Introduction: Urban Survival 101: Mobile Computing on the Fringe
On the road with little but a laptop an a video camera, you too can maximize your productivity in the field with focus, dedication and a highly adaptive outlook. Today, we're going to learn how to tap into troublesome, external power outlets with a laptop and how to connect to existing wireless networks nearby. Unless we're overtaken by tusken raiders or something, but that's rare.
Step 1: Quit Carrying That Laptop! Let the R2 Deal With It.
Yeah, it's a full-sized hand truck and it's all done up like it's something. Hey, with everything strapped on, who's going to steal it? I mean, what are they going to do, run down the street with a loaded handtruck? Besides, it can easily be disguised and it may even deflect bullets! That's why I highly recommend it for both home and the office.
Check out the slideshow:
Pimp My Hand Truck
Step 2: Line It Up
When setting up your laptop outdoors or anywhere you want to be able to hide it, run your cables along the grooves of the walls to limit their visibility. In this case, the electrical outlet is in the next (and less comfortable) booth in this study shelter at a certain, unnamed school.
Step 3: Locked Out!
Oh no! They've locked up the outlets! How is the public supposed to use the power at their own schools? Is there no spirit of good left in this accursed land?
Step 4: Not Really
Good thing I checked. All I had to do was use one of the prongs from my adapter as leverage and lift the lid just like a hot stove.
Step 5: Cover It But Don't Smother It
Cover any obvious cables that you can with a backpack or jacket, but remember, these things get hot. Try to block your adapters without covering them. Give things room to breathe and straighten your cables where you can. And no knots.
Step 6: Blunt Sign!
Either a bantha passed by here, or we have blunt sign the likes of which even Tupac has never see.
Step 7: Pull Inward
Clean, organize and otherwise "tighten up" your station and get to drekklatin'.
Step 8: Find a Network and Pray Like a Mother
"Oh hoary hoast of the wireless nether realms, I call on you to do my bidding! Please. Whenever you're ready."
When you're done with that, click on your wireless network adapter icon on the lower right of your taskbar (the little, single computer) If it's not there or it's "X'd" out, I'm not talking to you. You need to become a professor and get your wireless hardware working before you can fly. Traveling through cyberspace ain't like dusting crops, boy!
So, anyway, click on the computer icon in the bottom right of your screen and walk through the steps along with the pictures below.
Step 9: What to Do?
Then rejoice at the joy you've found.
Step 10: Wait! What If I Can't Find a Signal?
Well, go somewhere else. It's called mobile computing for a reason. Coffeeshops have free wireless cellphone stores have networks coming out of their windows, anywhere they make copies, they run wireless networks, schools, dorms, offices... lots of networks to dig through. Your task is to balance battery usage with strategic productivity, proximity to power and to dance around the migratory patterns of tusken raiders. They move single-file, you know. Covers their tracks.
Step 11: There's One Now!
They must have smelled my water. I gotta go.
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42 Comments
14 years ago on Introduction
I do it a bit aswell, mainly because they don't use their internet much... It's still not a great idea, a business wont reall notice the difference but a home user will see the difference immediately...
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Of course if you are in the UK then you only have to worry about the Misuse of Computers Act or the Telecommunications act - if you are using it without the explict permission of the owner
14 years ago on Introduction
Nice instructable, as an addition to the list both Starbucks and McDonalds now offer free wireless, also if you see a certain sideways 8 symbol chalked on someone's gate that usually indicates an open network, try to avoid using residential networks, they're slower and it's rude... Another quick thing is that there are power adapters on trains, usually by the doors and toilets, these are usually used for cleaning purposes but if you aren't a nuisance a conductor usually wont annoy you... An external or homebuilt antenna can also be a big boon to a wireless laptop user, they make it way easier to find networks, also check that your transmission power is up all the way, it barely affects battery usage but makes a big difference to networking... An extra battery pack is also a great idea, it's just nice to know you have a backup in case of emergency or lack of power, use them alternately to make sure the packs stay good...
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Add Burger King, LeeAnn Chin, Cariboo Coffee and Barnes & Noble Books to the list. Wendy's and Taco Bell might be worth a look too.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I'm not sure about the "sideways 8" symbol, but check out this link.
(It also links to the corresponding Wikipedia article from that page.)
http://www.guide-to-symbols.com/warchalking/
Have fun!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Depends where you are in the world then... Good little site, the symbols one...
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Starbucks and McDonalds now offer free wireless..
Starbucks' WiFi is "free" with the purchase of a coffee =o
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Really, I logged on once and have it saved as a network profile, granted it varies buck's to buck's
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
granted it varies buck's to buck's
Hmm, probably. Maybe it's just in the US? I dunno, I only saw it once, so it could definitely vary. But I don't buy coffee (or anything) from Starbuck's anyway. =P
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
The funny thing is I get coffee from starbucks alot and have bought it three times... Pick the moment and the right person, nothing illegal, just good old fashioned being nice... But some of them change the code on a weekly rota, one each day, others generate one and keep it, some do change it about alot...
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
i wanna know where do y'all live starbucks down here (Albuquerque NM) t-mobile has a contract with all of the starbucks and its 10 bucks a day, oh well at least the city provides free wifi at the libraries.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I live in Northern Ireland, see UK...
12 years ago on Introduction
hey a good name, you say your dads a Liar. I mean Lawyer!! so do me a favor, Have him find a law that says you HAVE to pay federal income tax. BECAUSE THERE ISNT! seriously, i put a 50,000$ reward in the newspaper for someone to find that law for me, and not one person ended up calling back.
12 years ago on Introduction
Interesting, it never occurred to me to take note of 110 VAC receptacle that may be available for my use. Then again whenever I'm motor vehicle mobile/portable. I have plenty of electrical power available. As long as one isn't using an unwieldy wifi antenna, it would be hard for someone to guess if you are indeed piggybacking someones internet connection.
14 years ago on Introduction
How is this a "Winner"? Not only is it poorly done, it encourages stealing. Grey legalities of wireless aside, bypassing a lock to use a power outlet is stealing. No grey area there.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
PARTY-POOPER :(
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
You can't like own electricity, maaaaan...electricity is a living thing, maaaaaan
14 years ago on Introduction
So what you're actually showing us how to do is steal (power, wireless service) from whichever municipality or property we happen to be squatting in?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
It ain't illegal unless the network is secure.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Consider this- say your house has a nice yard, but with no fence around it, and someone decides to camp on your lawn. You'd consider that trespassing, right? It's the same principle. And plugging into a power outlet is illegal in most every city- which is why the thing was locked and the creator of this how-to showed you how to break into the outlet cover and set his coat on top of the power cord. That's also stealing. We'll just have to agree to disagree.