Taco Bell blocks Geocaching .com

[+Mn-treker]

Today I pulled into a Taco Bell. I decided to log some cache and found that they block Geocaching.com

Well I don't think that I will go there again. They treat geocaching like it is a bad thing and an enemy website.

[+wmpastor]

Today I pulled into a Taco Bell. I decided to log some cache and found that they block Geocaching.com

Well I don't think that I will go there again. They treat geocaching like it is a bad thing and an enemy website.

Strange...especially since this site is G-rated. Every now and then Off Topic rises to PG-13.

 

Did you ask them about their WIFI?

[+Team Hugs]

Some establishments (I don't know specifically about Taco Bell) block access to recreational websites on a blanket basis, simply because they're trying to discourage folks from hogging the free WiFi. I doubt it's a censorship issue as much as a bandwidth issue.

[+pppingme]

Did it give a reason why it was blocked?

[+Manville Possum]

Some establishments (I don't know specifically about Taco Bell) block access to recreational websites on a blanket basis, simply because they're trying to discourage folks from hogging the free WiFi. I doubt it's a censorship issue as much as a bandwidth issue.

 

It would be awful if McDonald's did this. They are the World's largest contributer of swag.

[+wmpastor]

Some establishments (I don't know specifically about Taco Bell) block access to recreational websites on a blanket basis, simply because they're trying to discourage folks from hogging the free WiFi. I doubt it's a censorship issue as much as a bandwidth issue.

For better WIFI *and* better food, go to Whole Foods.

[+wmpastor]

Did it give a reason why it was blocked?

I suspect it's because all of their lampposts already are filled with caches.

[+michellepluseight]

Some establishments (I don't know specifically about Taco Bell) block access to recreational websites on a blanket basis, simply because they're trying to discourage folks from hogging the free WiFi. I doubt it's a censorship issue as much as a bandwidth issue.

 

Why would a restaurant even offer free WiFi if they don't want people to sit there and browse the web?

[+Team Hugs]

Why would a restaurant even offer free WiFi if they don't want people to sit there and browse the web?

 

There's a difference between "browsing the web" and "downloading gigabytes of HD movies".

 

Seriously, I've seen this sort of distinction in some "free" WiFi systems. Access to Gmail is okay; access to ESPN isn't. Rather than try to do some sort of detailed analysis of user's bandwidth usage, the Internet provider puts a filter in for all sorts of sites that are "merely" recreational in nature --- even if the bandwidth usage on that site (like geocaching.com) is pretty minimal.

 

This is hardly unique. Panera, for example, doesn't obviously restrict website access ... but during the lunchtime rush, they limit total usage to 30 minutes per device. They don't mind you browsing the web while you're eating your lunch, but they're trying to discourage you from taking up a table for three hours after buying one small coffee.

 

I can't complain too much about the policies surrounding free WiFi. Don't like it? Fork over real money for satellite WiFi usage, and then you can go anywhere.

[+Team Microdot]

My cellular network provider blocks access to this forum - on the basis that it contains adult content

 

I think if they browsed some of the content here they might change their minds

[+Walts Hunting]

My cellular network provider blocks access to this forum - on the basis that it contains adult content

 

I think if they browsed some of the content here they might change their minds

 

Really? I see more juvenile comments here than anywhere.

[+narcissa]

They probably subscribe to a service that manages a list of blocked sites for them. Sometimes those lists can be very heavy-handed and it's worth pointing out to them.

[+Walts Hunting]

The problem of blocked websites is easily bypassed by following the instructions here. Make Google your DNS Server

 

I use it at RV parks I stay at that try to throttle my access.

[+Mn-treker]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

[+wmpastor]

I can't complain too much about the policies surrounding free WiFi. Don't like it? Fork over real money for satellite WiFi usage, and then you can go anywhere.

Sounds elitist.

[+wmpastor]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

Way to go! Adam Smith calls them "dollar votes," and you have cast your vote! Bravo!

[+colleda]

We were in Tauranga, New Zealand, last month. I had missed loading a PQ for Tauranga and went to Burger King for their wifi. My notebook computer would not log on but my phone was fine. As I don't have GSAK on my phone, we walked about a mile to the local library where the notebook worked no problem. Even was able to grab a cache just outside which we otherwise may not have had. Is there something going on with Burger King too?

