...could anyone affiliated with the North Kansas City Public Library explain why you haven't unwired?
You've got a nearly new building complete with tables that were clearly designed for laptop use-they're already equipped with cutouts that will facilitate wiring them for power. On top of that, you're in an obviously underserved community. I can't think of any other hotspots in NKC. Can you?
What's stopping you, folks?
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
The not-so-frozen North
The Power Plant Brewery and Restaurant
Two Main Street, Parkville
802.11g
SSID: PowerPlant
Our first successful foray into the Northland (after a stop at one coffeehouse listed in several directories that actually has an encrypted network) is this cozy place, which, as its name implies, is ensconced in Park College's old power station. Given that it's a bar/restaurant, you really can't expect it to offer much in the way of laptop-friendliness, so the apparent lack of power outlets shouldn't come as a surprise. Well, it is dark enough inside at two in the afternoon to make LCD reading a breeze.
And yes, I know, Park College has been Park University since who knows when, but the building still reads "college" and no one's seen fit to change it.
Kansas City International Airport
802.11b at location visited (Terminal B concourse adjacent to Gate 50)
SSID: kci
Airports, of course, are like a character in Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow described Albania-a place where you go on business or not at all. Anyway, I decided that for the benefit of any of you who'll be cooling your heels there-the airport, not Albania-anytime soon, I'd invest the cost of maybe an hour's parking to check it out. Good that I did, because you need to be aware that if what I'm seeing here is any indication, this network's performance leaves a bit to be desired.
First of all, why is it still "b" and not "g?" That would possibly help matters a bit if you run into the low signal strength levels I'm seeing here. Also, there's apparently some kind of clickthrough page that appears to be Windows-only (i.e., written for Internet Explorer instead of being standards-compliant). Firefox pulled it up, but didn't display any text or graphics, so it beats me as to exactly what it was I agreed to. Well, they let me leave, so I guess it couldn't have been anything of substance.
Next stop was Zona Rosa at Barry Road and I-29, and the local guides that still list it appear to be giving us a bum steer as far as center-wide free wireless is concerned. Although several Flash Network SSIDs presented themselves, none of them provided me with an IP address. I've also noticed that any mention of free wireless has apparently vanished from Zona Rosa's website. However, there's at least one establishment here that has stepped forward to try and fill the gap.
O'Dowd's Little Dublin
8600 N.W. Prarie View Road
802.11b
SSID: ODowds
I had a devil of a time getting and staying connected, but I think this may be due to a problem cropping up with my built-in wireless card as opposed to the network itself. I've just plugged in my USB finder/adapter and it's connecting at the full 11 MBPS as opposed to 1 for the built-in. Connectivity beyond the access point, however, is still at a crawl. Anyway, the place is a standard bar/restaurant, so take that as an indication of its laptop-friendliness, or lack thereof.
Incidentally, for those of you perhaps new to Kansas City, Zona Rosa is not "very close to the airport" as some local listings erroneously describe it. KCI is still a good ten-to-fifteen-minute drive away under the best of conditions. Add rush-hour traffic on I-29 and things will go downhill from there. Just in case you were planning on a quick shopping stop before catching a flight.
From here, I initially headed over to North Oak to check out a couple of reported hotspots around Northeast 78th Street. One of them, The Perfect Cup, is sadly no more. Another looked like it was going to be crowded, and I really wasn't sure of its nature, so I decided to save it for later and instead head north to look at an outlying location I didn't have time to hit earlier today. Glad I did-it verified the problem at O'Dowd's was with their network, not my card.
Neighbors Internet Cafe
101A Smithville Plaza (east side of U. S. 169, just north of Route DD), Smithville
802.11g
SSID: Neighbors
How an establishment with a single desktop computer can get away with calling itself an "Internet cafe" is a bit beyond me, but the Wi-Fi is free, open and fast, so I won't argue. They don't make a half-bad chocolate malted, either. I should point out that the place seems rather religiously inspired, in case that's a concern for any of you, but if the connection is filtered, you shouldn't have problems with overblocks, because I didn't. There's a little alcove towards the back with at least one table next to a power outlet. And if you don't like surfing to live music, be forewarned that this is such a venue.
