How to: Find the Best Free Wi-Fi Hotspots

Joe L — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:43:57 +0000

Don’t we all wish that at least some things in life be free? Wi-Fi is on most wish lists. Wi-Fi is an inherent part of airwaves around us. The only problem – It’s not obvious, it’s shut tight and it’s not free to access.

But just like free parking, there are a few places where Wi-Fi can be accessed without spending a penny. That’s the easy part. The difficult part is scanning the airwaves in search of Wi-Fi hotspots. Thankfully, the first is accessible thanks to some public hotspots and the second, using software tools and Wi-Fi firmware.

We have cleared a lot of air with our own collection of Wi-Fi how-tos. Lifehacker’s The Definitive Guide to Finding Free Wi-Fi is also an important add-on for your Wi-Fi bag of tricks. The guide takes you through three levels of need in the search for free Wi-Fi. Just how extreme is your need?

The Easy Way: Using Public Hotspots

Locate public Wi-Fi hotspots around libraries, Barnes & Noble bookstores, McDonald’s, the airport, university campus, independent coffee shop, or hotel lobbies. These are probable places which offer free Wi-Fi as a utility. Check out our Free Airport Wi-Fi Hack or our Become a War Driving Pro – Hack WEP and Wi-Fi post.

The Medium Way: Using Apps

Many free Windows, Mac and mobile OS apps enhance Wi-Fi scan and seek. The Lifehacker guide recommends NetStumbler and WeFi for Windows, iStumbler for Mac, JiWire Free Wi-Fi Finder (iPhone), WiFiFoFum (Windows Mobile) and WeFi again for the Android.

You can go online with a smartphone and check out a few web apps to find a Wi-Fi hotspot using WiFinder, Hotspot Haven, JiWire, Wi-Fi Hotspot List and Hotspotr as bookmark worthy. Also, check out Ekahu HeatMapper (Windows only) for wireless signal strength mapping.

The Hard Way: Hacking

Learn how to hookup your smartphone as a wireless router. And also the really acute way of hacking into a WEP-secured wireless network with Backtrack. Check out our own post on the topic – How To: iPhone as a Wireless Router for your Laptop.

Even More Wifi Hacks:

Make a DIY Wifi Repeater/Range Extender

Joe L — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:00:19 +0000

Problem: A wireless network is just barely out of reach.� Solution: Build your own wireless repeater, place it between you and the wireless router and it’ll repeat the signal, stronger than before, giving you access to the previously unaccessable network. You can buy a repeater on eBay for cheap or build your own:

1. The Outdoor Repeater:

When the network is across the neighborhood, sometimes a weatherproof repeater is necessary. Learn to build your own with this detailed range extender tutorial.

2. Universal Wifi Repeater:

Learn to build another universal wireless repeater – A device that you can place anywhere and it will wirelessly repeat the strongest signal, onto another wireless network (with or without security).

3. Low Budget Solution:

The method is an approach to form the omni-directional radiated signal into a beam signal.� The goal is to increase both incoming and outgoing signal strength on the antenna.� A simple, affordable wifi repeater.

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