Whirlpool

Hi

Firstly, apologies if there is a thread in here already with comprehensive info on this issue - if you point me to it, I'll go there, but I've not found one yet.

I'm based in Sydney, and have iiNet at home, but am in Melbourne for the month of January. I am looking for free wifi spots in Melbourne, as the $12/hr wifi access I've found is unsustainable for 8 hrs/day (and the $150 for 30 days with a 1Gb limit is also out of my league).

So far I have found:

Joe's Garage, Brunswick Street, Fitzroy (a cafe, so buy a drink and they're happy)

Food Inc, Menzies Alley in Melbourne Central, Elizabeth Street entrance (also a cafe)

Since it's fairly easy to make a drink last an hour (needs must, and all that), but somewhat harder to sit for longer than an hour, I am hoping to be able to move around a bit in the CBD. However, it's proving difficult to find these places, and I only found these ones by going in all the nearby cafes etc and asking - they don't advertise their wireless benefit.

If anyone has more they can tell me of in Melbourne or Sydney (CBD and surrounds), then I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks, and here's hoping I haven't upset anyone by asking in the wrong forum, or repeating someone else's post ...

Happy Christmas!

Em

Try this...

www.free-hotspot.com/find_home.htm

Thanks for that link - unfortunately only shows the Food Inc one, but I've sent them details of Joe's Garage.

Also www.wififreespot.com - have updated them too!

And then there's www.wifi411.com as well but it doesn't seem to list any free spots

So, challenge is still on - any more free wifi spots in Melbourne CBD and close by?

There is wi-fi access for customers in Stray katz (sp?) a cafe/bar in McKillop Street, in-between Hardware lane and little Collins Street.

Terrible coffee but good wi-fi.

Chugger

Thanks Chugger

So now we're up to 3 for Melbourne! Yeah!

Any more on offer?!

Em

e55 in Elizabeth St, near the corner of Flinder's lane - haven't been there for some time but it used to be free.

Good coffee too.

Wagamama in Bridge Street and in the Art Galleries Building in the Sydney CBD both offer free Wifi with a purchase. You'll need to ask your waitress to print you out a username/password. It's good for 4 hours.
There's also an (inadvertantly?) open AP at the Bridge Street one, although I could only get reception when sitting next to the Window. You might scope out Wagamama's Melbourne locations and see if they offer the same (no mention of it on their website)

To the OP, if you're using a lot of Wifi, and want to be able to roam, you might consider getting a Boingo account (www.boingo.com) . That lets you use all the Azure hotspots in Australia (www.azure.com.au), and it's only US $21.95/month (They were offering 2 months for the price of one recently, not sure if that's still current).
But that's unlimited usage, if that sort of thing floats your boat.

EDIT: As Dilemma pointed out to me, it looks like Azure hotspots are now "premium" Boingo hotspots, and incur a 25c/min fee. Doesn't that suck...

LG

On brunswick street Fitzroy there are quite a few:

Joe's garage (already pointed out), but the coffee isn't always the best..

Idibidi, provided by WOZNET, works most of the time..

Babel, (The old Cape lounge).. More of a bar than a cafe, but suitably laid back

You can almost access half of these from other cafes which are near by also.

Localgod writes...

As Dilemma pointed out to me, it looks like Azure hotspots are now "premium" Boingo hotspots, and incur a 25c/min fee. Doesn't that suck...

Ouch - that's worse than Telstra's hotspots using a PhoneAway card for 20c/min. At least they're found everywhere - McDonalds, Starbucks, some hotels, some payphons and some areas in the CBD.

Oh yeah, there's a Wiki for these things now, as mentioned in another thread. Add your fav.
index.cfm?a=wiki&tag=Wifi_Hotspots

The new Adelaide Airport terminal now has free WiFi through Internode.

But mind you, most Adelaide air travellers won't get to use it for a while, as the damn terminal isn't doing business yet.

iam.Glenn writes...

At least they're found everywhere - McDonalds, Starbucks, some hotels, some payphons and some areas in the CBD.

