...or if you're getting complaints of no backhaul from your customers now, here's a hint as to a possible cause.
Over the past weekend I experienced here at home what that great Occidental philosopher Yogi Berra would probably describe as "deja vu all over again." My DSL connection, which in a year and a half of operation had never failed due to anything wrong that wasn't on my side of the modem, suddenly reminded me of a couple of hotspot visits I've described here. You know the drill-perfect connection to the access point, textbook handoff of a good IP address from the DHCP server, so on and so forth-but nothing beyond that. Try to hit Google and Firefox grinds and grinds before timing out; open up Thunderbird and it's the same story with your mail and news servers and RSS feeds. I reset the router-no change. Plugged my laptop directly into one of the Ethernet ports on the switch-same thing. Well, so much for the AP or the switch being the problem.
And one by one, I eliminated all the other possible causes between me and the wall, except one-the dual-input DSL filter that the ISP provided with its self-install kit to go between the wall jack and modem, so the jack could simultaneously be used by the modem and a phone. Removing it and plugging the modem in directly brought Google and my incoming spam back in their full glory.
The filter's demise really wasn't a great loss, given that I only plugged it in so I could continue to have my ancient desktop computer's dialup modem connected to the phone line, but I haven't used it since I got DSL anyway. And besides, I still have a spare filter if I need it. But I relate this tale just to remind everyone of what I shouldn't have forgotten myself, after a decade of supporting end users: It's the simplest things that are the most likely to be the source of the problem.
So...if your hotspot's been dished here for anything that sounds like what I've described, or if your customers are doing the dishing because they can't get YouTube with their yogurt-or whatever-try removing your DSL filters one at a time, especially if you've got your modem plugged into one. You might get lucky.
And by the way, if you're an operator or patron of a location that has been cited here in the past for issues since corrected and you think it deserves a second chance to impress, so do we. Just drop a comment or e-mail any of the contributors. We'll come by and check it out when we can.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Friday, June 15, 2007
We'd like to beg a favor...
...of our friends in the blogging community.
Over the past few months, I have at least twice noticed posts lifted from this blog showing up in their entirety elsewhere. While I'm flattered that anyone feels my writing worth copying, I would deeply appreciate being afforded the same common courtesy I have made a point of showing everyone else here. You have never seen me or any contributor to this blog do anything more than briefly summarize an article elsewhere and then provide a link to the original so that not only is that author's intellectual property respected, but you are able to read what they have written in context with the rest of their site. Better than simply cutting and pasting it here, wouldn't you agree?
I'm sure these instances were simply oversights by someone who knows better, and this brief mention will be enough to resolve the matter. Or at least I hope so.
Over the past few months, I have at least twice noticed posts lifted from this blog showing up in their entirety elsewhere. While I'm flattered that anyone feels my writing worth copying, I would deeply appreciate being afforded the same common courtesy I have made a point of showing everyone else here. You have never seen me or any contributor to this blog do anything more than briefly summarize an article elsewhere and then provide a link to the original so that not only is that author's intellectual property respected, but you are able to read what they have written in context with the rest of their site. Better than simply cutting and pasting it here, wouldn't you agree?
I'm sure these instances were simply oversights by someone who knows better, and this brief mention will be enough to resolve the matter. Or at least I hope so.
First impressions
I've been making the rounds with a new MacBook Pro for about two weeks now, and I've got to tell you that either Macs are intrinsically better at Wi-Fi or the manufacturers have all gotten their act together since I last bought a laptop. I have yet to run into any of the low-signal-strength problems previously reported here. In fact, I'm posting this from the Plaza Library-a place that has taken its share of licks from ath64-and my AirPort indicator is showing four solid bars. Come to think of it, I haven't been anywhere it hasn't yet. (I guess the acid test would be the Town Pavilion, right?)
Anyway, is what I'm observing indicative of what the rest of you Mac toters are finding? And how about the rest of you who've bought new Windows machines in, say, the past year or eighteen months? Ath64's recently deceased primary laptop was nearly three years old when it bought the farm; its backup, the poor radio performance of which has been mentioned here more than once, is a year older than that. Will bringing a new computer into the mix bring this blog's evaluations more up to date with regard to how easy it is to stay connected out there nowadays?
Also, are there locations anyone's visited where Macs-or Linux machines, for that matter-are at a disadvantage due to the way the network is set up? There have been at least two documented here-the Johnson County Library and KCI Airport-whose apparently Internet Explorer-only splash pages don't seem to be fully functional in non-Windows browsers. Although neither network denied a connection outright on this basis, I sincerely hope there aren't any hotspot operators cheating themselves-perhaps unknowingly-out of customers this way. If there are and I come across them, you'll be forewarned here.