[+Mn-treker]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

Way to go! Adam Smith calls them "dollar votes," and you have cast your vote! Bravo!

Don't assume what you do not know about. I did not say that I did not buy any thing.

Those who assume make an (.) out of you and me. I will be darned if I will let you make one of me.

But you are free to do that to yourself. My wife happens to like Taco Bell.

But censorship gets my goat. So we will eat at someplace else. Maybe LA Casita.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Cascade Reviewer
Removed innapropriate language

[+Team Hugs]

But censorship gets my goat. So we will eat at someplace else. Maybe LA Casita.

 

Would you rather that Taco Bell had no WiFi at all? Or would you rather that the limited WiFi that a given restaurant provides could be rendered unusable by one patron choosing to monopolize the feed?

 

Seriously ... complaining that the free WiFi in a restaurant is inadequate is awful.

[+Manville Possum]

And just think, Waymarking gave Taco Bell their own category. Has anyone checked to see if that side of Groundspeak is blocked too?

[+MartyBartfast]

I do think some people are getting their knickers in a twist over nothing here. Taco Bell, and other orgs which provide free wi-fi, will almost certainly be using some off the shelf tool to control access to websites, those tools will have very broad categories to select, such as Pornography, Streaming media, Torrent sites, Gaming, Social media, etc. And it may well be that on the particular tool TB uses that GC.com falls under one category (maybe Gaming). There will also be a mechanism for them to allow individual sites through so rather than complain on here, write a polite Email to TB explaining why GC.com isn't any sort of threat to their WiFi, that Geocachers are a bunch who travel a lot and are often in need of food & drink after a day's hunting, and ask them to allow access to GC.com - you may be pleasantly surprised.

[+The A-Team]

There will also be a mechanism for them to allow individual sites through so rather than complain on here, write a polite Email to TB explaining why GC.com isn't any sort of threat to their WiFi, that Geocachers are a bunch who travel a lot and are often in need of food & drink after a day's hunting, and ask them to allow access to GC.com - you may be pleasantly surprised.

[Andronicus]

There will also be a mechanism for them to allow individual sites through so rather than complain on here, write a polite Email to TB explaining why GC.com isn't any sort of threat to their WiFi, that Geocachers are a bunch who travel a lot and are often in need of food & drink after a day's hunting, and ask them to allow access to GC.com - you may be pleasantly surprised.

I always appriciate a Dr. StrangeLove reverence

[+hzoi]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

Way to go! Adam Smith calls them "dollar votes," and you have cast your vote! Bravo!

Don't assume what you do not know about. I did not say that I did not buy any thing.

Those who assume make an (.) out of you and me. I will be darned if I will let you make one of me.

But you are free to do that to yourself. My wife happens to like Taco Bell.

But censorship gets my goat. So we will eat at someplace else. Maybe LA Casita.

What gets my goat is needless hostility. I don't understand your response at all. You seem hostile, for no reason, to someone who was cheering you on. And they were responding to your comment that they don't have your business anymore.

 

Those who assume...well, looks like you are doing all the assuming here.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Cascade Reviewer
Removed innapropriate language within quote

[+Mn-treker]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

Way to go! Adam Smith calls them "dollar votes," and you have cast your vote! Bravo!

Don't assume what you do not know about. I did not say that I did not buy any thing.

Those who assume make an (.) out of you and me. I will be darned if I will let you make one of me.

But you are free to do that to yourself. My wife happens to like Taco Bell.

But censorship gets my goat. So we will eat at someplace else. Maybe LA Casita.

What gets my goat is needless hostility. I don't understand your response at all. You seem hostile, for no reason, to someone who was cheering you on. And they were responding to your comment that they don't have your business anymore.

 

Those who assume...well, looks like you are doing all the assuming here.

You are missing something here. A post just before this contained the remark that was related to this.

That person has since deleted that post. So now mine don't make sense. They chose not to make an (.) of themselves.

Sorry I should have quoted that post then it would not have disappeared.

Edited December 25, 2014 by Cascade Reviewer
Removed innapropriate language within quote and new comment

[+hzoi]

The web page gave no reason for the block. I think that they just have their heads where the sun don't shine.