Yes....I was checking the Telstra Wireless Hotspot site the other day and found they have this new funky tool to find nearest hotspots....well worth checking out!!!

www.telstra.com.au/mobil...otspots/maps.cfm

Hint: Do a search by postcode 2000 or 3000 to see the extent of coverage they have in Melb & Syd CBD's...

In the Melbourne CBD - Horse Bazaar - a digital media bar - located at 397 Little Lonsdale St, (between Queen and Elizabeth)
Phone: 03 9670 2329 www.horsebazaar.com.au
Open from 11:00am weekdays and from 7pm Saturday and Sunday.

Hi Everyone,

Fish Telecom has deployed a free hotspot at the Gloria Jeans Coffee Cart at the Lighthouse Church on the Western side of Wollongong Train Station.

If you're in the area, feel free to use it.

Kind regards,
John De La Fuente
Fish Telecom

Hey everyone

I'm new to Melbourne too and am also looking for some good cafes with free wifi.

Just wondering how it works - do you just rock up and the wireless network shows up in your list? Or do you have to get login/connection details from someone at the cafe?

Is there any download/upload limits at these places?

Cheers!

John De La Fuente, I just went down to Wollongong station to check out your hotspot.
It worked a treat, had a look at your web site too and will definatly let people i know about your products.

Brian

The Infusion Cafe in Knox city shopping centre in outer eastern Melbourne offers free wifi with any purchase over $5.

www.flickr.com/groups/me...ne/discuss/86455 has a few CBD ones listed:

Stray Kat - McKillop Lane
Exford Hotel - cnr Little Bourke and Russell
FoodINC - 360 Elizabeth St
Spiga - next door to FoodINC
Australia on Collins food court
Melbourne Central food court
Meridian Hotel - cnr Collins and Swanston
Horse Bazaar - 397 Little Lonsdale
6 links - Basement 228 Flinders Lane

Mt Buller goes wireless www.mtbuller.com.au/news/whatsnew.html

This winter, SnowSports Interactive is making life at Mt Buller even easier with a mountain-wide wireless broadband internet service called whispar™.

Offering excellent connection speeds and data usage rates, resort guests will be able to access the internet from any 802.11 b/g (wireless enabled) computer, PDA or device.

Maintain an active link with the rest of the world – either the office, friends, news or the weather – all from the comfort of your lodge and before you head out to enjoy your day on the slopes.

So this season, pack that laptop and enjoy the benefits of whispar™.

6 Links lounge bar on Flinders Lane offers 30 minutes free wireless with every drink purchased (max 90 minutes). Very fast ADSL2+ speeds. Suitable for after-work meetings during the week, but becomes more of a nightclub later on Friday and Saturday nights. Check website for opening hours: www.6links.com.au.

snark writes...

6 Links lounge bar on Flinders Lane offers 30 minutes free wireless with every drink purchased (max 90 minutes).

I can knock off 6 beers and get 3 hours of linus distros and be able to drive home.
Or, I can have 12 beers and get 3 hours of linus distros, be pissed, and get the missus to drive home.

Value, value, value, especially the beer.

snark writes...

but becomes more of a nightclub later on Friday and Saturday nights.

Yeah, and the kid with the PDA surfing Whirlpool on Friday night pulls all the girls :)

Darwin International Airport lounge has free wireless ...

cerebus writes...

Australia on Collins food court

Trying now as I type...

!!! FREE !!!

5 hours per day
400 MB data transfer per day
Content Filter: Yes

About 20K bytes P/S - about 4 to 5 times dial-up speed.

BTW If their content filter is the sort to be used by the government, then it sucks big time! (Meaning it does not properly work.)

Lief's (sp?) Coffee Shop and Art Gallery,
Vulture Street, West End, Brisbane,
near corner with Boundary Street.

Localgod writes...

Yeah, and the kid with the PDA surfing Whirlpool on Friday night pulls all the girls :)

If the kid with the PDA was using it to remote control PTZ cams live at a MelbNightclubWithBandsPlaying and feeding a live media server, then he just might.

