How to Find a Hotspot

Ready to take your laptop on the road? Here's how to locate a Wi-Fi connection.

So how do you find these free Wi-Fi hotspots, short of actually switching on your computer?

Some keychain-size gadgets light up if they detect a Wi-Fi signal, but Angela says she wouldn't spend the money since most of them don't tell you anything about the hotspot, just whether there's a signal. Besides, says Steve, the gadgets rarely tell you if the Wi-Fi signal is available to everybody or just to people who know the encryption code. Also, says Angela, there may be legal problems with hopping on just any Wi-Fi signal you find.

The best thing to do? Look up local spots before you venture out. There's a pretty good list of legal spots at JiWire . Those listings are pretty thorough, including such useful info as which hotspots cost money and which are free. Some listings even have setup advice for your machine, though obviously you should read those instructions before you head out.

If coffee's not your thing, try the public library. More public libraries are installing their own hotspots for patrons. In some cities, public areas like parks may have Wi-Fi hotspots as well. And in places like Philadelphia, planners are turning the whole cities into giant hotspots.

So now you have somewhere to go. Next question: What should you take there? Your notebook, for openers. But you don't have to stop there.