Either way they don't have my business any more.

Way to go! Adam Smith calls them "dollar votes," and you have cast your vote! Bravo!

Don't assume what you do not know about. I did not say that I did not buy any thing.

Those who assume make an (.) out of you and me. I will be darned if I will let you make one of me.

But you are free to do that to yourself. My wife happens to like Taco Bell.

But censorship gets my goat. So we will eat at someplace else. Maybe LA Casita.

What gets my goat is needless hostility. I don't understand your response at all. You seem hostile, for no reason, to someone who was cheering you on. And they were responding to your comment that they don't have your business anymore.

 

Those who assume...well, looks like you are doing all the assuming here.

You are missing something here. A post just before this contained the remark that was related to this.

That person has since deleted that post. So now mine don't make sense. They chose not to make an (.) of themselves.

Sorry I should have quoted that post then it would not have disappeared.

OK, that makes a lot more sense. Thanks.

[+Shop99er]

They're paying for the wi-fi, not any of us are. If they want to block particular sites (which I seriously doubt is what happened), that's entirely within their rights.

 

Contrary to the current "I'm entitled" mind-set in this country, TB does not owe anyone any wi-fi access.

[+Mn-treker]

They're paying for the wi-fi, not any of us are. If they want to block particular sites (which I seriously doubt is what happened), that's entirely within their rights.

 

Contrary to the current "I'm entitled" mind-set in this country, TB does not owe anyone any wi-fi access.

It may be true that they do not owe this to any one.

But when you provide a service, Limitations are limited.

Example back when pay phones where in these places they could not limit you as to who or where you called.

Granted that was a pay phone but it was on their property. Also some used to provide a radio at the booth not coin operated.

No limitation as to what you listend to. Now that really dates me. I can understand porno sites being banned but geocaching.com?

If they provide a newspaper they are not allowed to cut out what they don't like.

[+niraD]

If they provide a newspaper they are not allowed to cut out what they don't like.

Sure they are. They could toss the sports section and put the rest of the paper out. Or they could toss the comics page, or they could toss the classifieds, or they could toss the business pages, or they could toss whatever else they wanted to toss.

 

And they could certainly choose whether to offer the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal or USA Today or the National Enquirer or the local weekly.

 

Maybe they deliberately chose to block access to the geocaching.com site. Maybe they deliberately chose to block access to "social" sites, and geocaching.com just got lumped in with the rest. Maybe they chose to use a third-party service for a list of "bad sites" and someone erroneously reported geocaching.com to that third-party service as a "bad site".

[+Crow-T-Robot]

 

If they provide a newspaper they are not allowed to cut out what they don't like.

 

They aren't? Since when? A business could take a scissors and cut out every story about Obama or Jerusalem or the Pope or the NFL or the Kardashians, etc, from their complimentary newspaper/magazine if they so desired. They don't because it would probably be bad for business, not because they aren't allowed to.

[knowschad]

Good grief, people! Do you really believe that Taco Bell actually hired somebody to go through the internet and create an entire list of Evil Empires to block from their WiFi? Would it not be MUCH more likely that some geeky innocent simply installed some generic blacklist (or whitelist) of sights that include a great many other sites that said geek had never heard of? Very likely it is a list that came with the WiFi router, for that matter. This is not the Evil Empire. False alarm. Please watch out for the Real Evil Empire.

[+wmpastor]

Good grief, people! Do you really believe that Taco Bell actually hired somebody to go through the internet and create an entire list of Evil Empires to block from their WiFi? Would it not be MUCH more likely that some geeky innocent simply installed some generic blacklist (or whitelist) of sights that include a great many other sites that said geek had never heard of? Very likely it is a list that came with the WiFi router, for that matter. This is not the Evil Empire. False alarm. Please watch out for the Real Evil Empire.

Of course. Different restaurants, cafes, etc. have different business models. Some want you to come and go quickly, and those might have limited Wi-Fi. Others are happy to have you stay, read, etc. I go to one place that seems to not limit the sites you visit, but your session times out in 2 hours.

[+Viajero Perdido]

I think somebody touched on the answer back there.

 

Somebody (not at Taco Bell) was developing the filter list, and had to make a decision:

geocaching.com = gaming.

