Geek Roadtrips Through the Heartland

While researching a roadtrip which I'll be taking from St. Paul, Minnesota to Placerville, Ca I did what any geek would do, I checked out the t-mobile hotspots along the route (some), did various searching on wi-finder (some) and other sites and have been doing some googling around on the topic. I know that there must be some 802.11b access points along and inside the towns along I-80, but for the life of me I'm finding it difficult for me to find any of them. I of course have various wireless sniffing apps, but that is hardly an efficient way to find access. I don't mind paying a small fee, so....with that in mind, if you were to take a trip across the country, where would you stop for access? For specifics, Read More...

If you live along I-80, what are your favorite haunts with wireless? Specifically, I plan on stopping for meals or sleep in Des Moines, Lexington, Cheyanne, Rock Springs or thereabouts, Salt Lake City and maybe Reno and points along the long, bleak road between Reno and Salt Lake. But it's clear that the net needs a good reference for places to check your email through out middle america, so post here even if you want to talk about a great unknown spot in Oklahoma or something away from my route. If you own such an establishment, let us know!

On a side note, the futility of my search seems soemwhat silly, as there are clearly people who use the internet in these towns. Anyhow, I really look forward to seeing your responses! Also, any high quality, unique dining reccomendations would be really appreciated. Also, funny roadside attractions or must see geek spots are welcome, as I intend on blogging my cross country trip as it happens and would like to have something to talk about other than the state lines I cross and the number of retreads I dodge.

Trips

[dknj]

Don't take any computers if you can, you enjoy the world better when it has your complete attention.

I'm driving to Florida this week and told everyone they won't be able to reach me until I get back.

-dk

Enjoy it

[Anonymous Coward]

It's not really the heartland you're traveling through. The heartland is just farm after farm after fricking farm. Traveling through Kansas is damned boring. I'd say enjoy the trip, because out west in the mountains is beautiful. Enjoy the scenery. And be glad it's not all wheat and corn fields reeking of cow manure. ;-)

I don't get it...

[Otter]

You said you're willing to pay, right?

So, there's net access all over the place -- libraries, Internet cafes, any remotely modern hotel or motel. What's with the insistence on wireless access?

you will have to find them yourself

[stonebeat.org]

i go on long bike rides. i used to take my handheld PC with me, but soon i figured it is hard to find a wi-fi spot. So i bought a conector for my nextel phone (approx $45) to my IPAQ and I enjoy connectivity whenever and wherever i want.

Lincoln Neb.

[ender81b]

Well since you are on I-80 you will be driving through Lincoln, Nebraska. I have a couple of suggestions. One, you can try driving through campus (university of nebraska-lincoln) to pick up some internet.

Also, you could drive by my house - I leave a WAP open to all (well bandwith capped at 256/256 for non-fixedlease DHCP address's). Heh, I decided to do this right after I went on vacation and relied on other people's WAP's for internet. I would suggest driving around campus and the college areas, kids always leave open WAP's and the university has a number of WAP's open to all that you can pick up. Downtown also has a ton of WAP's.

Re:Trips

[germinatoras]

I couldn't agree more. I just spent a few hours in one of our state's great parks. While I live in a fairly developed area (and getting more developed all the time), it's good to get away from it all for a while.

Taking a peaceful walk in the woods, or going for a long, straight drive down a quiet highway with the radio turned off and the laptop hundreds of miles away...it's very relaxing.

About two years ago...

[foxtrot]

I took a road trip across the southern US. I loaded up my pickup truck with a tent and a laptop in Atlanta and wound up in Alamogordo, NM before I turned around and headed home.

Every KOA campground (er, "kampground") I stayed at had a phone jack for plugging your laptop into in one of the public areas, usually the rec room (though in one it was the laundry facility.) Dialup may not be sufficient for, say, uploading the day's digital pictures to your webswerver, but it's enough to check email and at least do the text portion of a 'blog.

I dunno where you're planning on overnighting on your trip, but if campgrounds have phone lines, I'd guess darned near any hotel does, too. And if you're not crashing at a hotel or a campground, please, find somewhere to take a shower. :)

Re:Trips

[Lemmy Caution]

You know, ubiquitous presence is cool and everything (although not nearly as cool as it would have been, say, 5 years ago) but really, the world is not waiting with baited breath for real-time updates of your trip across the states. I mean, not that it wouldn't be nice or anything, but it *can wait till you get home.* The whole "wow" factor of getting a stupid IP address at any given spot is gone. It's done. It's about as exciting as "woo hoo! I can make a phone call!" or "yow! Flush toilets all the way!"

Re:Lincoln Neb.

[ender81b]

Cool! Kudos to you for doing that on purpose. How do you make sure your connection is not abused though?

Well like I said the connection is capped at 256/256kbits for non-leased IP's. I assign fixed-lease IP's by MAC address and if your mac isn't in the database you get one of the capped IP's. 256/256 I figure is plenty if people are jsut wardriving and wanting to check email/surf web, etc for a bit of time.

