Wireless access in or around East Lansing, MI?
Next week my girlfriend and I will be driving down to Michigan State University so that she can check out a grad programme there. As she's doing that, I'll be needing to get some work done, work I'll require a WiFi connection for.
So my question is simple: does anyone know where I can find a hotspot near MSU where I could sit down comfortably for a few hours and work away?
I see that the city of East Lansing advertises a free hotspot downtown, but I'd rather not work outside. Can this hotspot be accessed from any cafés or restaurants?
I also see that this mall in Lansing has a Starbucks with a T-Mobile hotspot. Am I correct in assuming this is a relatively short drive from MSU?
I'm more than happy to pay for WiFi access if I have to, so all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
So my question is simple: does anyone know where I can find a hotspot near MSU where I could sit down comfortably for a few hours and work away?
I see that the city of East Lansing advertises a free hotspot downtown, but I'd rather not work outside. Can this hotspot be accessed from any cafés or restaurants?
I also see that this mall in Lansing has a Starbucks with a T-Mobile hotspot. Am I correct in assuming this is a relatively short drive from MSU?
I'm more than happy to pay for WiFi access if I have to, so all suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Comments
Someone, somewhere mentioned using yahoo to find wireless access points. That would help you with Starbucks or whatever. If you are on campus, you might luck out and hit an open network there, but that's hard to tell. You could do that on my campus, but I hope MSU is more secure than that.
Eastwood is not far from campus, but not like walking distance. I'm sure there is a Starbucks closer (probably more than one, right?).
Good luck.
Originally posted by machem
My hometown. That being said, unless you war drive to my folks house, I can't help you. Ask tacojohn here at AI. I'm sure he will see this and post (or not).
Well, I will have a car
Eastwood is not far from campus, but not like walking distance. I'm sure there is a Starbucks closer (probably more than one, right?).
Good luck.
Much to my surprise, it seems that this Starbucks is the closest one with WiFi. Guess I might have to drive to this mall.
Many thanks for the help, though!
Yes- there are a few places that offer wireless...although I've never actually used any of them yet...
Cafe Royal on Grand River (Right across from Berkey Hall on Campus) I guess has wireless (I'm not sure if its free or not- I think it is)
Also Buffalo Wild Wings downtown (right behind Barns & Noble on Grand River) now has wireless for free. They're advertising it at least...
There are only 2 places on campus (besides your random hotspots from students dorm room and such) that I know of that have it, but I think you have to be a student to access these...the business library and the communication arts and sciences building (my home away from my home away from home- I basically live in that buildings computer labs).
The DMAT lab is a cool place to visit if you're taking a tour or are bored. Its room 134A in the comm arts building (just check the schedule near the door to make sure there isn't class going on) walk in like you know what you're doing and you'll find a nice mac lab with tons of expensive software and 25 dual 1GHz quicksilvers with super drives and a gig 'o ram and all the editing equipment you could dream of...
Enjoy MSU! East Lansing is a cool place.
Peace.
Originally posted by tacojohn
My home away from home...
Yes- there are a few places that offer wireless...although I've never actually used any of them yet...
Cafe Royal on Grand River (Right across from Berkey Hall on Campus) I guess has wireless (I'm not sure if its free or not- I think it is)
Also Buffalo Wild Wings downtown (right behind Barns & Noble on Grand River) now has wireless for free. They're advertising it at least...
There are only 2 places on campus (besides your random hotspots from students dorm room and such) that I know of that have it, but I think you have to be a student to access these...the business library and the communication arts and sciences building (my home away from my home away from home- I basically live in that buildings computer labs).
The DMAT lab is a cool place to visit if you're taking a tour or are bored. Its room 134A in the comm arts building (just check the schedule near the door to make sure there isn't class going on) walk in like you know what you're doing and you'll find a nice mac lab with tons of expensive software and 25 dual 1GHz quicksilvers with super drives and a gig 'o ram and all the editing equipment you could dream of...
Enjoy MSU! East Lansing is a cool place.
Peace.
Thanks for the info. Perhaps if I get all of my work done I'll stroll by that DMAT lab; it sounds like fun.
I am somewhat surprised to hear that only two buildings on campus have wireless for students. Mind you, quick visit to the MSU site didn't indicate any. Do you know if the school plans on expanding its wireless network? Everyone tells me that it's quite a large campus, I I'm thinking this could be costly.
I'd be happy with it in most buildings....
Cafe Royal on Grand River (Right across from Berkey Hall on Campus) I guess has wireless (I'm not sure if its free or not- I think it is)
mmmmmmmmmm..... wireless access. Does Berkey still house mostly English/Lit classes?
Also Buffalo Wild Wings downtown (right behind Barns & Noble on Grand River) now has wireless for free. They're advertising it at least
mmmmmmmm..... buffalo wings....
I am somewhat surprised to hear that only two buildings on campus have wireless for students. Mind you, quick visit to the MSU site didn't indicate any. Do you know if the school plans on expanding its wireless network? Everyone tells me that it's quite a large campus, I I'm thinking this could be costly.
There is 20 minute breaks between classes for a reason.
It's pretty cheap to blanket a campus with wireless (compared to wiring). Being involved a bit with what is going on on our (microscopically-small compared to MSU) campus, I can say I'm glad there isn't much going on at MSU, and it is restricted. We have it all over, and it's OPEN, which is worse than running unpatched XP servers, IMHO. Fortunately, this will change very soon.
Originally posted by machem
There is 20 minute breaks between classes for a reason.
It's pretty cheap to blanket a campus with wireless (compared to wiring). Being involved a bit with what is going on on our (microscopically-small compared to MSU) campus, I can say I'm glad there isn't much going on at MSU, and it is restricted. We have it all over, and it's OPEN, which is worse than running unpatched XP servers, IMHO. Fortunately, this will change very soon.
Totally open? As in free public access? Wow. Whereabouts are you? Here at McGill they rolled out the wireless network quite quickly (which I very much appreciate!) and you need to log in for basic access then VPN in for network services (like sending e-mail or e-journals). The networks aren't hidden though. By and large, this is what I've seen at the universities in Canada I've visited lately. Some do hide their networks though, such as at University of Toronto.
I must complement McGill for one nice touch: there's now a way to get a vistor's log-in for visting faculty/conference attendants/ etc...
Originally posted by machem
mmmmmmmmmm..... wireless access. Does Berkey still house mostly English/Lit classes?
Unfortunately yes. Its dork central in that building...jk.
mmmmmmmm..... buffalo wings....
Yes- mmmmmmmmm...the best buffalo wings ever I might add.
Originally posted by CosmoNut
Gabid, you can head to http://www.wififreespot.com to check out free access in every state in the union. A few places are listed for East Lansing.
Thanks. I had checked some other WiFi directory (I can't remember which one) and it had no listings.
So far lots of help. Thank you all kindly!
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I am somewhat surprised to hear that only two buildings on campus have wireless for students. Mind you, quick visit to the MSU site didn't indicate any. Do you know if the school plans on expanding its wireless network? Everyone tells me that it's quite a large campus, I I'm thinking this could be costly.
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My almamater, Western Michigan University, was one of the first schools in the nation to offer wireless access for the entire campus. No matter where you are on campus, buildings, a bench outside, you have free access. Its great - too bad I didn't get my PowerBook until after I graduated!