 

Somebody else had to make a decision for Taco Bell: Gaming = no. Possible reasons:

- Uses too much bandwidth

- People knock over tables when they get carried away.

 

And so it came to be...

[+kunarion]

Different restaurants, cafes, etc. have different business models. Some want you to come and go quickly, and those might have limited Wi-Fi. Others are happy to have you stay, read, etc. I go to one place that seems to not limit the sites you visit, but your session times out in 2 hours.

The “free Internet” in hotels is hit & miss. And the person at the counter doesn't know what wifi is exactly. But she's pretty sure my PC is acting up. And my iPad. Oh, yeah, and the droid.

 

Which is a problem since some of those trips are for caching events. Or include some anticipated caching. So at some point I'll be driving around the village trying to find a Hotspot.

 

McDonalds seems pretty good for wifi, anywhere I've tried it. Never at Taco Bell (not even blocked wifi). Many other restaurants have a cable company's wifi Internet, which you must log into using your cable Internet user info. I don't have such an account. And if a business is in the area of the city's “Free In-Town Wifi”, good luck with that. The good signal is two blocks away.

[MoonPie Mafia]

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

[+Manville Possum]

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

 

Really a simple work around to access geocaching.com from Taco Bell.

[+Sharks-N-Beans]

This topic is destined to go to a second page...crazy, just crazy. I work at a lab and our source of revenue is chemistry and microbiology analyses. We had a new customer that could not log-in to our site. After about 4 days working w/ their IT, it was determined that the problem was the first 4 letters of the bolded product.

[+Astro_D]

Was at my local Taco Bell for dinner and decided to see if I could access Geocaching webpage on my phone using thier wifi. I had no issues whatsoever accessing geocaching webpage, logging in, and searching for caches and reading the forums. I had hubby try and access the geocaching site on his iPad, and he didn't have any issues either. So maybe Taco Bell blocking certain sites on their wifi is a limited in certain areas?

[+wmpastor]

So maybe Taco Bell blocking certain sites on their wifi is a limited in certain areas?

Maybe by page 2 of this thread there will be a nationwide chart or list of Taco Bells with Geocaching access. One can only hope!

[+Astro_D]

So maybe Taco Bell blocking certain sites on their wifi is a limited in certain areas?

Maybe by page 2 of this thread there will be a nationwide chart or list of Taco Bells with Geocaching access. One can only hope!

LOL. I've now posted to this thread a second time.

[+The A-Team]

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

 

Really a simple work around to access geocaching.com from Taco Bell.

Yeah, don't go to geocaching.com and the block won't have any effect!

 

These forums aren't on geocaching.com, so that's why you didn't have any problem getting to them. They're on Groundspeak.com. No back-door is required. You could just type in forums.Groundspeak.com to go directly to the forums.

[+Manville Possum]

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

 

Really a simple work around to access geocaching.com from Taco Bell.

Yeah, don't go to geocaching.com and the block won't have any effect!

 

These forums aren't on geocaching.com, so that's why you didn't have any problem getting to them. They're on Groundspeak.com. No back-door is required. You could just type in forums.Groundspeak.com to go directly to the forums.

Re-read the post by MoonPie Mafia. We had no trouble accessing our geocaches, then came here to the forums. We went to one of my waymarks, then checked the nearest geocaches which were MoonPie's caches, then came here to the fourms.

[+kunarion]

Here's the screen that appears. This is likely at any Taco Bell that has wifi. It's the official Taco Bell Wifi with an agreement screen and everything. I tried a couple of simple things like the direct IP address, but didn't change network settings.

 

If the previous replies are saying there's a way to use Geocaching.com from within Waymarking.com, posting the specific steps would be helpful.

 

[+MartyBartfast]

 

If the previous replies are saying there's a way to use Geocaching.com from within Waymarking.com, posting the specific steps would be helpful.

 

Follow the link which Walts Hunting posted in reply #13, that will work around this "block" which isn't really a block at all.

Edited December 30, 2014 by MartyBartfast

[+kunarion]

 

If the previous replies are saying there's a way to use Geocaching.com from within Waymarking.com, posting the specific steps would be helpful.

 

Follow the link which Walts Hunting posted in reply #13, that will work around this "block" which isn't really a block at all.