Anyway, is what I'm observing indicative of what the rest of you Mac toters are finding? And how about the rest of you who've bought new Windows machines in, say, the past year or eighteen months? Ath64's recently deceased primary laptop was nearly three years old when it bought the farm; its backup, the poor radio performance of which has been mentioned here more than once, is a year older than that. Will bringing a new computer into the mix bring this blog's evaluations more up to date with regard to how easy it is to stay connected out there nowadays?
Also, are there locations anyone's visited where Macs-or Linux machines, for that matter-are at a disadvantage due to the way the network is set up? There have been at least two documented here-the Johnson County Library and KCI Airport-whose apparently Internet Explorer-only splash pages don't seem to be fully functional in non-Windows browsers. Although neither network denied a connection outright on this basis, I sincerely hope there aren't any hotspot operators cheating themselves-perhaps unknowingly-out of customers this way. If there are and I come across them, you'll be forewarned here.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Enjoy it now, while you still can
Muddy's Coffee House
318 East 51st Street, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: Muddys Wireless
Again, charge your battery first. There's a two-outlet box on the wall at the front corner opposite the door, but I don't think I'd try using it even if management were approving, given that you'd be a bit close to the south-facing windows for comfort-especially at midday.
Also, unless you're a student, faculty or staff member at UMKC, watch out that you don't inadvertently attempt to hook into their wireless network, the signal from which bangs in here sufficiently to allow that to happen.
Which is somewhat ironic, since UMKC's expansion plans have put the future of the retail strip this establishment is part of in question, according to news reports.
318 East 51st Street, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: Muddys Wireless
Again, charge your battery first. There's a two-outlet box on the wall at the front corner opposite the door, but I don't think I'd try using it even if management were approving, given that you'd be a bit close to the south-facing windows for comfort-especially at midday.
Also, unless you're a student, faculty or staff member at UMKC, watch out that you don't inadvertently attempt to hook into their wireless network, the signal from which bangs in here sufficiently to allow that to happen.
Which is somewhat ironic, since UMKC's expansion plans have put the future of the retail strip this establishment is part of in question, according to news reports.
I guess I ought to get back to doing hotspot reviews sometime, don't you?
The Coffee Girls
310 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: Coffee Girls
Two choices: Come with a fully charged battery or come after dark with an adventurous spirit, because the only power outlets I see anywhere in the place are in a power strip on the floor by the front table closest to the door-and closest to those big, unshaded front windows that are still giving me fits at past 5:30 in the evening as I sit with the back of my display toward them from perhaps ten feet farther away. On second thought, forget about the power strip, since they've got one of their window signs plugged into it.
Well, they do have a nice signal at least. My finder indicates you wouldn't have any problem connecting at one of the sidewalk tables outside, were you so inclined.
310 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City
802.11g
SSID: Coffee Girls
Two choices: Come with a fully charged battery or come after dark with an adventurous spirit, because the only power outlets I see anywhere in the place are in a power strip on the floor by the front table closest to the door-and closest to those big, unshaded front windows that are still giving me fits at past 5:30 in the evening as I sit with the back of my display toward them from perhaps ten feet farther away. On second thought, forget about the power strip, since they've got one of their window signs plugged into it.
Well, they do have a nice signal at least. My finder indicates you wouldn't have any problem connecting at one of the sidewalk tables outside, were you so inclined.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Notes from off the road
Well, the trip home proved to be a bit more leisurely than the outbound leg, so in addition to being able to grab a scandalously overpriced lunch at that Denver airport restaurant I missed on Monday, I was able to delve a little more deeply into the Wi-Fi situation there and in Salt Lake City. Both airports have it, but both are play-for-pay.
SLC, strangely, is unwired by Sprint, who abandoned their network at KCI to the city, which now runs it as a free offering. I can't help but wonder if they're faring any better out there than they did here, given that I didn't see anyone out there using them. The newly resurrected Ma Bell-you just can't keep a bad woman down, can you?-has Denver lit up, and I also saw a SSID there for an unencrypted network labled "Qwest Business Center" or something like that. Neither had any more customers in evidence than Sprint had back in Salt Lake. I did happen to see someone with a laptop in Denver, but he was using a Verizon cellular card.
And here's some more information about those payphone kiosks I mentioned in passing the other day. They're apparently dialup as opposed to Ethernet. I can't imagine anyone would really pay to do this any more, but should any of you have pangs of nostalgia upon reading this, get thee on a plane to DIA posthaste. Just make sure your modem drivers are up to date, and don't forget to pack your telephone cord.
