Wireless in Westport, Chapter 2

Tea Drops
4111 Pennsylvania, Kansas City

802.11b
SSID: linksys

As I related a few weeks back, I developed a fondness for this place, its having been one of the first businesses in KC to unwire for free. Therefore I felt they deserved a second chance. On this visit they didn't disappoint, at least as far as the availability of their network is concerned. However, I've got to tell you that this is one place where you don't want to forget to bring a charged battery. Not a single usable power outlet in sight. Also, it's got those lovable big windows that can make daytime LCD reading a challenge, at least until your eyes adapt.

One more thing. Don't be a dork like I did and bring an iPod filled with Haydn along, thinking you'll sit quietly enjoying a symphony while surfing. Poor ol' Franz Joseph will lose out to their recorded music every time.

After finishing my tea, I felt it was only fair to give the other hotspot that didn't come through last month another shot, but unfortunately Mesa Wraps across the street still hadn't gotten around to restoring their Internet connectivity. And from what the counterman there told me, it doesn't seem as if they plan to, either. Looks like this one should come off the local free hotspot listings. However, if someone higher up at Mesa Wraps should read this and beg to differ, here's a tip: If you have a DSL or cable modem plugged into your access point/router to provide your backhaul, try rebooting it by cycling its power off and back on. Also go into your router's configuration and make sure it's still set up with your ISP account's username and password. If you've had an extended power outage or if someone has reset the router, these may have disappeared.

Another location that definitely should come off the local listings on which it still appears is what used to be Yummy's Market and Deli at 1610 West 39th Street. The building is currently undergoing renovation, and the business that will operate there afterward will have another name.

Finally, I took another walk past Room 39 on the other side of the street about halfway down the next block west. Once again it was closed, but this time it appears to be due to changes in the nature of the business. It looks as if it's transitioning from a coffeehouse/cafe into a full-fledged restaurant that for some reason is not open for dinner on Friday evenings. Whether free wireless Internet access will remain on the menu is still to be seen.