Re:Trips

[mstrjon32]

Amen. I hate my cellular phone. There are days I just want to throw it out the window on the freeway. When I am out, off work, I don't want other people interfering with what my life. It's a horrible electronic leash. When I broke my laptop last year, I was very upset for a few weeks, but I never replaced it and I couldn't be happier. Leave the internet and all the connectivity at home. You will be a happier person. I guarantee it.

Ok, this is really freaky (or rather geeky)

[malraid]

Look, if you want to enjoy your trip, leave all your gear home. I enjoy technology, but it has to have limits. Shortly before year's end I took a trip with my friends to the beach. There was no cell reception, and it was great!!! I work as a freelance sysadmin/computer geek for hire, and generally have to stay in touch. I limited myself to check my voice mail a couple of times. In the only voicemail I got from a client, he was just calling to wish me a happy new year. Hell didn't break loose while I was "out of touch." I love techonoly (I currently have 5 computers setup in my room, but should drop to 3/2 soon) but there are times when everyone needs to unplug (or get away from wi-fi access or whatever) Do you really think you need to be hooked up? I'm pretty sure you don't, try it and you'll see.

what sort of holiday is it with computers?...

[EvilCabbage]

... a pretty bad one.

Why not try doing the "stupid tourist thing" and avoid computers for a while? See the sights, appreciate some wilderness, pick apples, etc..etc... just something that may give you a new outlook, and perhaps distance you a bit from the day to day life we all try and avoid when we go on a holiday.

If you must

[djupedal]

Blogging across country? Please....

But if you must, pick up a GSM cell phone and simply dial in to Juno, etc. Otherwise you'll spend all your time looking for access, and not smelling the roses.

I mean what are you going to do...stop at every StarBucks just to tell the world you've stopped at every StarBucks?

Hey!!! Cool!!! I'm calling you from the airplane/highway/truckstop/motel!!!

Re:Trips

[riqnevala]

Don't take any money, 'cause it's capitalist crap.
Don't take any clothes, you will enjoy the highway better in the nude.
Don't take any gas, as it is polluting the earth.
Don't take the car, you need the walk anyway.
Don't take this seriously, as this is sarcasm.

I can't understand why do people take such stress with computers, that they cannot relax if it is nearby. It is a tool, for fun and work altogether! I could manage my life without the computer, but I simly will not.

--
Forget humor to see the insightfulness.

Meet the locals at the library

[Anonymous Coward]

Find the local public library. You might have to register and show ID to get a machine with a fast connection but you'll see locals and get a chance to talk to real people.

Use the restroom, wash your hands, interact.

Re:Enjoy it

[Cloud 9]

The heartland is just farm after farm after fricking farm. Traveling through Kansas is damned boring.

Boring for some, yes. But having spent the first 12 years of my life there, and spending the next 12 years in New York, I find myself pining for that flat, open nothing more often than I'd like.

For instance, did you happen to look up at night while you were there? It's amazing.

why is everyone so down on bringing gear along?

[dknight]

What, exactly, is so great about unplugging for a while?

I take my laptop and cell phone on every trip. I dont use them to work, I use them to play. I like to stay in touch, to be able to talk to people, and to do all the fun things I do with them when I'm not at work.

Plus, on the off chance that some emergency should come up (it's happened), I CAN be reached.

As far as people griping about the whole wireless thing, I think it's pretty cool that he's looking for wi-fi hotspots. Ok, so the world may not all be wireless yet, but we're trying, and what's the point of implementing this cool new tech if nobody's gonna use it? Sure, when I go places with my laptop, I fully expect to have either no net access, or dialup, but I bring a LAN cable and my wireless card anyway, just in case I luck out, and when that happens, I am one happy camper.

There's just something about being able to lie on the beach, work on my tan, and be playing starcraft with my friends back home that appeals to me ;)

Remember folks, for some of us, technology makes our lives BETTER. I dont think I've ever thought of tech as a burden, and before I get all those angry comments asking if I've ever stepped outside and appreciated nature, yes, I have. I thoroughly enjoy rock climbing, ice skating, roller blading, and a variety of other non-tech outdoor activities. I've been to italy, greece, turkey, and about half of the 50 states. I've seen the world, and you know what? With a few exceptions (greece was seriously bad ass), it was pretty boring, and some good tech would have made it much more fun for me.

Re:If you must

[saihung]

This is what I'll be doing. Using a GSM phone and my Zaurus with zgps (assuming they ever get the maps feature working, *crosses fingers). Other than basic functions and maybe email at the end of the day, again with the Zaurus and cell phone, I'm not bringing anything. The point of this trip is to cruise across the USA in my car, not, as many have said, to display geekitude that is SO 3 years ago. Na'mean? A full tank of gas and the horizon is what you need for a good road trip. Everything else is bunk.

AOL. No, really.

[JamesOfTheDesert]

I just drove cross-country, and wanted some sort of Net access. I bit the bullet and installed AOL from one of those "1K free hours" CDs.

So kill me.

The result was that, at all but one hotel, I had free local calls and I could relax on the Net whilst sitting in my underwear watching CNN.

Yeah, it was slow, but not the end of the world. I could read E-mail, check somw sites, update my blog with travel news, and snarf porn.

Six days later, end of trip, call to AOl, cancel account.