According to this blogger, the McDonald's across from the Kansas Speedway has dropped its free wireless access and gone play-for-pay via Wayport and AT&T.
Well, take heart, The Yard House Restaurant in the Legends development is listed on wififreespot (click the Kansas link for wififreespot.com under the "Links" section of this page and look at the listings under "Kansas City") and I believe there's going to be a new Panera out there soon which like all the rest of their local restaurants should offer free Wi-Fi. There's hope for KCK and Wyandotte County yet.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Sleepless in Seattle? No, wireless in Westport
Kansas City Public Library, Westport Branch
118 Westport Road, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: library
You'd think that this would be the least laptop-friendly of all KCMO's branches, given that it's located in the oldest building, and you'd be right, although not for the reason you'd imagine. Actually they have available a vacant shelf/desk of the sort provided for their own computers, with a cutout to pass your power cord through and six power outlets underneath, and seating for two. So, what's the problem? On every table I can see in the building, there are signs reading "Due to demand, library seating is limited to two hours per day." I dare not ask whether or how they really enforce this.
Assuming you still want to try this one out, there are either three or four access points, depending on whether you choose to believe my finder or the results of a scan I did in Linux using my laptop's built-in adapter. One of them is visible on the wall next to the monitor for the computer sign-up system. Actually in a building this small, one is probably all they really need.
Anyway, when your two hours are up, Westport offers plenty more Wi-Fi opportunities. Unfortunately, at least tonight, I couldn't count the first two places I tried among them.
First was Mesa Wraps at 4120 Pennsylvania (some local directories still erroneously list its former address across the street at 4129). No connectivity beyond the access point. Someone on the crew let slip that the problem had been going on "for ages." I guess the word had gotten round; mine was the only laptop or other Internet-capable device in evidence there.
I didn't have any better luck at Tea Drops across the street at 4111 Pennsylvania. This was really disheartening; their network was one of the first ones I was successful with when Wi-Fi really started taking off in Kansas City. Yet a couple of tries only yielded Windows' dreaded "Limited or no connectivity" response. Maybe everyone else knew something I didn't here as well. Once more, I was alone in trying to get online.
Discouraged, I trudged north on Pennsylvania, thinking that surely the third time must be the charm...and it was.
Westport Coffee House
4010 Pennsylvania
802.11b
SSID: Westport Coffeehouse
Sit at the tables by the windows in front if you need to be near a power outlet. Curiously, they're set up as a cybercafe with a couple of banks of desktop computers available for a fee, yet their Wi-Fi is still free and open. Interesting business model. Wonder how it's working out for them.
Panera Bread
4117 Mill Street
802.11g
SSID: Panera Bread #6
For some reason, this location closes at 7 p. m., but the network was still live. I can see power outlets under the windows on the patio, where I'm briefly sitting on one of the tables, but I'm not going to bother with plugging in to see if they're hot.
39th and State Line area:
The Crave Cafe
1615 West 39th Street
802.11g
SSID: TheCrave
It's small, cramped, and with live music on the outdoors patio a bit noisy, but if you're lucky enough to score a corner table in front, you'll have a power outlet available on the wall beside it.
Room 39 at 1719 West 39th was closed for a private party, so I pretty much did a "walk-by" with my finder. There's an open 802.11g access point that may be theirs, but I'd ask first to be sure.
Fric and Frac
1700 West 39th Street
802.11b
SSID: FricAndFrac
By the time I got here I was too sated with the chicken sandwich wrap, vanilla latte, and iced tea I'd had on the way to either sit and order anything or have a (soft) drink at the bar. So I took a walk through to get an idea as to whether one would find a convenient power outlet (I didn't see any) and then took up temporary residence on a stone bench on the Genessee Street side of the building to post this. Even from outside I got enough of a signal for a speed of 1 megabit per second, so connecting inside shouldn't be a problem.
118 Westport Road, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: library
You'd think that this would be the least laptop-friendly of all KCMO's branches, given that it's located in the oldest building, and you'd be right, although not for the reason you'd imagine. Actually they have available a vacant shelf/desk of the sort provided for their own computers, with a cutout to pass your power cord through and six power outlets underneath, and seating for two. So, what's the problem? On every table I can see in the building, there are signs reading "Due to demand, library seating is limited to two hours per day." I dare not ask whether or how they really enforce this.
Assuming you still want to try this one out, there are either three or four access points, depending on whether you choose to believe my finder or the results of a scan I did in Linux using my laptop's built-in adapter. One of them is visible on the wall next to the monitor for the computer sign-up system. Actually in a building this small, one is probably all they really need.
Anyway, when your two hours are up, Westport offers plenty more Wi-Fi opportunities. Unfortunately, at least tonight, I couldn't count the first two places I tried among them.
First was Mesa Wraps at 4120 Pennsylvania (some local directories still erroneously list its former address across the street at 4129). No connectivity beyond the access point. Someone on the crew let slip that the problem had been going on "for ages." I guess the word had gotten round; mine was the only laptop or other Internet-capable device in evidence there.
I didn't have any better luck at Tea Drops across the street at 4111 Pennsylvania. This was really disheartening; their network was one of the first ones I was successful with when Wi-Fi really started taking off in Kansas City. Yet a couple of tries only yielded Windows' dreaded "Limited or no connectivity" response. Maybe everyone else knew something I didn't here as well. Once more, I was alone in trying to get online.
Discouraged, I trudged north on Pennsylvania, thinking that surely the third time must be the charm...and it was.
Westport Coffee House
4010 Pennsylvania
802.11b
SSID: Westport Coffeehouse
Sit at the tables by the windows in front if you need to be near a power outlet. Curiously, they're set up as a cybercafe with a couple of banks of desktop computers available for a fee, yet their Wi-Fi is still free and open. Interesting business model. Wonder how it's working out for them.
Panera Bread
4117 Mill Street
802.11g
SSID: Panera Bread #6
For some reason, this location closes at 7 p. m., but the network was still live. I can see power outlets under the windows on the patio, where I'm briefly sitting on one of the tables, but I'm not going to bother with plugging in to see if they're hot.
39th and State Line area:
The Crave Cafe
1615 West 39th Street
802.11g
SSID: TheCrave
It's small, cramped, and with live music on the outdoors patio a bit noisy, but if you're lucky enough to score a corner table in front, you'll have a power outlet available on the wall beside it.
Room 39 at 1719 West 39th was closed for a private party, so I pretty much did a "walk-by" with my finder. There's an open 802.11g access point that may be theirs, but I'd ask first to be sure.
Fric and Frac
1700 West 39th Street
802.11b
SSID: FricAndFrac
By the time I got here I was too sated with the chicken sandwich wrap, vanilla latte, and iced tea I'd had on the way to either sit and order anything or have a (soft) drink at the bar. So I took a walk through to get an idea as to whether one would find a convenient power outlet (I didn't see any) and then took up temporary residence on a stone bench on the Genessee Street side of the building to post this. Even from outside I got enough of a signal for a speed of 1 megabit per second, so connecting inside shouldn't be a problem.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Away out West...(well, actually east, but...)
Kansas City Public Library, Trails West branch
11401 East 23rd Street, Independence
802.11g
SSID: library
Unless you're the adventurous sort like I am, don't even think about bringing a laptop here without a fully-charged battery-and a spare if you've got an extended stay in mind. As of yet, there aren't any carrels save for those already occupied by their workstations, and the only ready-to-use power outlet I've seen anywhere in the building is in the corner by the windows to the left of the information desk. It's on the wall behind a couple of chairs, adjacent to the Kansas City wall map hanging next to the window. Trying to see your screen while contending with direct sunlight coming through the window , however, can be a problem at certain times of the day. You might decide to just find a darker spot and go cordless for as long as you can.
Then again, if you want to be adventurous, there are a couple of outlets in the floor by a maroon chair not far from the corner, and another pair next to the round table closest to the windows. The adventurous part is that they're covered by threaded bronze caps screwed into the floor plate. I'm writing this while plugged into the outlet near the table, having rather discreetly unscrewed one of the caps about twenty minutes ago, and no one's said anything yet. Should you decide to boldly go this route, please be polite and replace the cap when you leave. (I'd go for the table, by the way, at least during the daytime; the chair's back is toward the windows, which is good for reading a book, but not an LCD screen.)
Once more, they've done a good job of hiding the five access points and their antennas, but in such a small building getting a good signal shouldn't be a problem for a properly functioning adapter.
