Tmobile Hotspots in the airports....

[Wankel7]

WTF are they thinking on that price! 10 bucks for the day.....seriously....

I bet if they charged like 5 bucks a lot more people would do it.

Wankel

 

[MSNFlier]

Use your cell phone...

I bought a USB cable that connects to my Verizon cell phone and I just use that when in an airport. I am a private pilot, not commercial like many on here, so I am usually connecting from one flight to the next, often in MSP, DTW or MEM. NWA is allegedly going to be getting free wireless in their WorldClubs, but I have yet to hear that it's up and running.

I agree with you that 10 bucks for 24 hours is BS. Previously, I would just pay it because I liked the high speed access, but a friend of mine tipped me off that you could buy the cable (they usually jam you for 20 bucks or more for something that probably costs less than $2 to make - it also allows you to edit your cell's phonebook) and use your cell phone as a modem for regular airtime charges. The only downside are that it's slower (usually about 100kbps, or so), but for most of the e-mails I receive and send, and the web sites I often visit, it's fine, but you usually can't receive calls while online.

If you're using Verizon, they also have a PCMCIA card that you can get for unlimited monthly service, but it will only work at higher speeds (300kbps-plus) on Verizon's own network. It apparently will work when roaming, but at a much slower speed. I have not tried either and don't know anyone who has but it might be another alternative. I wonder if any of the bretheren on here has tried it?

It would be great if all airports decided to do what ABQ and LAS have (and I'm sure there are others) - offer free wireless. MSN, for example, is a very nice facility and they are just fininshing up a good size addition to the gate areas and I'm not aware of any plans to install wireless there. It sucks because the cost is almost negligible - what does a good A/B/G router cost today? less than $50 per router, plus any range extenders? You could probably do the whole MSN airport for far less than $10k, including labor.

Fly safe,

MSNFlier