To better serve the traveling public, the Maine Tourism Association announced today that the Visitor Information Centers at Calais, Houlton and Yarmouth are now equipped with high-speed wireless Internet access.

Visitors may access the Wi-Fi from their laptops in the lobby to check email, surf the Web or from the parking lots in the comfort of their vehicle, based on proximity to the center.

In addition, this change will improve the customer’s experience as our travel counselors at the centers now have easier and faster access to information sought by the traveling public.

Each year, over one million visitors utilize the many services offered at the seven Visitor Information Centers in Maine. They are located in Kittery, Yarmouth, Hampden North and South, Houlton, Calais and Fryeburg and are operated by the Maine Tourism Association, a private non-profit association with approximately 1700 members throughout Maine.

This improvement is being done at no cost to the taxpayers as the Maine Tourism Association is paying for the upgrade in an effort to better serve our customers.

Additional centers will be upgraded as soon as the phone line service to the remaining centers will accommodate the service.
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Dennis Sellers wrote a two-part article about his experience as a Macintosh computer owner using HughesNet satellite servic. He's not an RVer but goes into good detail about the service plans and the quailty of the service.
Read it Here...
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AUSTIN, TX – January 25, 2007 – TengoInternet, the oldest and largest wireless Internet service provider for the outdoor hospitality industry, today announced 13 new locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas and Utah. These new TengoZones expand TengoInternet’s service availability throughout the Southwest and Texas.

New properties include Benson I-10 RV Park (AZ), Cactus Gardens Resort (AZ), Desert Paradise (AZ), Mission View RV Park (AZ), Palm Gardens RV Resort (AZ), Sun Vista RV Resort (AZ), Superstition Sunrise RV Resort (AZ), The Stagecoach Stop RV Park (NM), Hilton Garden Inn (NV), Iron Horse RV Resort (NV), Double Heart Ranch RV Park (TX), Oasis RV and Mobile Home Park (TX), and Moab Valley RV Resort (UT).

“RVers demand for Wi-Fi and great 24x7x365 service is driving campground operators to select Tengo,” said Eric Stumberg, CEO and Co-Founder, TengoInternet. “In addition to new network installations, network conversions and network management services are increasing. ”

In addition to the expansion of TengoZones, TengoInternet continues its active RV and outdoor hospitality industry education and participation by leading Wi-Fi panels and seminars. TengoInternet Director of Marketing, Kathryn Stevens, will be presenting at the Carolinas ARVC Convention discussing “Why Wi-Fi for your Campground” this week.

About TengoInternet
TengoInternet is the oldest and largest wireless Internet network provider for the camping and outdoor hospitality industries, enabling business owners to offer a highly desired amenity to their customers. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, TengoInternet has earned a reputation for delivering a great service experience through its proven sales, installation, marketing and technical support teams. TengoInternet currently provides broadband wireless access service for hundreds of campgrounds, hotels, apartment complexes and marinas throughout the U.S. and Mexico. For additional information, visit www.tengointernet.com.
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Those wireless connections could be a trap!

You could end up being the target of a "man in the middle" attack, in which a hacker is able to steal the information you send over the Internet, including usernames and passwords. And you could also have your files and identity stolen, end up with a spyware-infested PC and have your PC turned into a spam-spewing zombie. The attack could even leave your laptop open to hackers every time you turn it on, by allowing anyone to connect to it without your knowledge.

How the attack works

First, let's take a look at how the attack works. You go to an airport or other hot spot and fire up your PC, hoping to find a free hot spot. You see one that calls itself "Free Wi-Fi" or a similar name. You connect. Bingo -- you've been had!

The problem is that it's not really a hot spot. Instead, it's an ad hoc, peer-to-peer network, possibly set up as a trap by someone with a laptop nearby. You can use the Internet, because the attacker has set up his PC to let you browse the Internet via his connection. But because you're using his connection, all your traffic goes through his PC, so he can see everything you do online, including all the usernames and passwords you enter for financial and other Web sites.
Full Story...
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The fastest wireless broadband network in the U.S. is also the first to offer decent uploading speeds for your chunky multimedia files. Sprint's aggressive coverage rollout, variety of devices, and excellent speeds make it the current undisputed Editors' Choice for wireless data networks.

Sprint's EV-DO Rev A network is an upgrade to their existing, nationwide EV-DO Rev 0 network, also known as "Power Vision." Sprint is referring to Rev A as "upgraded Power Vision"; Rev A shows up in brown on its network maps, whereas Rev 0 is orange. The network is backward-compatible, so all existing devices will operate on their normal speeds in Rev A cities. You'll see Rev A's faster speeds if you buy one of Sprint's three Rev A PC cards, the Sierra Wireless AC595, Novatel Wireless S720 (Stay tuned for reviews of both of these PC cards.), or Pantech PX500, or Sprint's Novatel U720 USB dongle for computers without PC Card slots.

These cards also work with Sprint's Linksys Wireless-G Router for Mobile Broadband, according to Sprint, so you can turn a single Rev A connection into a Wi-Fi hot spot for several computers.
Full Story...
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As RVers Fran and I have used unsecured Wi-FI networks to get internet access while on the road but this article gave me something to think about.

If your neighbor left his lawnmower in the front yard, would you borrow it without his knowledge?