11401 East 23rd Street, Independence
802.11g
SSID: library
Unless you're the adventurous sort like I am, don't even think about bringing a laptop here without a fully-charged battery-and a spare if you've got an extended stay in mind. As of yet, there aren't any carrels save for those already occupied by their workstations, and the only ready-to-use power outlet I've seen anywhere in the building is in the corner by the windows to the left of the information desk. It's on the wall behind a couple of chairs, adjacent to the Kansas City wall map hanging next to the window. Trying to see your screen while contending with direct sunlight coming through the window , however, can be a problem at certain times of the day. You might decide to just find a darker spot and go cordless for as long as you can.
Then again, if you want to be adventurous, there are a couple of outlets in the floor by a maroon chair not far from the corner, and another pair next to the round table closest to the windows. The adventurous part is that they're covered by threaded bronze caps screwed into the floor plate. I'm writing this while plugged into the outlet near the table, having rather discreetly unscrewed one of the caps about twenty minutes ago, and no one's said anything yet. Should you decide to boldly go this route, please be polite and replace the cap when you leave. (I'd go for the table, by the way, at least during the daytime; the chair's back is toward the windows, which is good for reading a book, but not an LCD screen.)
Once more, they've done a good job of hiding the five access points and their antennas, but in such a small building getting a good signal shouldn't be a problem for a properly functioning adapter.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Three down, three to go?
Kansas City Public Library, Waldo Community Branch
201 East 75th Street, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: library
Apparently, whoever promised that KCMO's public library branches would all be unwired by the end of next month wasn't just whistling Dixie. According to their wireless information page, this branch as well as the Trails West and Westport branches now have Wi-Fi, leaving only Bluford, Southeast, and Sugar Creek still to go live. (Southeast still wasn't showing a SSID as of this afternoon, when I stopped in for a few moments.)
I just hope that what I'm seeing in the way of performance here at Waldo is merely the result of my experimenting with wireless networking in Linux and not an indication of problems with the connection itself. I've used dialup that was faster than this. Also, there aren't any power outlets readily apparent. Tell you what. I'll take a break and go search for one, then boot into Windows and let you know if that's any better.
Update: I'm now in Play-for-Pay...oops, I mean Windows, and it is better. Well, as they say, the trouble with free software is that you get what you pay for. Anyway, there's a two-outlet power receptacle in the floor near a table by the back. It's the only really usable one I've found, though (there are a few wall receptacles in back by the windows, but if you try plugging into them you'll probably get into trouble for running your cord across the floor to them from the nearest chairs or tables), so you should definitely plan on using battery power for an extended visit. Don't bother with trying to plug your AC adapter into any of the outlets under the carrels. The one beneath the carrel I sat at wasn't "hot" and I'd hazard a guess that none of the rest of them are either. I don't see any of the access points or antennas, but with my finder having detected four APs getting and staying connected shouldn't be a problem if your adapter is working as it should.
And if any of you ever thought you had any reason to risk using that rogue open access point I've warned you about a couple of times now, you don't any more.
201 East 75th Street, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: library
Apparently, whoever promised that KCMO's public library branches would all be unwired by the end of next month wasn't just whistling Dixie. According to their wireless information page, this branch as well as the Trails West and Westport branches now have Wi-Fi, leaving only Bluford, Southeast, and Sugar Creek still to go live. (Southeast still wasn't showing a SSID as of this afternoon, when I stopped in for a few moments.)
I just hope that what I'm seeing in the way of performance here at Waldo is merely the result of my experimenting with wireless networking in Linux and not an indication of problems with the connection itself. I've used dialup that was faster than this. Also, there aren't any power outlets readily apparent. Tell you what. I'll take a break and go search for one, then boot into Windows and let you know if that's any better.
Update: I'm now in Play-for-Pay...oops, I mean Windows, and it is better. Well, as they say, the trouble with free software is that you get what you pay for. Anyway, there's a two-outlet power receptacle in the floor near a table by the back. It's the only really usable one I've found, though (there are a few wall receptacles in back by the windows, but if you try plugging into them you'll probably get into trouble for running your cord across the floor to them from the nearest chairs or tables), so you should definitely plan on using battery power for an extended visit. Don't bother with trying to plug your AC adapter into any of the outlets under the carrels. The one beneath the carrel I sat at wasn't "hot" and I'd hazard a guess that none of the rest of them are either. I don't see any of the access points or antennas, but with my finder having detected four APs getting and staying connected shouldn't be a problem if your adapter is working as it should.
And if any of you ever thought you had any reason to risk using that rogue open access point I've warned you about a couple of times now, you don't any more.
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