Go set up lights and obviously streaming cams at a nightclub and see what happens as the girls get progressively more pissed.

Australia on Collins does indeed have free wifi although you will need to sit in a not so discreet location in the food court (ie right in the middle) where everyone can see you in order to get good reception. It is pretty patchy and it took me a few attempts to connect properly. The signal was not very good but it was okay. I wouldn't bet my life on it though. Not going to do any massive p2p downloads with it. Noticed a few kids in the food court with their lappies because its school holidays.

There is also a new Wireless Hotspot site at www.freewifi.com.au

It has up to 2000 Free and Paid sites around Australia

Yes, but how do you find the free ones? When I looked it only showed the paid ones and Australia On Collins was not there!

A great place for wireless in Melbourne is mag nation - a new magazine shop on Elizabeth St just north of Collins St. They positively encourage people to sit upstairs, read the mags and use the internet. If you start feeling too guilty, you can always buy a coffee.

Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale St is a friendly 'digital arts cafe' that loves people coming in to use their wifi, especially afternoons and mid-week evenings when they're not busy. You'll have to buy a drink or something to eat, but prices are very reasonable.

I've had no problems with Australia on Collins. The surroundings aren't as pleasant as the above, but it's big enough that you can sit un-noticed without buying anything - though Boost juice make some tasty drinks. If the network asks for a username and password, the answers are written in the box on your screen!

When AoC is closed, just take the elevator up to the top floor of the Novotel which is above it. You can then sit in the bar area and connect to the free AoC network from there - they'll assume you're paying for the hotel's Telstra access!

Australia on Collins is on there, I think the free ones are listed at the top of each page

Dan in Melbourne writes...

A great place for wireless in Melbourne is mag nation - a new magazine shop on Elizabeth St just north of Collins St. They positively encourage people to sit upstairs, read the mags and use the internet. If you start feeling too guilty, you can always buy a coffee.

I paid a flying visit to them while out and about in Melbourne. Whilst traveling down Elizabeth Street on a Tram the other day towards Flinders Street, I saw them there close to the Collin Street Tram stop and given your post, I thought I would hop off and look see, then walk the extra block to Flinders Street.

88 Elizabeth Street Melbourne. 03 9663 5978

Looked very interesting. Must pay a proper visit to them ASAP.

They do have a Website www.magnation.com.au which when I have a free moment will also check out, but in the mean time you Whirlpool folk can check out and comment.

Their opening hours are 7AM to 10PM M-F, 8AM to 10PM Sat, 9AM to 8PM Sun.

Dan in Melbourne writes...

Horse Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale St

Where is that in relation to cross streets and/or shopping centres?

Might it be near QV or Melbourne Central? (Or do I have the location completely wrong?)

There are several open wifi connections on corner of crown and william street sydney.

Do the people that leave them open care these days if they leave them open?

It seems more and more to me that...

SEP = Somebody Else's Problem + Somebody Else Pays!

In America (San Francisco) you constantly have 8-15 different open wireless networks to choose from anywhere you go in the city. I wish it was like that here.

Horse Bazaar is in Little Lonsdale Street between Elizabeth and Queen Streets so you need to walk about a minute up the hill away from Melbourne Central towards Queen Street. It's on the left hand side of the street if you are walking up Little Lonsdale, just past where Hardware Street intersects Little Lonsdale. There is a map accessible from the web site at www.horsebazaar.com.au but at the moment there is no sign outside.

The connection is ADSL2+ and there are a few powerpoints available if your battery is on the way out. Horse Bazaar is open from 2pm during the week over winter and opens later on the weekends.

The bar has a 6 projector video system and is popular with digital media professionals and enthusiasts - most of laptops being used by customers are PowerBooks and MacBooks.

Hi there

Another place I've found is Bungalow 8 in Brunswick Street Fitzroy. The connection's been good the couple of times I've been there, the food is good, and it's a little more peaceful than Joes Garage which I can find a bit "doof" at midday.