One final update: Once I got home I Googled "Laptop Lane" and they're still around. They were bought last summer by another company, whose website indicates they still have a location in Salt Lake City's airport. So if your cravings for wired Internet access won't be sated by dialup at Denver, just check to make sure you've got an RJ-45 cable in your bag, fly on another hour west to SLC and you can knock yourself out with all the Ethernet you can afford at a dollar a minute.
SLC, strangely, is unwired by Sprint, who abandoned their network at KCI to the city, which now runs it as a free offering. I can't help but wonder if they're faring any better out there than they did here, given that I didn't see anyone out there using them. The newly resurrected Ma Bell-you just can't keep a bad woman down, can you?-has Denver lit up, and I also saw a SSID there for an unencrypted network labled "Qwest Business Center" or something like that. Neither had any more customers in evidence than Sprint had back in Salt Lake. I did happen to see someone with a laptop in Denver, but he was using a Verizon cellular card.
And here's some more information about those payphone kiosks I mentioned in passing the other day. They're apparently dialup as opposed to Ethernet. I can't imagine anyone would really pay to do this any more, but should any of you have pangs of nostalgia upon reading this, get thee on a plane to DIA posthaste. Just make sure your modem drivers are up to date, and don't forget to pack your telephone cord.
One final update: Once I got home I Googled "Laptop Lane" and they're still around. They were bought last summer by another company, whose website indicates they still have a location in Salt Lake City's airport. So if your cravings for wired Internet access won't be sated by dialup at Denver, just check to make sure you've got an RJ-45 cable in your bag, fly on another hour west to SLC and you can knock yourself out with all the Ethernet you can afford at a dollar a minute.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Notes from on the road
Been out of town this week for the first time since starting this blog. For one thing, it gave me another chance to try out the free Wi-Fi at KCI Airport. Unfortunately, I had to do so with my old backup laptop, which is no longer a backup since my primary machine finally succumbed earlier this month to its host of maladies (well, I got five more months out of it so all in all I'd say it was worth trying to fix it back in December even though that undoubtedly hastened its demise). As I've mentioned here, this rig has never been a shining performer when it comes to wireless networking. I really didn't have time to baby it onto KCI's network before I had to answer the boarding call. Too bad.
From there it was on to Denver. I was a bit more preoccupied with finding breakfast and making my connecting flight-if you're keeping score, I only batted .500, not locating my preferred dining venue until just before I had to be at the gate-but I did manage to notice what looked like pay-phone kiosks where you could apparently plug in your laptop. My, how archaic. Whether the airport was unwired or not, either on a free or play-for-pay basis, I can't say because I didn't take the time to pull out my finder and scan for signals. Perhaps I'll check on the return trip tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything. At any rate, Denver could take a hint from KC. Low signal strength notwithstanding, I counted at least a half-dozen other users in Terminal A at KCI at the crack of dawn. I don't recall seeing a single laptop out at DIA half an hour later (allowing for the time zone difference). The message ought to be clear: Travelers get gouged enough with passenger facility fees, overpriced meals (it's probably to my benefit that I didn't find that restaurant in time) and taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Why dig your hand even more deeply into their pockets for just a few minutes of Internet access between flights-and why offer that access in such an outmoded, inconvenient, twentieth-century kind of way? Someone making his or her way between arrival and departure gates really doesn't have time to stop at a kiosk.
The second and final air leg of your humble correspondent's journey ended in Salt Lake City, where there at least used to be a Laptop Lane location (a short-term rental workspace with outrageously priced wired broadband access, for those of you who've never heard of them). Again, I was busy with making onward connections after arrival-this time a rental car to deliver myself and my compatriots to our theater of operations-so I neither had time to see if this enterprise had gone the way of the horse and buggy (since the last I knew they were owned by Wayport, so the handwriting was certainly on the wall) nor was I able to scan for wireless access. And unless my flight tomorrow gets delayed before boarding, I likely won't have time to check then either. I did note not seeing anyone else not in as much of a hurry as me with a laptop out, though. Once more, SLC's city leaders should take heed.
And I regret to report that the low-signal-strength epidemic has spread beyond the KC metro. I'm in the same unwired hotel where I stayed two years ago and if anything, the signal strength delivered to the rooms is worse now than it was then. Staying connected with my laptop's built-in card proved hopeless-and to my horror, I discovered that I hadn't bothered to install the drivers for my newly replaced USB adapter/finder (the one for the original wouldn't work). After a couple of hours I managed to get it downloaded from ZyXEL's site; another evening's work got the adapter up and running. Then I remembered that my trusty PC Card adapter, which I had begun using again with the other laptop's Linux installation, was still ensconced in my bag. In fact, I'm posting this via that card. One wonders, however, what the hotel expects someone not as tech-savvy as me to do should he or she run into problems getting and staying connected.
