Staying Connected On the Road

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Finding reliable Internet access in unfamiliar areas can add to the complexity and stress of traveling. Fortunately, there are many ways to resolve the problem --- free or paid, hardware or software, stationary or m obile. We asked Daniel Greenberg to survey the field of solutions in the traveler's quest to go online on the road.

· WiFiFreeSpot

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(http://www.wififreespot.com)

What it does best: Why pay for WiFi in a chain coffee shop when the quaint cafe around the corner offers access for free?

This Web site catalogues free WiFi hot spots in the United States and overseas. It lists the usual coffee shops, hotels and libraries along with some surprises, such as vacation rental properties and travel plazas on the New York State Thruway. The site is more useful in big cities with many free hot spots (more than 50 in the District) than smaller towns (though finding the only free hot spot in Liverpool could prove invaluable).

Where it falls short: The hot spots are listed by state and city, but not by neighborhood or area code. This makes it hard to know for sure which free hot spots are closer to you. International listings are sparse, with some broken down by city (Scotland) but others not (Ireland).

The biggest drawback is that you have to use it before you actually need it. If you don't have WiFi access, how can you use the site to locate WiFi access?

Bottom line: The site has many limitations, but it works and it's free. It's good for travelers who plan ahead and stick to their itinerary.

Our grade: B-

· JiWire

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(http://www.jiwire.com)

What it does best: JiWire has solved the riddle of how to find WiFi access when you have no WiFi access. Just download the free Hotspot Finder, an offline database of more than 140,000 free and paid hot spots. Search it wherever you roam to find wireless access. Each time you connect to a new hot spot, you can update its listings.

JiWire is available for Windows XP and 2000 (no Vista support yet), Mac OS X and as a browser toolbar. It even runs on some handhelds and phone handsets. The free service comes bundled with a 10-day free trial of WiFi security software that costs $25 a year. The JiWire Web site contains many other useful tools and articles for travelers.

Where it falls short: Though JiWire's list is extensive, not every available hot spot is catalogued. Most likely to be missing are those in out-of-the-way places where a listing would be most useful. The generally excellent JiWire Web site can be somewhat confusing about what is free and what costs extra.