How do you guys manage your bills??

nominal?? lol, sure...
Flying J is the biggest rip off of them all. What is it, like $49 a month? Siricom won't let you have a dynamic connection, so things like streaming video and online games won't work. You also have to physically be at one of their "hotspots." It's just another way of hooking you to a particular chain of truckstops.

Your best option will be to get a cellular internet card, or data plan on a modem-capable phone. The cards run about $50-$60/month for service. The phones have a cheaper fee (usually between $20-$30/month) but service will be slower. The big upside is that you can use them anywhere you have cellular service.

Option 3? There is one... Good luck with it though. You could try and park by motels and hotels with free wifi, but most of them are starting to adopt a username and password system so that only guests get to use it.

 

Your option 3 is highly illegal.

 

Exactly how?? I have found MANY motels and hotel chains that are almost on top of truck stops. Just park as close as you can.

It's a no-charge service they provide, unless it's metered (requires login) anyone can use the signal. NOTHING illegal about it.

 

Here is a story on google, stealing wifi search.
I have blanked out his name.

You will find people have been charged in Florida, Illinois, Michigan and a few other states.


XXXXXXX of Sparta, Michigan has been arrested and charged with stealing the Wi-Fi connection from a nearby coffee shop. He was arrested after a police investigation targeted his computer.
The ultimate penalty for the 2000-vintage law: five years in jail, $10,000 fine.
The law says:

752.795 Prohibited conduct.
Sec. 5.
A person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization do any of the following:
(a) Access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to acquire, alter, damage, delete, or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network.
(b) Insert or attach or knowingly create the opportunity for an unknowing and unwanted insertion or attachment of a set of instructions or a computer program into a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network, that is intended to acquire, alter, damage, delete, disrupt, or destroy property or otherwise use the services of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. This subdivision does not prohibit conduct protected under section 5 of article I of the state constitution of 1963 or under the first amendment of the constitution of the United States.
​

Kent County Assistant Prosecutor Lynn Hopkins tells Patrick Center of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids:

“This is the first time that we’ve actually charged it,” and it could be the only case of its kind in the state. “Oh, we’d been hoping to dodge this bullet for a while. We had not been looking for this,” she said. “We knew it would come up eventually and we’d have to make a decision as to how to deal with it.”
​

Fortunately, XXX has a clean record and won’t have to do the time. He’ll pay $400 and perform 40 hours of community service.
Hopkins hopes this action serves as a deterrent.
“People need to know that this isn’t legal and if you get caught there are some pretty serious consequences.,” Hopkins said.
Hey I can see it now.
“What are you in for?”

 

Oh, for cryin out loud!!! He was on a HOME-BASED computer network and CONSTANTLY using that connection.

Two VERY different things. By your standards even someone just sitting down with a laptop at a free hot-spot would be breaking that law. I didn't say to move into the motel and not pay for the room!

A free wi-fi hot-spot is just that, a FREE connection point. You can use it, just not ABUSE it. Just to be even more clear...

752.795 Prohibited conduct.
Sec. 5.
A person shall not intentionally and without authorization or by exceeding valid authorization do any of the following:
(a) Access or cause access to be made to a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network to acquire, alter, damage, delete, or destroy property or otherwise use the service of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network.

This was created so that there was a route of prosecution for hackers, not wi-fi users. If you're not hacking, cracking, or doing other illegal activities you will be fine.

(b) Insert or attach or knowingly create the opportunity for an unknowing and unwanted insertion or attachment of a set of instructions or a computer program into a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network, that is intended to acquire, alter, damage, delete, disrupt, or destroy property or otherwise use the services of a computer program, computer, computer system, or computer network. This subdivision does not prohibit conduct protected under section 5 of article I of the state constitution of 1963 or under the first amendment of the constitution of the United States.

Again, malicious intent, or illegal activities.

Basically, a hacker can go to a wi-fi hot-spot, like a coffee shop, and hack. With this law in place the coffee shop will not be held liable for the damages and in-turn may press charges against said hacker. This guy was probably holding lan-parties for his buddies off the connection.

**added -Oh, wait, I'm using a free connection right now, I better keep an eye open for the cops!!! good grief... Some people need to chill**

 

I don't care what people do. There are many interpretations to the law.

People have been charged for using the service. The case I listed for you baffles me since the coffee shop allows the use during the day. I assume he used it when it was closed. I don't know.

There are people that will drive by and use the services of someones home or business. If the owner of the service failed to protect the internet connection, does that make it legal for you to use it?
Consider, if they left the door unlocked is it then legal for you to walk in?

I find it not adviseable to tell people to use questionable wifi services.

I asked a motel once if I could use their wifi to check the weather channel.com for the weather and they said no. It was only for guests and they checked regularly for the number of users to rooms.

 

Metered: A service that is monitored by means of some login process and allows for tracking of logged users, while blocking unauthorized users.

Basically, the motel has a password which the guest can obtain by asking for it. This password is usually changed daily. Other systems use the room number for the login name, and individual passwords.

The reason I said good luck with it, is because most of them are now metered in some form or another. This is NOT a reliable way to get connected.

 

He was using it during his lunch break everyday and no one complained. One day the sherrif came along and seen him asked him what he was doing and he told him. the officer didnt know at the time that it was illegal so no arrest were made. he looked it up at a later time and found out it was illegal as stated under the law above and proceded to press charges.
This is exactly what happend. (well i cant say word for word but i came across it ther other day and spent about an hour finding other sources for it and it seemed to be all the same. I dont remember the sites now)

What got me the whole time i was reading it was the fact that he was just sitting in his car using it everyday. WHY ON EARTH WOULDNT HE JUST GO IN FOR A COFFEE OR HECK EVEN JUST A COKE OR SOMTHING.
Some peoples children i tell ya.