So I decided I wanted to be a cheap bastard frugal about the whole Internet thing… I mean, that could be another $40 a month I’m spending on beer, right? Anyway, I my back was feeling better, so I wandered over to Compusa this afternoon and picked up a “Supercantenna,” this thing that looks like a pringles can with a tripod. Replaced my internal wifi antenna with the pringles can. Lo and behold, there are like three more wifi connections available! Alas, all of them are also password-protected. The thing about the supercantenna is, though, that it’s not omni-directional — you actually have to aim it. It literally took me like half an hour, but eventually I connected up to “ourcasa.” Thank you, ourcasa. Now, I just have to not more the supercantenna from where I have it jury-rigged.
Where are the ethics in that? This oughta be interesting …
C’mon … they’re broadcasting a radio signal into my apartment — how can anyone expect me not to use it?
I think if you have an unsecured network, you’re inviting others to access it — just like a non-password protected website (such as this one) invites users to connect. Seriously, when I lived in Jersey, I purposefully didn’t password-protect my WiFi network, just in case a neighbor wanted it. I’m glad someone is now returning the favor!
And on a practical note, my browsing a few webpages and sending a couple emails should have just about zero effect on their network. It is not like I will be doing anything that requires a lot of bandwith.
I’m writing this from my computer connected to some neighbor’s network. I actually met the owner of one of the networks I can ‘see’ from my computer, and he told me I was welcome to ‘leech’ from him, but the network I use has a stronger signal…
wow. isn’t it funny that with all this technology and wireless stuff, we still use pringles cans? reminds me of those alien things we used to put on top of tvs…it would be nice if those made a come-back too…
Of course now if you start surfing kiddy porn or downloading music illegally, your neighbor will get busted…