Free wireless internet access at McDonalds

[MSE Martin]

What's this about?

McDonalds has joined Wetherspoons in offering free wireless internet access in restaurants around the country.
Where can I get it?

At the time of writing, it's available in 310 out of 1,200 restaurats nationwide but should be available in all restaurants by the end of the year (2007).

To find out if your local Maccy D's has free wi-fi use its Restaurant Locator . As it only launched yesterday it may have not have updated yet, so check back if it says you can't get it.

What do I have to buy?

There is no minimum purchase and no time limit but of course it hopes the longer you stay there, the more food and drink you'll buy!

How does this compare?

While other places offer free Wi-Fi too, as it's a national chain with mroe branches than elsewhere, it's a very useful thing to know. Getting Wi-Fi access in places like Starbucks or other coffee chains can cost up to £10 for an hour, so this is a bargain - as food and drink is pretty cheap anyway!

Martin

PS thanks to the posters below for pointing this out.

[Rikki]

CLICK HERE This was mentioned yesterday.

Might be worth linking this to this discussion.

Note from Martin

Thanks for the link; this post was meant to be merged in with the other, but now its gone in the weekly email that's impossible - so best the discussion stays here.

[Babbler]

All Varsity bars have been doing this for a while as well! www.varsitybars.com - and the food tastes better! McDonalds are behind the times!

[Gorf123]

Originally Posted by MSE Martin

There is no minimum purchase...

What's to stop you just parking up outside and using their WiFi without paying anything?

Originally Posted by MSE Martin

...and no time limit but of course it hopes the longer you stay there, the more food and drink you'll buy!

And here was me thinking the bright lights and uncomfotable seats were designed to get you in and out as quickly as possible.

[SiBak]

Up until now they used the BT token system, not very popular

This is excellent news, how about the knock on benifits? free phone calls with some of the Skype wifi phones?

Phone #1

Phone #2

Drive to the nearest Drive through and call your friends in Australia.

[culpepper]

some mobile phones can use 'fring' to access skype .I have it installed on my phone although as yet I havent found a free wifi hotspot to try it out on....
http://www.fring.com/about/what_is/ will definitely try it at mcD's when they eventually install the free internet in our area.

[Babbler]

Starts in December.

[superscaper]

"Would you like wi-Fries with that?"

[MercilessKiller]

hang your head in shame.. that was just awful

[superscaper]

Originally Posted by MercilessKiller

hang your head in shame.. that was just awful

Actually my next post was going to be "why isn't there a nominate worst joke of the month?"

I am already hanging my head in shame.

[Ignatius_A]

Originally Posted by Gorf123

What's to stop you just parking up outside and using their WiFi without paying anything?




And here was me thinking the bright lights and uncomfotable seats were designed to get you in and out as quickly as possible.

Actually I think you might find that, as this service is offered to customers, simply using it from the car park without buying anything may well be classed as theft of service.

Of course it's unlikely they'd want the publicity of trying to prosecute you - but don't be so cheap. Don't McDonalds do free refills on coffee?

[Tao81]

So what's the maximum distance you can be from a wi-fi hotspot to be able to use it successfully - we have a Morrisons car park right beside our local McD's, does this mean by the end of the year we'll start having trouble finding a parking space to do our weekly shop then?!!!! :confused:

[albertross]

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

[Tao81]

Originally Posted by albertross

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

Yeah, excellent point Albertross

[Scrooge11]

Yeshappy to report that Skype works when outside Macdonalds so you don't have to buy crappy burgers to justify the use of the WiFi.
In early 2007 I was sat in my car with Laptop on talking to a friend in the UK from car park of MacD in Luxembourg as they had Free WiFi before UK.
If your battery in Laptop gets low then get a 12Vdc to 240V Inverter and keep going while running the car engine!!!

Encryption or lack of it has not been a problem so long as YOUR Laptop is set up with suitable security software and correctly.

[shandypants5]

Originally Posted by albertross

Depends on the setup, but 50-100metres or so usually.

Using free unencrypted wifi sounds great, until you think about the potential security consequences you are exposing yourself to.

Can you expand on ths a little Albertross.?
What can anyone else see, that they cant see on my home wireless?
My home wireless is encrypted btw.. but I thought that was just to stop other people using it for free.:confused: .

Please Type the answer slowly and assume I know nothing....about anything...

[islandman]

May be worth a mention. Recently out of curiosity, I googled "free wifi hotspots in ..........." and listed a town. Up came the known free access points in the town. Loadsa places I wouldn't have thought of. Try it for your town and see what comes up.

[albertross]

They can potentially see every webpage you visit (apart from https), every email you read, every messenger conversation etc. Encryption scrambles this info. if you have no personal firewall on the pc, and file and printer sharing setup, then they could also potentially get at your files.

[don9999]

I just tried to connect to the internet outside my local McDonalds restaurant.

My laptop seemed to find the wireless connection, but stated that it had security enabled. I clicked on the connection but it requested a wireless security password!

I thought that McDonalds were providing free, un-encypted wireless connection.

Or do you have to collect a password when ordering some food?

I didn't pop in this time, but will probably do so tomorrow, on my way home.

Cheers,
Don

[Shaun_d123]

All the ones I have been to have been unsecured and you havent needed a password.

Once connected you should be able to open your internet browser and click on the free McDonalds access icon.

You then have to enter a few personal details and away you go

Are you sure you were connected to the correct Wi-Fi hotspot for free access. Were there other connections available ?