And so is that other North Oak location I went back to once more after leaving Neighbors. I decided to pass on it, however, after finding the parking lot still packed-and discovering they were taking full advantage by charging a $7 cover. Even at today's prices, stiffing teens for that much strikes me as somewhat exploitative, even if it is to provide them with a safe non-alcoholic environment. Indeed, that would seem all the more reason not to gouge them, if you ask me.
Maybe I'll go back and check this location out later; maybe I won't. Time will tell.
Two Main Street, Parkville
802.11g
SSID: PowerPlant
Our first successful foray into the Northland (after a stop at one coffeehouse listed in several directories that actually has an encrypted network) is this cozy place, which, as its name implies, is ensconced in Park College's old power station. Given that it's a bar/restaurant, you really can't expect it to offer much in the way of laptop-friendliness, so the apparent lack of power outlets shouldn't come as a surprise. Well, it is dark enough inside at two in the afternoon to make LCD reading a breeze.
And yes, I know, Park College has been Park University since who knows when, but the building still reads "college" and no one's seen fit to change it.
Kansas City International Airport
802.11b at location visited (Terminal B concourse adjacent to Gate 50)
SSID: kci
Airports, of course, are like a character in Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow described Albania-a place where you go on business or not at all. Anyway, I decided that for the benefit of any of you who'll be cooling your heels there-the airport, not Albania-anytime soon, I'd invest the cost of maybe an hour's parking to check it out. Good that I did, because you need to be aware that if what I'm seeing here is any indication, this network's performance leaves a bit to be desired.
First of all, why is it still "b" and not "g?" That would possibly help matters a bit if you run into the low signal strength levels I'm seeing here. Also, there's apparently some kind of clickthrough page that appears to be Windows-only (i.e., written for Internet Explorer instead of being standards-compliant). Firefox pulled it up, but didn't display any text or graphics, so it beats me as to exactly what it was I agreed to. Well, they let me leave, so I guess it couldn't have been anything of substance.
Next stop was Zona Rosa at Barry Road and I-29, and the local guides that still list it appear to be giving us a bum steer as far as center-wide free wireless is concerned. Although several Flash Network SSIDs presented themselves, none of them provided me with an IP address. I've also noticed that any mention of free wireless has apparently vanished from Zona Rosa's website. However, there's at least one establishment here that has stepped forward to try and fill the gap.
O'Dowd's Little Dublin
8600 N.W. Prarie View Road
802.11b
SSID: ODowds
I had a devil of a time getting and staying connected, but I think this may be due to a problem cropping up with my built-in wireless card as opposed to the network itself. I've just plugged in my USB finder/adapter and it's connecting at the full 11 MBPS as opposed to 1 for the built-in. Connectivity beyond the access point, however, is still at a crawl. Anyway, the place is a standard bar/restaurant, so take that as an indication of its laptop-friendliness, or lack thereof.
Incidentally, for those of you perhaps new to Kansas City, Zona Rosa is not "very close to the airport" as some local listings erroneously describe it. KCI is still a good ten-to-fifteen-minute drive away under the best of conditions. Add rush-hour traffic on I-29 and things will go downhill from there. Just in case you were planning on a quick shopping stop before catching a flight.
From here, I initially headed over to North Oak to check out a couple of reported hotspots around Northeast 78th Street. One of them, The Perfect Cup, is sadly no more. Another looked like it was going to be crowded, and I really wasn't sure of its nature, so I decided to save it for later and instead head north to look at an outlying location I didn't have time to hit earlier today. Glad I did-it verified the problem at O'Dowd's was with their network, not my card.