Cheers, Sam

mash resturaunt in fitzroy st, really nice owners/staff, good food and wireless

I here typing this at the State Library of Victoria free WiFi...

www.slv.vic.gov.au/about...eless/index.html

Very sluggish, at around 120 kps for downloads, around ISDN speeds.

Big delays in packet transmission.

Would not want to try Skype.

GMail, seems to work, but I am not 100% sure about that, as maybe the quick test that I did was not enough. I don't think it 100% works.

POP does not work, it seems, from the quick test again. Did not try SMTP.

Google video just barely makes it with this test one... (Very funny Panda Dog.)

video.google.com/videopl...q=genre%3Acomedy

YouTube.com very sluggish with the test one of www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_YMigZmUuk I might give up, I don't think I will get anywhere trying YouTube.com. Yep I gave up, did not fully load the page, did not see the video.

Don't expect a lot for this free service, mind you I am in the Experimedia Section of the SLV, you would think that would be more at the cutting edge, being all about New Media.

Maybe if I move to another area of the SLV the speeds might be better?

Also don't expect a lot of privacy, as I type this kids are hanging about nearby, and someone is sitting behind me, very annoying, but what do you expect!

More another day, unless someone else chips in :-)

Cafe Doppio at the top of Australia On Collins - Collins Street Melbourne. Good coffee, good food and free wifi.

Gosh we need some more free wifi. Maybe everyone should turn open their connection one day a month. Share the love people.

thelairster writes...

Maybe everyone should turn open their connection one day a month. Share the love people.

I hear that someone may have done that around the Sporting Club Hotel in Brunswick.

If someone could write a little program that would do it automatically it would be neat. I'd happily turn it on last couple of days of every month - chew up some bandwith. good times.

Hmm, but what if some terrorist used it to make a terrorist act?

Hmm, but what if some pedophile used it to download CP?

It would be via your system, your ISP, it would be via you, it would show up on the ISPs logs as being from you, the cops would not know any difference.

Your Honour, I left my WiFi on freely for all to use, and did not know this would happen.

Judge: You're a complete idiot.

Judge: Guilty.

DaveMark writes...

It would be via your system, your ISP, it would be via you, it would show up on the ISPs logs as being from you, the cops would not know any difference.

But the fact still remains, i would not have any evidence of it on any of my pc's. And terrorism??? Jeesh john howard has really got to you hasn't he. Lots of places have open networks, that does not make them liable for what people use them for.

By your reasoning all internet service providers are criminal because they facilitate the downloading of pornography and terrorism propaganda. Get real.

Hi Everyone,

Fish Telecom has deployed a free hotspot at the Albion Park Airport in the Illawarra.

If you're in the area, feel free to use it.

Kind regards,
John De La Fuente
Fish Telecom

Charon tries to manage that risk for you. If you're running an open AP, it can restrict the user to connecting to only a single host, and only under the condition that they present a digital certificate signed by a key in that host's DNS entry. It sort of declares that that user is authorized to connect to that service.

Mind you, to be useful it woud require a VPN service provider who actually does this, which I haven't quite gotten around to setting up yet...

thelairster writes...

Gosh we need some more free wifi. Maybe everyone should turn open their connection one day a month. Share the love people.

Done, and not just for one day a month.

My AP provides Internet access to anyone who connects. (Access to my private network is secured by VPN.) I only use a small percentage of my quota, so I'm sharing the love; that, and I'd like someone to do it for me.

EDIT: By the way, does anyone know of anything in the Brisbane CBD (especially towards the Valley)? Coverage is pretty thin since the council shutdown the Queen Street Mall hotspot!

Iemma: NSW CBDs will get free Wi-Fi
"Central business districts of key cities in New South Wales will get free Wi-Fi broadband, under a plan announced today by the state's premier, Morris Iemma.

The NSW state government will in early 2007 go shopping for suppliers to establish "universal coverage" of free Wi-Fi in Sydney's central business district, in addition to the suburbs of Parramatta, Penrith and Liverpool and outlying cities Newcastle, Wollongong and Gosford."

No details yet, just need to wait and see what comes of this...