What's that? You get what you pay for? Well, "free" Internet access in a lodging facility really isn't free as far as I'm concerned (it's also really not "open" either since it's obviously intended for use by paying guests; that's why I don't evaluate hotels in the normal course of this blog, and why I'm not identifying this one by name). Sort of like the "free" continental breakfast I'm going to enjoy in a few hours. There is that little jam session the clerk and I will be performing with a cash register and credit card at the end of all this, remember? In deciding where to stay again I'd mark a hotel down for a dirty room or a balky air conditioner-issues I wouldn't be expected to pay more to have taken care of. Why not expect Internet access offered at no extra charge to work as well?
I'll offer once more this universal bit of advice to hotspot operators. Try using the connection yourself. See with your own eyes what your customers experience. If there's anything there you're not as proud of as you are of any of your other products or services, FIX IT!
What could there possibly be about this that any businessperson doesn't understand?
From there it was on to Denver. I was a bit more preoccupied with finding breakfast and making my connecting flight-if you're keeping score, I only batted .500, not locating my preferred dining venue until just before I had to be at the gate-but I did manage to notice what looked like pay-phone kiosks where you could apparently plug in your laptop. My, how archaic. Whether the airport was unwired or not, either on a free or play-for-pay basis, I can't say because I didn't take the time to pull out my finder and scan for signals. Perhaps I'll check on the return trip tomorrow, but I'm not promising anything. At any rate, Denver could take a hint from KC. Low signal strength notwithstanding, I counted at least a half-dozen other users in Terminal A at KCI at the crack of dawn. I don't recall seeing a single laptop out at DIA half an hour later (allowing for the time zone difference). The message ought to be clear: Travelers get gouged enough with passenger facility fees, overpriced meals (it's probably to my benefit that I didn't find that restaurant in time) and taxes, taxes, and more taxes. Why dig your hand even more deeply into their pockets for just a few minutes of Internet access between flights-and why offer that access in such an outmoded, inconvenient, twentieth-century kind of way? Someone making his or her way between arrival and departure gates really doesn't have time to stop at a kiosk.
The second and final air leg of your humble correspondent's journey ended in Salt Lake City, where there at least used to be a Laptop Lane location (a short-term rental workspace with outrageously priced wired broadband access, for those of you who've never heard of them). Again, I was busy with making onward connections after arrival-this time a rental car to deliver myself and my compatriots to our theater of operations-so I neither had time to see if this enterprise had gone the way of the horse and buggy (since the last I knew they were owned by Wayport, so the handwriting was certainly on the wall) nor was I able to scan for wireless access. And unless my flight tomorrow gets delayed before boarding, I likely won't have time to check then either. I did note not seeing anyone else not in as much of a hurry as me with a laptop out, though. Once more, SLC's city leaders should take heed.
And I regret to report that the low-signal-strength epidemic has spread beyond the KC metro. I'm in the same unwired hotel where I stayed two years ago and if anything, the signal strength delivered to the rooms is worse now than it was then. Staying connected with my laptop's built-in card proved hopeless-and to my horror, I discovered that I hadn't bothered to install the drivers for my newly replaced USB adapter/finder (the one for the original wouldn't work). After a couple of hours I managed to get it downloaded from ZyXEL's site; another evening's work got the adapter up and running. Then I remembered that my trusty PC Card adapter, which I had begun using again with the other laptop's Linux installation, was still ensconced in my bag. In fact, I'm posting this via that card. One wonders, however, what the hotel expects someone not as tech-savvy as me to do should he or she run into problems getting and staying connected.
What's that? You get what you pay for? Well, "free" Internet access in a lodging facility really isn't free as far as I'm concerned (it's also really not "open" either since it's obviously intended for use by paying guests; that's why I don't evaluate hotels in the normal course of this blog, and why I'm not identifying this one by name). Sort of like the "free" continental breakfast I'm going to enjoy in a few hours. There is that little jam session the clerk and I will be performing with a cash register and credit card at the end of all this, remember? In deciding where to stay again I'd mark a hotel down for a dirty room or a balky air conditioner-issues I wouldn't be expected to pay more to have taken care of. Why not expect Internet access offered at no extra charge to work as well?
I'll offer once more this universal bit of advice to hotspot operators. Try using the connection yourself. See with your own eyes what your customers experience. If there's anything there you're not as proud of as you are of any of your other products or services, FIX IT!
What could there possibly be about this that any businessperson doesn't understand?
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