I saw that. I meant what is the "Waymarking.com backdoor" in the previous posts? I think they meant that there is no way to get to Geocaching.com from Waymarking.com. I kind of would have assumed that if Geocaching.com was blocked, it would be blocked nomatter what site you come from. But it's good they specified that it also doesn't work from Waymarking.com.

 

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

 

Really a simple work around to access geocaching.com from Taco Bell.

 

To be clear, Geocaching.com is blocked at Taco Bell, and special DNS settings may bypass this, and "www.Groundspeak.com" and the Forums are not blocked at all. It's not a "back door through Waymarking.com". Right?

Edited December 30, 2014 by kunarion

[+Bear and Ragged]

 

If the previous replies are saying there's a way to use Geocaching.com from within Waymarking.com, posting the specific steps would be helpful.

 

Follow the link which Walts Hunting posted in reply #13, that will work around this "block" which isn't really a block at all.

I saw that. I meant what is the "Waymarking.com backdoor" in the previous posts? I think they meant that there is no way to get to Geocaching.com from Waymarking.com. I kind of would have assumed that if Geocaching.com was blocked, it would be blocked nomatter what site you come from. But it's good they specified that it also doesn't work from Waymarking.com.

 

It is true that Taco Bell blocked geocaching.com, but I'm here now posting in this forum. I also have no problems accessing anything else here. I sneaked in a back door through Waymarking.com

 

Really a simple work around to access geocaching.com from Taco Bell.

 

To be clear, Geocaching.com is blocked at Taco Bell, and special DNS settings may bypass this, and "www.Groundspeak.com" and the Forums are not blocked at all. It's not a "back door through Waymarking.com". Right?

 

Post #42 has the explanation.

 

Log in to Waymarking, call up a waymark, and then click on list for Nearest Cache.

[+kunarion]

 

Post #42 has the explanation.

 

Log in to Waymarking, call up a waymark, and then click on list for Nearest Cache.

"Nearest Geocaches" sends you right back to www.geocaching.com. That site is blocked by Taco Bell. But if it works that way, some specially saved URL Favorites should also work. And no DNS server changes needed.

 

OK, I'm off to Taco Bell to test the browser again.

[+The A-Team]

Log in to Waymarking, call up a waymark, and then click on list for Nearest Cache.

So, the DNS settings will block access to the root of the domain (geocaching.com), but will let you through to any sub-pages on that same domain?

 

That doesn't sound right...

[+Mn-treker]

Good grief, people! Do you really believe that Taco Bell actually hired somebody to go through the internet and create an entire list of Evil Empires to block from their WiFi? Would it not be MUCH more likely that some geeky innocent simply installed some generic blacklist (or whitelist) of sights that include a great many other sites that said geek had never heard of? Very likely it is a list that came with the WiFi router, for that matter. This is not the Evil Empire. False alarm. Please watch out for the Real Evil Empire.

The Evil Empire: Now that sounds like a good name for a cache!

Ruled by Darth Petey.

[+kunarion]

Log in to Waymarking, call up a waymark, and then click on list for Nearest Cache.

So, the DNS settings will block access to the root of the domain (geocaching.com), but will let you through to any sub-pages on that same domain?

 

That doesn't sound right...

Yeah, it seems like that isn't right.

 

I tried it tonight and that “backdoor”, as I understand it, didn't work. I went to www.Waymarking.com, displayed a local Waymark, then clicked the [search for...] “Nearest Geocaches” link. It opened www.geocaching.com/seek (plus coordinates to form a long URL), and that got blocked, same as if I had gone directly to www.geocaching.com. I also tried www.geocaching.com/play. And I tried “www.Groundspeak.com” by itself (not the Forum URL), and that domain's not blocked. Is there a better link to try? Geocaching.com is blocked pretty good at the local Taco Bell. I haven't messed with DNS settings yet.

 

However, I ran the Geocaching App, and that seems to work fine through their wifi. You don't get everything that would be on a cache page, but the fact that the App works at Taco Bell, could rescue a caching trip.

 

I couldn't place an order, since "the computers are down at this time". Then the employees went outside, leaned on a car and had a smoke and a chat, and cars pulling up to the order sign were greeted with silence. So there are other valid reasons to avoid Taco Bell.

Edited December 31, 2014 by kunarion