Hi Everyone,

Fish Telecom has deployed a free hotspot at the Albion Park Airport in the Illawarra.

If you're in the area, feel free to use it.

Kind regards,
John De La Fuente
Fish Telecom

Thanks John nice to see your company releasing in the wollongong area also your plans overall arn't too bad as well :)

FREE wireless broadband is getting released by the GOVT
australianit.news.com.au...75^15306,00.html

lol editted beaten too it :)

Calrion writes...

EDIT: By the way, does anyone know of anything in the Brisbane CBD (especially towards the Valley)? Coverage is pretty thin since the council shutdown the Queen Street Mall hotspot!

www.whereis.com
This shows wifi hotspots @ this web site.
Use Brunswick street as a reference street and use wifi hotspots in drop down box.

According to the map there is a wifi hotspot @ 83 Robinson Street in the Valley.

Also there is access at the corner of Brunswick and Annie Street @ New Farm in the coffee shop.

Andrew...

I heard a rumour that there is free WiFi at the City Of Sydney Library with very to excellent reception on the 2nd floor. See www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov...Library/Branches Customs House location. I am not sure if it is a community project or a loophole.
Merry Christmas
LTD

OK, all this is great and all but i think there should just be a simple list showing only the free spots in Melbourne.

i am going to start making a list from the information in this thread and i will publish it to my web site for everyone.

so if anyone else knows of any in Vic (anywhere not just the city) it would be good to keep this thread open.

and its done...

My list of totally free hotspots in Victoria:

tinyurl.com/yb5y6c will be its resting place untill i make a sub-domain on my main account.

have a look over it and contact me with any queries /problems / suggestions

tinyurl.com/yb5y6c

Dyde, you might have wanted to look at This first.

I Should have, yes, but my list is already:
>longer
>lists only 100% free access
>incomplete, only an hours work

but, meh.. gives me something to do, and i will no doubt sometime in the future be able to use my own list

It'd be awesome if you could add any that you find to the Wiki as you go, so we can have at least a semi-central repository of these too.

LG

The best way to find free wifi is to just take your laptop or wifi device and stroll down a street with your connections active...there are really so many open connections around the place and I live in a small area....In Brisbane city there would be thousands of connections everywhere

Cheers

-wireless- writes...

The best way to find free wifi is to just take your laptop or wifi device and stroll down a street with your connections active...there are really so many open connections around the place and I live in a small area....In Brisbane city there would be thousands of connections everywhere

yes that is true, but i think people are referring to PUBLIC networks, that can be accessed without braking any laws. :)\

but yes you do have a point

Yeah, supporting businesses that provide Internet as a service feels good.
Nicking data because someone forgot to password protect the AP, and their office is across the road from the cafe just feels sleazy -- I think if you're going to "borrow" it at all, the polite thing is to at least constrain yourself to low-impact web browsing.

Yea i would like to know about free WiFi hot spots in Brisbane CBD and Gold coast I hear that some parts of Queen Street Mall have multiple hot spots you can connect too does anyone have any more info on this

Scorpion Subzer0 writes...

Yea i would like to know about free WiFi hot spots in Brisbane CBD and Gold coast

>Lake Somerset Holiday Park
>ANZAC Square
>Alibi Room

Gold Coast:

>Jacob's Well Tourist Park
>Main Beach Tourist Park
>Ocean Beach Tourist Park
>Broadwater Tourist Park
>Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park
>Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
>Kirra Beach Tourist Park
>Muffin Break
>Gloria Jean's Coffee
>The Chat Room Cafe & Lounge Bar

the whereis.com site doesn't give accurate info on this as for example i'm an internode cusomter and they don't show the hot spots at westend and newfarm and also whereis.com don't say if the hotspots are free or not?

Dyde writes...

