></div>

[j-kid]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

Milo, just tuh add, even if yuh was using ah laptop, an not yuh phone. If yuh were able fi get in at ah hot-spot, dat means sey it free. Dem can NOT bill yuh through yuh own ISP, phone, or internet provider. All charges go through their service provider, das why dem usually ask yuh fi money up front, soh yuh noh able fi tief an goh whe, without paying.

[Diplomat]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Milo Man*</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for that Littleman.

All the establishments I visit with intent to log onto their WiFi advertise that they host a &quot;WiFi Hotspot&quot;. I just was wondering if I was being charged for using it as I am yet to get my monthly phone/internet bill. </div></div>
You're not being charged. In areas where there's a fee, you would be connected to a local intranet and directed to a site with the various pay-for-service options.

A word of caution: make sure when you connect to public hotspots that your firewall alerts you to set a public zone. You don't want to have someone being able to look around your hard drive, or to have file sharing enabled.

[halfwaytree]

Re: WiFi Hotspots

Thanks j kid, thanks CEW. Good to know!