Neighbors Internet Cafe
101A Smithville Plaza (east side of U. S. 169, just north of Route DD), Smithville
802.11g
SSID: Neighbors
How an establishment with a single desktop computer can get away with calling itself an "Internet cafe" is a bit beyond me, but the Wi-Fi is free, open and fast, so I won't argue. They don't make a half-bad chocolate malted, either. I should point out that the place seems rather religiously inspired, in case that's a concern for any of you, but if the connection is filtered, you shouldn't have problems with overblocks, because I didn't. There's a little alcove towards the back with at least one table next to a power outlet. And if you don't like surfing to live music, be forewarned that this is such a venue.
And so is that other North Oak location I went back to once more after leaving Neighbors. I decided to pass on it, however, after finding the parking lot still packed-and discovering they were taking full advantage by charging a $7 cover. Even at today's prices, stiffing teens for that much strikes me as somewhat exploitative, even if it is to provide them with a safe non-alcoholic environment. Indeed, that would seem all the more reason not to gouge them, if you ask me.
Maybe I'll go back and check this location out later; maybe I won't. Time will tell.
You know, I think it's getting to be an epidemic.
Another long drive to a McDonald's today-this time for lunch-and another failed attempt to get onto the Internet through their free wireless connection. This one, recently announced on wififreespot and proudly trumpeted with signs advertising the hotspot at its front door, is at 10995 Metcalf in Overland Park. Same problem as with the erstwhile free offering at the McDonalds across from the Kansas Speedway, and at Mesa Wraps in Westport-no backhaul once you connect to the access point. And the reaction of an employee once I let the manager know gave me the feeling that this wasn't just a one-time occurrence. He immediately pointed to a ceiling tile, telling his boss he'd have to remove it to gain access to the router. The manager, however, gave me the standard response-"I'll call it in again"-I heard out by the speedway back in March. Well, at least he didn't totally blow it off like they did at Mesa Wraps.
I really hope this doesn't become a trend. Hey all you managers and other entrepreneurs out there, listen up: If you want free Wi-Fi to pay off for you, you've got to deliver what you promise. If that means rolling up your sleeves and climbing a ladder to restart a router or modem, get the ladder out and get after it. And if it means going out and buying better quality equipment because your bargain-basement router isn't cutting the mustard, well, that'll probably mean fewer trips up that ladder. And if it means getting tough with a vendor whose expertise and level of service aren't up to snuff-even to the point of showing them the door-do it. One would hope you wouldn't be so cavalier towards anything else detracting from the customer experience you offer.
Once more, since gas hasn't gotten any cheaper since March, I'll leave a full evaluation of this one to one of you. The access point is 802.11g, broadcasting a SSID of 10995MetcalfMcD. Here's hoping you have better luck than I did.
I really hope this doesn't become a trend. Hey all you managers and other entrepreneurs out there, listen up: If you want free Wi-Fi to pay off for you, you've got to deliver what you promise. If that means rolling up your sleeves and climbing a ladder to restart a router or modem, get the ladder out and get after it. And if it means going out and buying better quality equipment because your bargain-basement router isn't cutting the mustard, well, that'll probably mean fewer trips up that ladder. And if it means getting tough with a vendor whose expertise and level of service aren't up to snuff-even to the point of showing them the door-do it. One would hope you wouldn't be so cavalier towards anything else detracting from the customer experience you offer.
Once more, since gas hasn't gotten any cheaper since March, I'll leave a full evaluation of this one to one of you. The access point is 802.11g, broadcasting a SSID of 10995MetcalfMcD. Here's hoping you have better luck than I did.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Am I imagining things...
...or is the Johnson County Library's Wi-Fi actually getting better, albeit only slightly?
I stopped in at the Corinth branch today to return a CD and decided while I was there to fire up the laptop to see if there'd been any change in the last few months. Lo and behold, one of the websites I use to gauge the degree of overblocking a user might find on a filtered connection is coming straight through. (Never mind what the URL is; that's for me to know and those whose locations I may evaluate in the future to worry about. I will tell you this, however; it is NOT a pornsite, and neither are any of the others I employ for this purpose.) Not only that, but some of the dumber things this network's filtering used to do seem to have fallen by the wayside.
