I'm thinking of using WiFi hot spots. I assume they charge for internet usage. How do I pay? Do I need an ISP?

Answer 1

Some are free, some detect you trying to connect to the network and require authorization (your room number, etc. in a hotel) or will require you to pay for use (usually with a credit card at an hourly rate). If you can connect to an unsecured wireless access point, you don't have to pay anything. Since this is an internet connection, you don't need an ISP.

Answer 2

traveling around with a wireless laptop or home based computer, may allow you to connect to the internet without paying. People use wireless routers, for home or business, which send out a signal the can be recieved by any computer in the building. Sometimes these signals are stronger than necessary and can be picked up by your computer. You may be grabbing a neighbors signal or if your in a city, probably just from an office or apartment nearbye. You do not need to pay and will never be billed for this usage, but you will get a better signal (faster connection) if you purchase your own router.

Answer 3

MANY "hot spots" like McDonalds are free FOR PATRONS. (Sitting in the parking lot to use it is "theft of services.")

Some are available at a charge.

OR you could access a neighbor's "unprotected" wireless connection, but doing that is illegal (theft of services); and you could be charged with, depending on the jurisdiction, a misdemeanor or a felony.

Such connections provide the ISP, BUT they also tend to be more "open" to hackers.

Answer 4

The hotspots are free. the ones like at mcdonalds and panera bread , and pizza popolis....

you don;t need to pay .. and no isp is needed unless you need isp stuff like logging into aol or something...
other than that it;s free browsing...

Answer 5

all wifi is, is wireless internet 802.11x
You can steal someones connection or you need to have a cable/dsl connection with a wireless router..