Here is a list of local wireless internet hotspots, and some info on how you can connect to them...

Many people are finding free local Wi-Fi Hotspots, where they enjoy surfing the internet at high speed. A number of people in rural towns surrounding Great Barrington still do not have broadband internet access at home, most of them are stuck with sluggish dial-up connections. Recently, a friend of mine provided me with a quick list of Great Barrington Wi-Fi Hotspots that he is aware of...

• Mason Public Library, 231 Main St ~ 413-528-2403
  
• Coffee Shop, 177 Main St ~ 413-528-0720
  
• Uncommon Grounds Cafe, 403 Stockbridge Rd ~ 413-528-0858
  
• Berkshire Co-op Market, 42 Bridge Street ~ 413-528-9697

He said that "The Mason Public Library is the best, you don't come out smelling like coffee, and it's nice and quiet."

(If you know of any other free public hotspots around Great Barrington MA, let me know and I'll add them to the list.)

What is a Wi-Fi Hotspot?

A Wi-Fi (a.k.a. wireless) Hotspot is a place where you can connect to the internet with your wireless enabled laptop (or handheld PDA, like a Palm). Wi-Fi Hotspots are great for catching up with your email, or browsing the web over a coffee.

Many Wi-Fi networks in public places do not require a Network Key (a.k.a. password) to access them. But most company or corporate wireless networks do require a Network Key, which you'd have to get from the tech people in charge. These networks show a padlock next to their name (a.k.a. SSID) in the list of available Wi-Fi networks that your laptop (or PDA) can see.

How can I connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot?

To connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot, your laptop will need to have wireless capability. This can be of either 802.11b or 802.11g varieties - what most current laptops will have. If your laptop doesn't have wireless built-in, you can still take advantage of Wi-Fi Hotspots by purchasing a Wireless LAN card.

Some handheld Personal Digital Assistants (a.k.a PDAs), like the Palm TX, have built-in Wi-Fi capability, and others may require a separate Wireless LAN card, if they are capable of connecting to a network. Today, even some cell phones have built-in Wi Fi capability.

If you have a Wi-Fi enabled computer/laptop/PDA/Phone or have installed a Wi-Fi card in it, and you have it configured correctly, then your systems' default Wi-Fi application or network tool should automatically detect any available Wi-Fi network once you have turned on wireless networking and you are within range of a Wi-Fi signal. You simply need to connect and log in.

If your computer or PDA does not automatically lock on to a Wi-Fi network then you may need to manually select the SSID or Network Name using your computer's Wi-Fi network connection tool.

Additionally, some 3rd party software programs make logging into a network "point and click" simple and also offer support of Wi-Fi security techniques such as 802.1x, and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) to ensure your connections are secure.

If you have a laptop with Windows XP and built-in Wi-Fi, connecting to a Wi-Fi Hotspot is relatively easy...

• Right click the Wireless Network Connection icon, located in the System Tray (bottom-right corner of the screen). Select View Available Wireless Networks.
  
• Once the Connect to Wireless Network screen appears select the network you want to connect to from the Available Networks field and then click Connect. (Note that networks in this list with a padlock next to them require a Network Key, a.k.a. password, to access them.)
  
• If you have a good signal (and a password is not required for access), a notification message will appear indicating that you are now connected to the wireless network.

What about Wi-Fi Security?

Obviously, Wi-Fi security is a big concern, especially in public and highly populated areas. These are things you should do to make sure you're protected:

• Use a personal firewall to protect your computer from unauthorised access. Windows XP and Mac OS X come with built-in firewalls but you need to make sure they are switched on.
  
• When using online banking or shopping, make sure the web site is using SSL encryption. The address will start with https and you will see a small lock appear somewhere in your web browser.
  
• If using a VPN to access your office network, make sure end-to-end encryption is used.

Technical description for connecting to Hotspots...

The first step is locating and connecting to the hotspot access point. In a wireless network, connecting to the access point is the same as plugging a cable into a hub or switch in a wired network. Wireless networks are identified by their SSID name, which is the identifier for the network. Most wireless network clients will allow you to see a list of the networks (SSIDs) available in an area. If you aren't able to see such a list, you might be able to tell your wireless card to connect to any available network.

In order to connect to a hotspot, you will need to get an IP address. In nearly every situation, your computer will do this for you automatically with DHCP. If you switch between different networks (wireless or otherwise), sometimes your computer may continue to use an IP lease from the previous network. In that case, you have to manually release and renew the lease. With Windows, you can use the ipconfig and winipcfg commands to interact with DHCP.

If you connect to a hotspot and get an IP address, but you are not able to reach other sites on the Internet, you may need to register with the provider. To log in, you need to open a new web browser window. Once you try to visit a website on the Internet, your HTTP request should be redirected to a page where you can log in. If you're not already a member of the specific hotspot provider you will have the opportunity to sign up.

Once you have signed up and logged in you are all set to utilize the hotspot!