Local businesses are quite generous in the number of FREE wireless hotspots available to the general public as well as Public Internet Terminals. This will probably continue as long as WiFi users continue to be decent customers — it is important to avoid becoming someone who just hogs up space without buying anything in some reasonable interval. Also be mindful of others who share your connection: massive use of bandwidth (such as peer-to-peer programs) hurt the others that share the connection. Ironically, the larger chains in town require their customers to pay for access, while small business owners in town typically offer it without charge.
A Google Maps mashup provides a nice view of WiFi hotspots in different locations, although more data needs to be added for hotspots in town. Cogeco has a list of Cogeco Wi-Fi Hotspots for their customers in Peterborough or available on a pay-per-use basis. Also, Fon has a searchable map that lists at least three Fon Hotspots in Peterborough.
A PushPin Map of mashup provides a view of cell phone dead zone locations and more data needs to be added for poor coverage areas in town.
Security
Most public wireless networks do not use encryption. This means that if the websites you are accessing do not use encryption (i.e. their addresses don't start with https), anyone else with a computer close by can see everything you send and receive. Some websites such as facebook and all wikispot wikis use encryption for just login information so that while somebody could read everything you are doing online, they cannot get your user name and password. MySpace does not use any encryption so you might want to hold off reading your messages and such until you get to a place with wired internet or encrypted wireless (such as at home).
One way to secure all your web traffic is to securely to connect to a web proxy.
Access within the City of Peterborough
Not all wireless access points are maintained equally well
- Haaselton's Coffee and Sweets - 394 George Street North
- Natas Café - 376 George Street North
- Peterborough Public Library - 345 Aylmer Street North
- Dancing Blueberries & Desserts - 360 George Street North - no password
- The Whistle Stop Cafe - 141 Charlotte Street - need password from staff
Access on Trent Campus
eduroam Hotspots
Available to Trent University and other educational affiliates. See https://www.eduroam.org/ for information on the worldwide wireless system and for the network on campus, including how to set up your laptop for access see https://www.trentu.ca/it/node/19.
Hotspots Outside Peterborough (but on the Wiki)
- Lakefield?
