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Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

getwi.fi

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Re: Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

#63

239,989,522 wifi networks: https://wigle.net

A problem with wigle (and maybe others) it it's showing every portable mobile wifi hotspot which are extremely common in Japan. If you're trying to find all the places someone who owns that hotspot has been maybe that's useful info but usually it's not that useful. Zoomed in to the maximum level there's so many SSIDs it's unreadable.

Re: Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

#67
post #58
post #29

This is not mapping free WiFi hotspots. This is mapping open Wifi hotspots. They are not the same. For example, KPN in the Netherlands is not free, and xfinity wifi in the USA is not free. For this to have any sort of credibility, there needs to be a discriminant filter mapping truly free vs open hotspots. For me this current map is too noisy to be of value. Try using it for free internet, and you too may run into di…

One other level of classification that is missing here is "Free, but requires a local phone number." Oftentimes, the operator will send you an SMS with a one-time password, but they require a local phone number to send it to. Or they use your phone number to de-anonymize you, so it must be a phone number from their local country. When traveling, this makes these "open" access points effectively useless, unless you de…

A quick burner phone purchase when traveling could help, no? I'm not sure how common they are in other countries but in the US prepaid disposable phones are available at almost any convenience store.

Re: Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are right. I already removed the xfinity hotspots. We'll be adding a feedback form into our web + mobile app so non-free or low quality APs can be removed.

Also 'BTOpenzone/BT WiFi/BT FON' networks in the UK. Absolute rips as well for price.

I'd never pay additional money for them, but as a BT customer it's handy being able to use them now and again.

Re: Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

#69
post #11

In case anyone can't find the Netherlands, I could understand why: http://i.snag.gy/7vbiZ.jpg This also explains why I'm so frustrated with WiFi abroad: I probably got spoiled here. Here we can find WiFi in the most unlikely of places (e.g. supermarkets, buses); in Germany you can find one in a coffee shop if you're lucky, but that one is probably paid as well, just like all the other ones.

We're starting to see similar things in the UK. All our local bus companies now provide WiFi (and one has USB charging ports at every seat as well), and most large chain shops will provide WiFi. I never really use them myself as I have a pretty good data call on my mobile plan, but I know of some people who've dropped data entirely because they can just use WiFi.

Re: Show HN: 500,000 free WiFi hotspots plotted around the world

#70
post #8

If an WiFi hotspot doesn't have a password doesn't mean it's free.

Agreed, in the UK The Cloud isn't free

The Cloud is particularly awkward as sometimes it's free, but not always. I assume in the places it's free the people running the hotspot are paying rather than the end user.
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