WIFI antenna

[osirissail]

Originally Posted by jephotog

Is it any less illegal to be using a WEP code purchased with beer? Or how about using unprotected code from the nearby coffee shop? It may be an old wives tail but I seem to recall someone getting arrested for theft of services for surfing the web outside a closed business after hours.

Sailingdog pretty much sums it up - but it is usually quite apparent what is legal and what is not. The Coffee Shop, Mall or whatever have advertising signs /placards posted around their area inviting you to use "Free WiFi" to get your into their shopping mall or store. Many shopping malls, especially smaller ones will use this to entice customers away from the super-malls and into their mall. Specific coffee shops, bars, restaurants will often advertise via placards/signs that the Free Wifi is dependent upon purchasing something. They will normally issue you a piece of paper with the WEP code on it for accessing their WiFi. You have purchased the right to use the WiFi and it is not time limited unless the store sign or receipt says so. A more restrictive version will post a time limit and/or have an automatic disconnect in their wifi server that cuts you off after "x" minutes. Then you have to purchase something else and get a new "wep" code. These system obviously would not be accessible after closing time.
- - Giving your "unused and paid for time" to somebody else IMHO is acceptable since the wifi will cut off automatically. Giving away your "wep" code to an open-ended time system would IMHO be less than honest as you have been given access to the wifi based on your purchases at the shop/store. The other person has not made the intended purchase that is funding the system and I would personally consider that shop-lifting. This question is basically a personal morality situation. The shop needs customers who buy things to pay for his wifi system and pay his employees and himself. Snitching half eaten donuts off vacated tables would fall in that same category.

[sailingdog]

I would point out that many "public" wifi systems can limit your access based on your WiFi card's hardware MAC address...

[JimMcGee]

Hey Guys,
Been sailing so I'm just getting back to this thread. Since I'm just a big dumb Irishman I like the simple approach to things and can't be bothered stealing (though I've been a techie long enough to understand why some people feel accessing a network isn't stealing).

I've found that being friendly, buying the occasional beer, or offering the occasional case of said foamy beverage can work wonders in this world.

Be nice and people will often give you what you need. Especially if you're willing to return the favor.

BTW, the solution I posted is for use in your marina. If I were traveling up and down the coast I'd get the Nokia E71 on the AT&T network. For $15/mt you can add a data package and the phone has WiFi built into it, so you can connect to the web without the tethering option req'd by Blackberry.

That's my fallback if my current solution turns out to be unreliable for my new marina. Today just about everyone has gotten the message to lock down their networks so finding open WiFi from your boat is just too much to a PITA. Not sure what the best solution would be if you're in the islands.

Jim