I'm confused about the wifi in California State parks. The file on the Wifi Enabled Campgrounds thread/sticky says we need to pay for the wifi service. A pdf on the State parks system website says the same thing (though it's dated 2005, so that gives me pause). I read here: http://www.ca.gov/WiFi/ that wifi is free. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks!
Is access to the entire internet free; or are just the reserveamerica.com and other State parks' websites free?
RFCN2 wrote: It was free as long as Arnold was Governor.
That's gotta be a joke because the pdf from the Park website is dated 2005 and that's when Arnold was guv'ner. So, it was definitely pay-for-service when he was in office. We had to pay for his cigars somehow, right? If it's changed, it's changed recently.
4Jeeperz wrote: Hey Maria,
We had to pay to access while at Morro Bay St. Park.
You had to be within a 100' or so of the check in shack for reception.
Bummer. I was hoping it was free by now. Argh. Thanks for the info! I'll have to plan ahead and find the nearest Starbucks to where we're camping, just in case we need wifi.
Well here's the language that appears to still be in effect, though the rates may have changed: (From Cal. State Parks)
Quote: Through April 15, 2005, SBC DSL customers can receive unlimited access to the more than 6,000 FreedomLink hot spots at no charge, and pay just $1.99 a month with a one-year term commitment thereafter. Park visitors who are not currently SBC Wi-Fi customers can purchase a 24-hour SBC Wi-Fi session for $7.95 or a monthly SBC membership for $19.95 and receive unlimited access to SBC hot spots nationwide
It looks like "SBC" has been swallowed by AT&T, though...the link in the above document and at individual park websites goes straight to AT&T.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies toJ.R.R. Tolkien
I use it a couple of times a summer, but have never paid for it. I am an ATT customer, but I can't remember if it is free because of that. Basically, like Starbucks and McDonalds, my laptop just connects.
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Nothing is "free" at California state parks, and that includes wifi. And, connectivity is spotty, unreliable, and pretty primitive *at best* in many locations; if one is not within a very short distance from the "tower", forget connecting.
Don't depend on wifi at public campgrounds. If it works, it's a bonus. If you need connectivity, you have to hunt it down. We have an aircard, but we are often beyond cell range, so even that is not a magic bullet.
The only surefire solution is a satellite dish, very expensive and cumbersome.
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If it's changed, it's changed recently.