And while I'm at it, I need to make a bit of a clarification and perhaps offer an apology to the library for something I wrote last March. I laid my inability to access some features on TV Guide's website to the library's filter, and this may not have been the case. Although i did get the blockpage message in the online listings grid, I later found out that the grid was having problems at that time displaying properly in certain browsers-Firefox, which I use exclusively on the Web, among them. Anyway, the site, which TV Guide has only recently fixed, now works perfectly with no blocking messages.
That said, however, I'm still a bit miffed that JCL is continuing to block access to Usenet, and Spybot users should continue to limit their use of this network, since you still can't update Spybot on it. Hope springs eternal, though. Maybe what I'm sure were a legion of complaints over that nonsensical filtering finally started to have an effect. If we keep at it over these other issues, we could get where we need to with this thing.
By the way, Corinth was the one unwired JCL location I hadn't visited since they were lit up. And I'm sorry, but I've got to start beating up on these nice folks again. This is easily the most laptop-unfriendly library I've been in with the possible exception of KCMO's Sugar Creek branch. When I say there are absolutely no power outlets to be had, I mean it. I'm already on my second battery, so don't come without a spare. Also, pay attention to the access point you connect to. (Memo to JCL's IT director: SSIDs are case-sensitive, or did you know that? Also, if you can give me one good reason why you need more than one, I'd love to share it with my readers. I wonder if you have any idea how much frustration this causes someone moving between locations?) There are two, wireless.jocolibrary and wireless.jocolibrary2. The second one doesn't work for some reason.
And one final update: The filter seems to be getting a little smarter, but it's still dumb. No sooner did I get this post up than I ran into another of the same silly overblocks for which this network is notorious, replete with one of the hopelessly geeky explanations that makes DansGuardian so endearing. Maybe all this is just wishful thinking on my part.
I stopped in at the Corinth branch today to return a CD and decided while I was there to fire up the laptop to see if there'd been any change in the last few months. Lo and behold, one of the websites I use to gauge the degree of overblocking a user might find on a filtered connection is coming straight through. (Never mind what the URL is; that's for me to know and those whose locations I may evaluate in the future to worry about. I will tell you this, however; it is NOT a pornsite, and neither are any of the others I employ for this purpose.) Not only that, but some of the dumber things this network's filtering used to do seem to have fallen by the wayside.
And while I'm at it, I need to make a bit of a clarification and perhaps offer an apology to the library for something I wrote last March. I laid my inability to access some features on TV Guide's website to the library's filter, and this may not have been the case. Although i did get the blockpage message in the online listings grid, I later found out that the grid was having problems at that time displaying properly in certain browsers-Firefox, which I use exclusively on the Web, among them. Anyway, the site, which TV Guide has only recently fixed, now works perfectly with no blocking messages.
That said, however, I'm still a bit miffed that JCL is continuing to block access to Usenet, and Spybot users should continue to limit their use of this network, since you still can't update Spybot on it. Hope springs eternal, though. Maybe what I'm sure were a legion of complaints over that nonsensical filtering finally started to have an effect. If we keep at it over these other issues, we could get where we need to with this thing.
By the way, Corinth was the one unwired JCL location I hadn't visited since they were lit up. And I'm sorry, but I've got to start beating up on these nice folks again. This is easily the most laptop-unfriendly library I've been in with the possible exception of KCMO's Sugar Creek branch. When I say there are absolutely no power outlets to be had, I mean it. I'm already on my second battery, so don't come without a spare. Also, pay attention to the access point you connect to. (Memo to JCL's IT director: SSIDs are case-sensitive, or did you know that? Also, if you can give me one good reason why you need more than one, I'd love to share it with my readers. I wonder if you have any idea how much frustration this causes someone moving between locations?) There are two, wireless.jocolibrary and wireless.jocolibrary2. The second one doesn't work for some reason.
And one final update: The filter seems to be getting a little smarter, but it's still dumb. No sooner did I get this post up than I ran into another of the same silly overblocks for which this network is notorious, replete with one of the hopelessly geeky explanations that makes DansGuardian so endearing. Maybe all this is just wishful thinking on my part.
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