Baraboo WiFi spots, a start

You will find that when I go to eat, I take my laptop with as I like to surf a little while we wait for dinner. Seems a great way to start a conversation over a news story or something similar you might have found out while you are there. Anyways, here are 4 places I know of that you can get free access in Baraboo, WI.

1. Pizza Venecia-while we eat at this restaurant in downtown Baraboo, we are almost always on a WiFi point called kuairwaves. The signal is a bit weak, but good enough to browse with a less then great Broadcom wireless card in my laptop. Not to mention you get a great buy on a huge pizza for just a little dough :)~
Pizza Venecia Restaurant
113 3rd Street
Baraboo, WI 53913

2. Jayar's-Great little place that does catering and makes these great beef and pork sandwiches that I love to eat lunch at when I can. I can't remember the name(s) of the access points that I can get on while there, but there was 2 the last time I was there (about a month ago). I am pretty sure that at least one of them was named linksys.
Jayar's Catering
138 3rd Street
Baraboo, WI 53913

3. Culvers Restaurant-I love Culvers and I believe that all of there restaurants are not providing WiFi for the customers, or at least that is the direction they are taking their business. The one in Baraboo has it as well as the original store in Sauk City. It is great, especially since you can sit there for a couple of hours and the staff won't harrass you. The point is called Culvers so you know you have the right one.
Culver's Frozen Custard
110 Linn Street
Baraboo, WI 53913
4. Campus Inn-This hotel has free wireless for its customer, but it broadcasts so strong that you can litterally hit it accrossed the street at the Taco Bell and Shell/Milio's. Certainly something to keep in mind. I haven't tested other locations where I can hit this access point, but I have heard the employees of the little coffee shack there, Big Louies, take advantage of it.
Campus Inn Motel
Highway 12
Baraboo, WI 53913

So much for now, we get some more up later for other locations I know are perfect for your Internet needs.

Wardriving

One of the things you might be able to take some interest in for identifying WiFi networks is the art of Wardriving. Wardriving is essentially the art of driving around and identifying exactly where there are WAPs, whether secured or unsecured. All you really need to Wardrive is a computer with a Wireless card. However, I recommend also installing a software application like Netstumbler for when you are wardriving. This will give you a faster indication of where a network in, and often these programs have built in GPS to help as well.

I just did a little wardriving the other night while my fiancee drove us home from having dinner out on the town and in less then a mile driving from one side of Baraboo to near the courthouse I hit 34 different WAPs, of which only 5 were protected with any kind of security. Amazing, heh?

Give it a try sometime, you will be surprised at just how much fun you will have.

Wireless in Wisconsin

Folks don't realize the availability of free WiFi Internet access in their hometowns in this state. Through my exeriences, I have found it great to go out and hit any number of free, unprotected wireless networks that I can get onto when I cruise around town. While the legality of logging onto an unprotected wireless network is still quite in the air, my personal views on the subject the contrare. There are two reasons why you are providing free WiFi service.

1. You simply want people to have free access. This goes alot for businesses that have it for their customer's to use when they use their services and make their place of business more advantageous over others. The same goes with a consumer that is sharing out thier Internet connection with their neighbors. Mighty nice of these people, and you might as well take advantage of thier kindness too!!!

2. The person with the WAP (wireless access point) is simply too lazy or stupid to know how to secure thier wireless. Honestly, I say these people deserve it. It is like leaving the front door open to your home and not expecting someone to just walk in and take advantage of the comforts of your home. It might not happen often, but sooner or later someone is going to do it.
Now, while using thier WiFi service to access the Internet for whatever you are going to use it for I find is ok. What you should never do is harm to these points. This will begin giving those of you who do it a bad name and make the laws against this get pushed through all the more quickly. Be polite, after all, someone is paying for the free Internet you are getting use!

The rest of this blog is going to be largely devoted to identifying where there are free WiFi spots that are unprotected in Wisconsin. If you know of one, feel free to email me or post it here. Please send all emails to theoldmage@yahoo.com with your information. Be as specific as you can about the location where you were able to get the free wireless service and what the WiFi spots name was. If it is a business, give them credit.