Wi-Fi locator websites
 

Great article from WWS today
www.WomensWallStreet.com

Yes, the world is rapidly going Wi-Fi. All across America, wireless access to the Internet is being offered free in libraries, throughout airports, and in most hotels. But that’s not all. Wi-Fi locations are expanding to include coffee houses and shops eager to get your business while you surf the Web. For those of you who love to open up your laptop and connect in public, here are some must-have Wi-Fi-related websites:

http://www.wififreespot.com/ - Commonly asked questions and answers about Wi-Fi connections.
www.JIWire.com: Helps you find local Wi-Fi hotspots by ZIP code -- all around the world!
http://www.havewifiwilltravel.com/ - Offers the newest, coolest Wi-Fi accessories like the Wi-Fi Seeker, the hand-held gadget that sniffs out wireless connections and their signal strength ($25.50+s&h).

A lot of people around here have wireless networks set up in their houses, so if I wanted to, I could just mooch off them. The connection would be horrible though.

http://www.highwayhotspots.com

-all Iowa rest stops and welcome centers have free wi-fi.

depends on if they put up password protection or not. One of the bus drivers in Ames drove routes one day with his laptop running to record all wireless access points along the routes. One route alone had around 200 points, 80% of which were not password protected.