Gold Coast:

>Jacob's Well Tourist Park
>Main Beach Tourist Park
>Ocean Beach Tourist Park
>Broadwater Tourist Park
>Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park
>Burleigh Beach Tourist Park
>Kirra Beach Tourist Park
>Muffin Break
>Gloria Jean's Coffee
>The Chat Room Cafe & Lounge Bar

Lake Cafe & Bar, Varsity Lakes. When you eat there whether you are just grabbing a coffee, free access

Cool if only whereis.com had up to date info on this it would be great but knowing telstra own the site they are control freaks and choose who they want on their site

Internode offers free WiFi at Cibo coffee shops in Adelaide and Brisbane, at many locations in the Adelaide CBD, at the Adelaide and Darwin airports and at a few other Adelaide suburban and SA regional locations. See https://hotspot.internode.on.net/coverage

Many libraries in South Australia (Adelaide and Country SA) also offer free wifi both inside the library and in the nearby street.

The whole of Smith St Collingwood v Peel and Gertrude is meant to be WiFi okay but I have not tried it to see..............................

The Lounge Bar and Cafe in Swanston St has free WiFi with a coffee.
www.lounge.com.au/downstairs.html

Qantas Clubs now have free wireless via Telstra. Whilst it may have been reported elsewhere, It's good to add it in here.

Can confirm it's good in MEL and SYD DOM terminals.

Jiwire are now reporting Cafe Mint in Surry Hills as having free Wifi. There is indeed an open network there (Called Apple Network EFDA4), but the staff certainly don't seem to think it's theirs.
In any case, they have awesome food, and (at least for now) free possibly-legit Wifi
LG

Localgod writes...

Apple Network EFDA4

That's a default SSID for the Apple basestations. Last 6 digits is the last 6 of the MAC address of the unit.

Double checked with the owner at Cafe Mint, it is in fact theirs. He said he'd name it something more intuitive too (Free publicity after all :) ). Added to Wiki

hehe lol i should put down rough addresses of all my people in my suburb who have unsecure wireless networks :P

Walking around i feel safe knowing that if i need emergency internet i'll probably get it pretty easy :P

Darkiris writes...

hehe lol i should put down rough addresses of all my people in my suburb who have unsecure wireless networks :P

lol ... anyone of you try www.mykp.com.au hotspots looks like they have a few sites..never heard of them before

where can i find a wireless network in adelaide

Kanosis writes...

where can i find a wireless network in adelaide

Internode's:

https://hotspot.internode.on.net/coverage

t3h writes...

Internode's:

As the thread is for Free Wifi Hotspots, the Internode citilan project is only free to Internode customers.

Are there any FREE wifi hotspots in Adelaide - apart from the airport?

Can anyone help me to find a free Wifi Hotspot in Sydney, Willoughby Rd. I am a country satellite user and need to spend a week in Sydney. The Hotel wants to charge me $20.00 per day!
Thanks for your help.

If someone could tell me how to post a new question without replying to someone's posting - I would appreciate it.

Thanks Willunga

japplex writes...

As the thread is for Free Wifi Hotspots, the Internode citilan project is only free to Internode customers.

No, non-Internode customers get port 80 traffic free, with "session limits" (no idea what they are though).

Here is a comprehensive list of all free hotspot restaurants in Melbourne on
Australian Dining Out Reviews.

www.ador.com.au/restaura...feature&i=31&c=1

cheers.

Food Inc, Menzies Alley. I am typing this message from there. I am unsure if I am on their connection or not. I have connected to a unsecured line. Is there a way to tell if I am on their network. I am using the configfree to connect.

The Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority is apparently running a free hotspot at the Rocks, between roughly the Harbour Bridge and Circular Quay. It is available in half-hour blocks. See: www.shfa.nsw.gov.au/sydn...d_free_Wi_Fi.htm

The Newcastle suburb of Hamilton has a free wifi hotspot that covers 6 blocks. See: www.hamiltontown.com/WIFI/index.html and forum-replies.cfm?t=781657

I am using adelaide "Internode's" free connection.
It's just not at the airport either.
Here is the link to download the PDF map of where you can access Internode for free: https://hotspot.internod...pot-coverage.pdf
If you just want a text listing of where you can access "Internode" then here is the site of *ALL* of their hotspots: https://hotspot.internode.on.net/coverage
And here is the login page to access "Internode's" free service: https://hotspot.internod.../login/index.php
As far as I am aware,it's just plain old surfing the web,No P2P & No POP E-mail access.
Also,you get timed out every now & then.