Probably not.

But what about the wireless Internet connection he leaves unsecured?

The scenario might pose an ethical dilemma, but many folks think nothing of checking their e-mail or surfing the Web via the neighbor's wireless Internet.

Here's how it happens: Most of today's laptops are wireless ready, allowing them to pick up nearby Wi-Fi signals. This easily can be done where people live close together, such as a condo building, town house or apartment complex.

Some computer users even will drive around their neighborhoods, laptops in tow, looking for signals."

"It's not like I can get people's information," said Hampshire resident Chris Carr. He admits to occasionally cruising the block with his laptop. "All it allows me to do is go online."

A busy contractor, Carr, 41, said he can't always get to a coffee shop or other public facility where Wi-Fi often is free or available for a small charge.

"If they don't secure it, it's an open connection," Carr said.

Ethics are only part of the debate when it comes to the temptation to use an unsecured Wi-Fi signal.

These days, a tech-savvy cop might know exactly what you're up to.

A Loves Park police officer arrested a man last year after he was found sitting in a car outside a nonprofit agency with a laptop in his lap. The man was charged with remotely accessing another computer system without the owner's permission, said Winnebago County Assistant State's Attorney Tom Wartowski.

The man pleaded guilty to the charge in March. He was fined $250 and sentenced to a year of court supervision, Wartowski said.

Accessing anyone's computer system without his or her approval, even if it's just using an unsecured Wi-Fi signal, is prohibited under state law, he said.

"It's the same as going into somebody's house without their authorization," he said. "People have said to me, 'If you don't want somebody to get into the system you can put in firewalls and other protection.' My response is, 'If someone comes into your house because you left the door unlocked, is that OK?' Of course not."
Full Story...
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"The RVers Guide to Internet Access on the Road" covers all the options for getting internet access on the road... Wi-Fi, Cellular, Satellite... more!

Underserved Consumers Increasingly Turn to Satellite Broadband for High-Speed Internet Access

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Electronics Show -- Hughes
Network Systems, LLC (HUGHES), the global leader in broadband satellite
network solutions and services, today announced that the number of
HughesNet(TM) small business and residential subscribers surpassed 325,000
during the fourth quarter of 2006, an 18 percent growth over the same
period in 2005, demonstrating continued steady growth in satellite
broadband subscriptions among underserved consumers.

"There are a considerable number of people in communities across the
country who still are unable to receive high-speed Internet access through
cable, DSL, or other terrestrial means," said Max Engel, Satellite and
Broadband analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "For those consumers, satellite
broadband offers an excellent alternative to their dial-up service."

During 2006, the company successfully transitioned to the HughesNet
brand and launched a new subscriber platform and service plans, offering
subscribers enhanced quality, speeds and performance.

"The continued growth in our subscriber base is a testament to the
service quality we are delivering today," said Mike Cook, senior vice
president of Hughes. "By focusing on our customers' needs and service
innovation, we are satisfying our subscribers and further solidifying our
position as the leader in the satellite broadband market."

HughesNet is the country's leading two-way broadband satellite Internet
service, available anywhere in the contiguous United States with a clear
view of the southern sky. For more information about HughesNet, please
visit http://www.myhughesnet.com, or call 1-866-556-9660.
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Autonet Mobile (www.autonetmobile.com), the first Internet Service Provider for cars, today announced they will debut a new wireless service that turns the car into a WiFi Hotspot at ShowStoppers during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company also plans to announce an agreement with a world leading car rental company to offer a portable, wireless Internet service by the end of the first quarter.

With the first Wireless Broadband Mobile Network, Autonet Mobile is bringing a new Internet media center to vehicles by letting passengers check email, surf the web, game or communicate via any WiFi-enabled device. The service is optimized for the in-car experience, and is specifically designed to work on 95 percent of U.S. roads, regardless of driving conditions or location. Simply plug the unit into a cigarette lighter or standard wall plug and go.

Autonet Mobile’s patent pending TRU Technology enables seamless Internet connectivity so that passengers stay connected while driving. TRU Technology provides intelligent, dynamic automatic session management between high/low speed networks, producing a reliable user experience. The Autonet Mobile Service ensures a secure, broadband-level connection to any WiFi-enabled device within close proximity to the vehicle. The Autonet Mobile Unit is priced to retail at $399 with a monthly service charge of $49.

“We live in a car centric society and our Autonet Mobile Service is directly addressing the communications needs of today’s drivers and passengers,” said Sterling Pratz, CEO of Autonet Mobile. “Today, 40 percent of all SUVs and station wagons come equipped with media centers, supporting music and DVD’s, yet, do not support today’s connected lifestyle of the Internet, e-mail and social media. We are putting the connected lifestyle in the car with an easy to use service for executives and families on the go.”

According to Dave Whetstone, wireless industry veteran and co-founder of Virgin Mobile USA, “The auto industry has been searching for a practical in-vehicle Internet solution for almost a decade. Autonet Mobile’s unique approach has been optimized around the specific challenges of keeping laptops, UMPC’s, gaming devices and other WiFi enabled devices connected while driving. The Autonet service will help to fill consumers’ insatiable need to stay connected, even while on the road.”

For more information about Autonet Mobile technology visit www.autonetmobile.com.
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