I am not seeing the Theft aspect. When I go to the Library and use the
WiFi I log on with My Ligrary Cards number and a Pin Number. When I use the Kentucky Fried Chicken one you have a usage agremment you need accept but there is no passwords of so on.

I have not ever been able to access the Long Beach City Parks one but I am guessing that there is no password or pin needed.

All I am doing is instead of being inside the Library or being out side in the Library Parking Lot (which can be done during times the Library is closed) with My LapTop I will errect the WiFi Antenna and access it from My Home.
Also the Library is piad off by some of My Tax Money and I am a resident in the City I am speaking of.

So I am not hacking into some private parties WiFi.

As one of the other Posts suggested Cities are starting to want to give free WiFi to the Citizens because it saves them money and passes on info that the City would otherwise have to mail out to people.
It won't be long before there will be Free WiFi for everyone in their home with out special equipment.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Read the usage agreement. Most I have read limit use to on-site/while patronizing the establishment.

Then - think about it morally. Why is it any different that you are making use of something a company or a government agency is paying for instead of a private citizen?

If/when your town or city builds out a free WiFi network, that would (in my opinion) be completely different than using bandwidth someone is paying for with no intention of providing it free to you in your home.

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1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

Seriously,,,,
Wifi theft,

Apparently there are versions that do use the Yagi antenna and on the one site it shows someone making a small Antenna and mounting that where the Dish Focuses instead of using the mentioned klystron tube (eBay seems to be selling a bunch of these froum Russia).

All of this is new to me so I am going to have to decide on something that is within my skill level to do.
I am 99% sure that the Dish on Mom's house is suitable so that will be free.

Once in awhile folks throw those TV Dishes out in the Trash. I have no issues scrounging them out of the Trash but in the past I had no reason to do that. I have not seen any lately.

Anyway you guys are giving a buch of info that is giving enough info to point me in the aproximate direction.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I admit I have not read the usage agreements closely. However, there is nothing wrong with me using the free WiFi at the City Park or the Library as I am authorized to do both.
In fact it was a Librarian that told me that People come to the Library after Hours and sit in their Cars and access it.

I went out and did some checking. The closest City Park that is calimed to have WiFi did not have it. I went to another City Park and it did but I could not get it to open up properly. Could be I was on the wrong end of the Park. But, that is also where an Antenna+Booster would be handy.
The same with the local McDonalds.

I think that means that if I bought one of the 1/4-1/2 mile rang Antenna+Booster if it did not work from My Home it would have use if I was having trouble at specific locations like the Park.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Another question. I somwhat undersand how the Antenna or Dish picks up the Signal but when I do something if I am on the internet and do somthing on the Computer like ordering something I want to buy how does the Signal get from My Computer back to the WiFi Source?

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Through the air. The same way the signal got to your computer/device.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

On one hand, I've always felt that anyone, municipal or residential, who leaves a signal unlocked is asking to have bandwidth stolen. On the other hand, it is theft. For the price of a few fast food meals a month you can get your own connection.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

As I said I a authorized to access the Library WiFi with My Card Number and the pin Number so there is no moral delema their.

The Park WiFi needs no special access nor does Fried Chicken Place or the some other fast food places. However, I have not read their user agreements.

Previous to this Post I called AT&T and was on my way to getting a 5 gig Hot Spot till the ask for my Social Security Number. That was a deal breaker. Paying with no contract month to month was $80.

So that made me look for other sources like the Antenna.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Free WiFi is just that. Free. I've run free WiFi @ my home and everywhere else in the Country for well over 5 years with no problems whatsoever. I'd suggest you consult with a Fry's or a Microcenter retail technical supercenter near you to learn about the different WiFi signal boosters on the market.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I assume you either don't have a social security number or you're worried about privacy. From a privacy point of view I kind of go along with the feeling that a telephone company has no need for such information. They are supplying a service that is very easy to switch on or off in the event of non payment - knowing where you live and where their product gets used is sufficient.

Perhaps a different supplier would have different enrolment requirements?

From what I understand many people in the US of A have now replaced "old fashioned" fixed telephones with mobile telephones. You can quite easily fix these smart phone things to behave like an internet router / modem. The (radio) connection to the mobile telephone network works much like making a mobile telephone call and then the wireless connection on the telephone broadcasts a signal to your computer...

...alternatively a tablet computer with built in 3G / 4G telephone technology would enable you to just use the internet from one piece of equipment (but still enable you to use it as a modem + router as explained above).

I was considering getting one of these "mobile phone" tablets because at the moment I'm moving about quite a bit. Having a dedicated link to the internet is getting to be more and more important these days. The data packages are not as cheap as a "fixed at home" solution but so long as you're not streaming videos and downloading loads of stuff I reckon a monthly mobile telephone contract costing about 30 euros a month would do.

Here's a link describing data usage that might help

How Much Smartphone Data Do You Really Need? - Digits - WSJ

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

When you sign up with one of the mobile service providers, you're applying for credit. Until recently, EVERY major provider in the US subsidized the hardware cost (free or reduced cost phone/tablet/access point) and made you sign a two year or longer contract (pro-tip: you're paying $X.XX per month for the service, and $Y.YY per month to pay off the loan you got for the phone).

In the US, social security number is still one key identifier. You're not gonna get a loan from a mobile service provider without one.

There are now some providers who will allow you to pay full price up front for the phone/other hardware, and you don't have to sign a service contract.

__________________
1961 220b: first project car - sold.
2000 CLK 430: first modern Benz - sold.
2001 CLK 55: OMG the torque!!! - sold
1972 280SE 4.5: Baby Gustav
1991 300TE 4Matic: Gretel the Snow Bunny - sold
1978 300SD: Katz the Free Man - given away
1980 Redhead: Darling Wife

Oh right - I didn't realise there was a hardware purchase / credit agreement included

I've only ever bought hardware with no SIM locks so I can swap SIM cards about when I'm in different countries. Being "abroad" with a mobile phone can get pretty expensive if you're not careful.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Any this is what is on the Roof of My other House; see pic.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

With NetZero you perchase the Hardware from them and you pay for the Service. I have not ask about what is needed to get the service as I am exploring the Free Path right now.

What I was told was that if I paid by the Month no Social Security Number was needed. If I had a contract (that gave a reduced monthly fee) they had to have the Social Security Number.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel