Jump to content

On line - on holiday !


Recommended Posts

Have just got back from a few days out in the caravn. I notice that a lot of "cachers" are also caravanners and therefore this may be of interest to some. We went to the caravan club site near Burnham on Sea.It was advertised as having a "WIFI" connection, so thought we would use that rather than print out paper copies of the caches (Cheddar Gorge etc.,) Just in case we took the mobile internet Dongle recently purchased from a well known telecom company(I work in an hotel which has a free WIFI connection which is always breaking down). On arrival at site enquired about the WIFI and found that it was run by a company which charged £5 per hour !!!!!!! and also, according to the wardens, was very spotty in its connection and getting a refund was a complicated procedure. So, tried to fire up via the dongle and got a rude message from the "on site" internet connection, blocking my use of any other "device". So, had a damp squib of a caching break. Couldn't find an area locally with WIFI and had the usual problem with non connecting dongle. Rats, Rats and Rats !!

Going back to pre-loading the GPS and taking paper copies of the cache locations

cheers :)

 

Palujia

Link to comment

I would say that it is illegal for any WiFi company to block you from using a mobile broadband connection. I have used my 'dongle' on Caravan Club, Camping & Caravan Club and various private sites with WiFi availability and have never had any problem.

Just turn the Wireless on your laptop off and use the dongle as normal. Most WiFi sites will put a page up when they detect your Wireless signal but they cannot it your wireless is off.

Link to comment
MacDonalds is always good for a free connection in an emergency - and there are 4 within 10 miles of Burnham http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/restaurants/res...t-locator.shtml

 

I've published a lot of caches Sat outside McD's :) , then again I've drank a lot of their Lattes as well :P [the number of free coffee collector cards in the car, testifies to that. :) ]. Laptop, Dongle as back up, Inverter and a location not too far from the building [well you don't want to walk too far for the Toilet/Coffee breaks :P ] and your good for 4-5 hours :yikes:

 

One tip though, when the store closes, so does their WIFI [as I found out one Christmas Eve :yikes: ] but with more of them going 24 hour opening. Thats not a issue for most of the year any more. :)

 

Was the WIFI site actually blocking your dongle, or was your laptop defaulting to using any detected WIFI connection to access the internet?

 

Deci

Link to comment
MacDonalds is always good for a free connection in an emergency - and there are 4 within 10 miles of Burnham http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/restaurants/res...t-locator.shtml

 

I've published a lot of caches Sat outside McD's :) , then again I've drank a lot of their Lattes as well :yikes: [the number of free coffee collector cards in the car, testifies to that. :) ]. Laptop, Dongle as back up, Inverter and a location not too far from the building [well you don't want to walk too far for the Toilet/Coffee breaks :yikes: ] and your good for 4-5 hours :yikes:

 

One tip though, when the store closes, so does their WIFI [as I found out one Christmas Eve :yikes: ] but with more of them going 24 hour opening. Thats not a issue for most of the year any more. :)

 

Was the WIFI site actually blocking your dongle, or was your laptop defaulting to using any detected WIFI connection to access the internet?

 

Deci

 

I was about to say... there is a certain reviewer who has been known to "nip out to McDonalds" at events..... and not for a Big Mac and large Fries either.... but to sit in the car park and publish caches!!!

 

Good old Deci!!!!

 

:P:P:yikes::yikes:

Link to comment
MacDonalds is always good for a free connection in an emergency - and there are 4 within 10 miles of Burnham http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/restaurants/res...t-locator.shtml

 

I've published a lot of caches Sat outside McD's :) , then again I've drank a lot of their Lattes as well :yikes: [the number of free coffee collector cards in the car, testifies to that. :) ]. Laptop, Dongle as back up, Inverter and a location not too far from the building [well you don't want to walk too far for the Toilet/Coffee breaks :yikes: ] and your good for 4-5 hours :yikes:

 

One tip though, when the store closes, so does their WIFI [as I found out one Christmas Eve :yikes: ] but with more of them going 24 hour opening. Thats not a issue for most of the year any more. :)

 

Was the WIFI site actually blocking your dongle, or was your laptop defaulting to using any detected WIFI connection to access the internet?

 

Deci

 

I was about to say... there is a certain reviewer who has been known to "nip out to McDonalds" at events..... and not for a Big Mac and large Fries either.... but to sit in the car park and publish caches!!!

 

Good old Deci!!!!

 

:P:P:yikes::yikes:

 

Yeah thanks Deci. Thats dedication far above and beyond duty!! All those McDs LOL :D

Link to comment

Have just got back from a few days out in the caravn. I notice that a lot of "cachers" are also caravanners and therefore this may be of interest to some. We went to the caravan club site near Burnham on Sea.It was advertised as having a "WIFI" connection, so thought we would use that rather than print out paper copies of the caches (Cheddar Gorge etc.,) Just in case we took the mobile internet Dongle recently purchased from a well known telecom company(I work in an hotel which has a free WIFI connection which is always breaking down). On arrival at site enquired about the WIFI and found that it was run by a company which charged £5 per hour !!!!!!! and also, according to the wardens, was very spotty in its connection and getting a refund was a complicated procedure. So, tried to fire up via the dongle and got a rude message from the "on site" internet connection, blocking my use of any other "device". So, had a damp squib of a caching break. Couldn't find an area locally with WIFI and had the usual problem with non connecting dongle. Rats, Rats and Rats !!

Going back to pre-loading the GPS and taking paper copies of the cache locations

cheers :)

 

Palujia

 

Disable your wifi and the onsite wifi won't know you're there?

Link to comment

Thanks for the useful advice - why didn't I think of turning off the Wireless connection !! I am still struggling to get to grips with GSAK. I am a complete technophobe. When I try to export a file it goes somewhere strange on the D drive - and when I try to access it again it puts me back on the GSAK site

confused

palujia

Link to comment

Thanks for the useful advice - why didn't I think of turning off the Wireless connection !! I am still struggling to get to grips with GSAK. I am a complete technophobe. When I try to export a file it goes somewhere strange on the D drive - and when I try to access it again it puts me back on the GSAK site

confused

palujia

 

Very briefly, it sounds like you are exporting a gpx file of caches (presumably for using on a GPS?). GSAK will create this file where you tell it to (somewhere stange on the D drive, in your case!). By 'accessing' it, I assume you mean you double click it. GSAK will then try and re-import the file, which is the usual action for these file types. Instead, assuming you want to use it on a GPS, what you need to do is plug in the GPS and manually copy the file to the correct place on your GPS. This will vary according to make and model.

 

If you need some more details, just holler!

 

HTH

 

Dave

Link to comment

Thanks for the useful advice - why didn't I think of turning off the Wireless connection !! I am still struggling to get to grips with GSAK. I am a complete technophobe. When I try to export a file it goes somewhere strange on the D drive - and when I try to access it again it puts me back on the GSAK site

confused

palujia

 

Very briefly, it sounds like you are exporting a gpx file of caches (presumably for using on a GPS?). GSAK will create this file where you tell it to (somewhere stange on the D drive, in your case!). By 'accessing' it, I assume you mean you double click it. GSAK will then try and re-import the file, which is the usual action for these file types. Instead, assuming you want to use it on a GPS, what you need to do is plug in the GPS and manually copy the file to the correct place on your GPS. This will vary according to make and model.

 

If you need some more details, just holler!

 

HTH

 

Dave

 

I was trying to download the cache info onto an old IPAQ PDA - I think I probably need to upgrade it. Have a great Garmin Etrex vista GPS which downloads as advertised but it the extra hints and logs that are most usesful, and am trying to go peperless.

cheers

palujia

Link to comment

So, tried to fire up via the dongle and got a rude message from the "on site" internet connection, blocking my use of any other "device". So, had a damp squib of a caching break.

 

A wifi signal can't prevent you using another wifi signal, they just don't have the ability to do that. Just disconnect if you did actually connect and then reconnect to a different one. You always ahave the choice of which signal to use.

 

We have an O2 dongle and that can be used to connect to wifi signals like the cloud etc but if you use the mobile signal part of it then no wifi service can block you.

Link to comment

A wifi signal can't prevent you using another wifi signal, they just don't have the ability to do that. Just disconnect if you did actually connect and then reconnect to a different one. You always ahave the choice of which signal to use.

 

We have an O2 dongle and that can be used to connect to wifi signals like the cloud etc but if you use the mobile signal part of it then no wifi service can block you.

 

I suspect the netwok card in the laptop got it's knickers in a twist and sent an unlawful request to the WiFi station.

Link to comment

So, tried to fire up via the dongle and got a rude message from the "on site" internet connection, blocking my use of any other "device". So, had a damp squib of a caching break.

 

A wifi signal can't prevent you using another wifi signal, they just don't have the ability to do that. Just disconnect if you did actually connect and then reconnect to a different one. You always ahave the choice of which signal to use.

 

We have an O2 dongle and that can be used to connect to wifi signals like the cloud etc but if you use the mobile signal part of it then no wifi service can block you.

Yep ! thanks for the useful advice - I have now discovered how to "turn off" the WIFI (and after yet another conversation with Otwice) have found the thingee which tells me what WIFI connections are available, and, more importantly if they are FREE !! The trouble with being a grumpy old man and technophobe to boot is that I don't read, and really understand, all the instructions with the kit ! Has anyone got a spare 14 yr old child who can:-

A. Set up the TV and DVD recorder for me

B. Set up the lap top and PDA for geocaching

C. Charge about in the bushes when I can't find the cache !

 

(only joking !! Not)

 

Great Zot

 

Palujia

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...