just on a side note,if *EVERYONE* here downloaded *Netstumbler* (here's the link to download it) stumbler.net/download.ph...taller_0_4_0.exe and use it,you will find any AP's & peers around.Also,if you use Netstumbler with a GPS unit/reciever,then you will know exactly where an AP or Peer is.Also,you would need to use some street mapping software,otherwise lattitude & longtitude coordinates won't make any sense.I'll get back to people when I find out the name of a good *Australian* street mapping software(I think *UBD* is whom I am thinking of).If anybody has any street mapping software,please whim me.

Sorry about the huge thread,it's like my second or so on here & I hope I have helped people(especially those in Adelaide).

Try this
You can search the world for free hotspots

www.wifi411.com

try these guys to... www.mykp.com.au they have a few and i think they are moving to melbourne and brisbane to...

There is an archived thread about Starbucks in the City Square. I am typing from here now. The signal is coming from the Westin Lobby Bar.

Do all Gloria Jeans cafe's have free wireless?

No. They use Optu$ network.

Drew T. writes...

Qantas Clubs now have free wireless via Telstra.

Yes, about time. They now match Virgin's 'The Lounge.'

It was becoming quite untenable for Qantas to continue charging their high-fare paying customers for WiFi within the QF Club when providers like Internode are supplying it free throughout terminals in places like the Adelaide, Newcastle and Darwin airports.

I, for one, was rather peeved to find that I was doing biz work in the regular terminal because the free Internode signal was not satisfactory within the QF Club. No way would I pay the fees that Telstra demanded inside the QF Club. Overlay the Virgin Live-2-Air Foxtel service and I was genuinely looking at defecting to Virgin - which has provided free WiFi in 'The Lounge' since inception.

japplex writes...

As the thread is for Free Wifi Hotspots, the Internode citilan project is only free to Internode customers.


Rubbish. Internode's Citilan project is free to anyone who wants to browse the web, as are its hotspots in Adelaide suburbs and at the airport.

Are there any FREE wifi hotspots in Adelaide - apart from the airport?

Of course. Internode's extensive network, for starters - over 80 sites at last count.

www.mykp.com.au have a few free wi-fi hostpots around sydney to... don't think melbourne yet

None in Melbourne, have sent several emails about possible spots and willing to broker a deal for these places as I reckon there are a few really good candidates, I have yet to receive a response.

cable99 writes...

Rubbish. Internode's Citilan project is free to anyone who wants to browse the web, as are its hotspots in Adelaide suburbs and at the airport.

I found Internode's Citilan project to be rubbish. I was recently in Adelaide (staying in Wakefield street opposite the hospital). The only time I could pick up the Internode service was by sitting outside on the balcony. Even then it only had a 1 bar reception, and kept dropping out constantly.

Anytime I moved the laptop inside it went dead, which was only a few inches away. Having said that though, I do realise it's free. I applaud their efforts, but I'd rather pay say $10 (or more) for an x hour session to get decent reception wherever I was in the CBD.

thelairster writes...

Gosh we need some more free wifi. Maybe everyone should turn open their connection one day a month. Share the love people.

That all sounds fine and dandy until you get the $10,000+ bill at the end of the month for going over your quota by 100 odd gig.

I once had my wifi open accidentily for a week. Cost me 50gig in download quota. Why should I pay for other people's porn addictions? :)

Adaml33 writes...

I found Internode's Citilan project to be rubbish. I was recently in Adelaide (staying in Wakefield street opposite the hospital). The only time I could pick up the Internode service was by sitting outside on the balcony. Even then it only had a 1 bar reception, and kept dropping out constantly.

This may seem quite obvious, but you may not have actually been in the same building as the AP - it's not usual to have such bad coverage.

I've actually had my Palm TX connected to all the internode hotspots while walking down O'Connell street, while streaming radio to it. Lots of fun, and it didn't drop out! :)

thelairster writes...

