Free Wifi at Texas Rest Stops

[Bobby Prentice]

Free wifi is now available at almost all of the Texas rest stops. I'm sure many of these location will quickly become popular with storm chasers. I hope other Chase Alley states follow the TxDOT lead, but I'm not holding my breath.
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/mnt/sra/map.htm

 

[Dick McGowan]

Yes, this is a great idea. I was at the Texas Welcome Center back in early March, (Near Gainesville?) and it worked great. They give you a 2 hour limit per user, however (IIRC). Iowa also has it at their rest areas also, but I noticed I had to go up into the building before I could get a connectable signal.

 

[Scott Olson]

For those that don't know, Iowa has free wifi access at most of it's rest areas.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

For those that don't know, Iowa has free wifi access at most of it's rest areas.

Has their access policy changed? The first time I stopped at an IA rest stop earlier this year, everything was smooth. The last time I stopped, however, I could only access sites linked to / connected to the main site that loads when you log into the system. In other words, I couldn't access any site like SPC, NWS, CNN, etc; all I could see was the 'weather' data on the IA DoT page.

 

[Scott Olson]

Has their access policy changed? The first time I stopped at an IA rest stop earlier this year, everything was smooth. The last time I stopped, however, I could only access sites linked to / connected to the main site that loads when you log into the system. In other words, I couldn't access any site like SPC, NWS, CNN, etc; all I could see was the 'weather' data on the IA DoT page.

Once logged in to the main homepage you should be able to go to any other site. I can't remember if there is something you need to click on to do it. I don't like the way ISPOT has it setup (requiring an account and making you goto the homepage first). I was just reading about how they are working on setting up sites across Nebraska, South Dakota and Illinois, among others. The last time I used it was in late April and I was able to get onto SPC but I couldn't get GR3 to download.

If anyone is on their chase computer, it might be worth going to the address below and quickly filling out an account.
https://secure.tcpconsulting.com/webapps/ispot/HotSpotSignup

 

[Tim Vasquez]

Wifi at Andrews, Crosbyton, and Knox City? It's hard to picture getting high-speed Internet around there, but maybe times are changing.

It would be interesting to see the results of wardriving while chasing remote areas. There are some interesting coverage maps at the wardriving websites, but they're mostly for urbanized areas and along Interstates.

Tim

 

[David Drummond]

Wifi at Andrews, Crosbyton, and Knox City? It's hard to picture getting high-speed Internet around there, but maybe times are changing.

It would be interesting to see the results of wardriving while chasing remote areas. There are some interesting coverage maps at the wardriving websites, but they're mostly for urbanized areas and along Interstates.

Tim

I've used the one at Crosbyton, it's in the rest area just off the caprock that they recently renovated. One of the nicest remote ones I have been to in Texas. The internet there is courtesy of a DirecWay dish on the roof of the main building, as I suspect most of these remote ones are.