By your reasoning all internet service providers are criminal because they facilitate the downloading of pornography and terrorism propaganda. Get real.

Yeah, however, some of it comes down to them being a registered ISP, with an ACMA carrier's license as opposed to a home user trying to use it as an excuse. (sure it may have been true, but it is still an excuse).

I think there is one at the food court @ Australia on Collins...on Collins street of cours

I can confirm that one as I have used it recently. 4 hours/250mb Download. I am unsure of POP3 Mail and othe ports.

Is there anything in the sydney CBD arround town hall/QVB or martin place?

Hi All

I have a site that maps WiFi Access Points over GoogleMaps, i have quite a few Access Points for the Melbourne and Adelaide with 18,000+ in Australia but none in Sydney yet. It does show those that i know are Public (free or paid), Open and Closed.

You can search, or just move over the maps, the site is www.accesspointlive.com

Regards Puggs

Does anyone know if there are any wifi spots in kiama, nsw?

Melbourne Museum (in between Nicholson and Rathdowne streets, Carlton) has free wifi throughout the building as well.

Hi all,

I've just opened a DVD rental store called APPLEBOX (applebox.com.au) in Railway Place, Fairfield Melbourne. I'm giving free wireless access to those in the area - but come into my shop because the SSID isn't broadcast - I'll show you how to get on.

You can enjoy the hotspot from the fairfield train station, or the Bean Counter cafe (elocal.com.au/index.php?cPath=20348') next door!

Cheers,
Simon

FREE WiFi Hotspot Artarmon North Sydney!!

The Freeway Hotel
115 Reserve Rd, Artarmon 2064

www.freewayhotel.com.au

info@freewayhotel.com.au

Sports Bar, Lounge Bar, Piano Bar, Bistro, Cafe, Ruby's Restaurant, 20 Plasma Screens, TAB, Gaming Area, ATM, FREE WiFi, Underground Car Park.

At last..... Free wifi in Hobart!

Gilt lounge bar and restaurant in Sandy Bay

Great coffee and food (including all-day breakfast), fully licensed, live music Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights 'til midnight. Also free public access internet (2 terminals). A funky little place with a lot of soul. But closed Mondays.

An article from the Sydney Morning Herald features a firm that will bring advertising and free wi-fi to coffee shops in Melbourne and Sydney in 2008:

www.smh.com.au/news/wire...92300685843.html

Free WIFI at Federation Square. It is only free if you can bear to sit in the court yard area and enjoy being disconnected every second minute. I didn't expect much when it said Optu$ was providing the hotspot. I am sitting in a very uncomfortable area being blown away with the wind. Have been disconnected twice and have a poor signal. The idea is seriously ill-conceived.

Quite a few free hot spots along King Street, Newtown in Sydney.
No idea if they are public, or just someone's unsecured connection, but i found at least 3 walking along.

DarkChocolate writes...

Quite a few free hot spots along King Street, Newtown in Sydney.

Really? I've been trying to find a cafe in Newtown that offers wifi for quite some time now!! The only one I have found so far is the unwired trial at Gloria Jeans, though I did find 1 other unsecured access point with the name "belkin54g", which I'm guessing is somes unsecured connection.

I found a nice list of Melbourne hotspots here.

www.onlymelbourne.com.au...ils.php?id=10425

Since when did McDonalds give free WIFI? I have only noticed their Telstra Hotspots.

EDIT: I went to the Kew Maccas and it was the same Telstra Hotspot situation.

Yeah I've found one of those Unwired ones in the city. Cafe is called VIVO and it is on the corner of George St and King St...

Seems someone else has found the one on King St at the Gloria Jeans- www.conformistsunite.com/?p=456

I wonder if there are more of these around the place. Anyone else seen any anywhere else?

I can't find anything about them on the Unwired website, but they look pretty cool and are clearly branded Unwired and are free... so you think they'd be trying to tell people about them...??

I have checked about 90% of these and very few are free. I have tried to contact this website and have had no replies.