Author Topic: WiFI access on Northern Tier  (Read 10898 times)

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Offline hpscott

WiFI access on Northern Tier
« on: June 25, 2010, 07:35:44 am »
Are there any WiFi junkies with recent experience on the Northern Tier route willing to post about the frequency at which they were able to get access (free or otherwise)?

My intention is to camp most of the way, so I'll be mainly looking for cafes and the like, rather than hotels.

Offline mtnbiktn

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2010, 09:49:06 pm »
My first post here.

I am on the NT now, camping on the Vermont School of Law campus with their permission of course. Wifi all over the campus as I am in my tent. I started at Wells Maine, then rode up to Barhabor so for Maine,NH and Vermont wifi is hard to find as these are rural areas mostly. I might get on the internet once a week. Possible to find more i'm sure, but nothing like you find living in a big city. Other states coming up may have more spots available. Hope that helps.

Offline valygrl

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2010, 07:49:48 pm »
I don't know if this is compatible with what you mean by "camp" - but I haven't been in any RV parks without wireless for the past couple of years in the US.  Haven't done the NT, though.

Offline JayH

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2010, 09:21:37 am »
If not wireless, libraries are sometimes access points for the internet, I was able to check my email in the twin cites of Auburn/Lewiston in Maine on my ride to orient, ME.

Jay

Offline woodhoud

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #4 on: July 10, 2010, 10:14:30 am »
I did the Northern Tier last Summer , West to East. I found public libraries to be the most reliable source of free WIFI. I used an IPOD application that allowed me to write blog entries and then send on the next connect. It's called Blog Writer from Virtuesoft. Some campgrounds had WIFI but usually it was the ones that cost over $20 to camp. The best bet would be a web enabled phone. Cell service is almost everywhere.

woody

Offline JayH

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #5 on: July 16, 2010, 03:14:03 pm »
There's also now Barnes and Nobles and Starbucks too, as well as a lot of "coffee houses" :)

Jay

Offline mucknort

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2010, 12:43:59 pm »
We are doing a modified NT and are passing through Ontario, Canada at the moment. To ensure wifi access, we purchased and are using a Verizon mifi device. It allows you to get internet access anywhere there is cell phone access. It has worked great (except here in Canada, where we have used libraries).

Offline Pat Lamb

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2010, 11:36:34 am »
On the two stages of NT we did last year, there was wi-fi every day except for two.  Apgar campground in Glacier (although there may have been some near the visitor center), and the Winthrop to Newhalem were isolated.  Of course, we were in motels more than camping, but there was wireless in every town.

Check local libraries (if they're open).  Most were free, and the exceptions were $1-2 for an hour or all day.

Offline gary.alaska

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2010, 08:45:05 pm »
We are just finishing up the Northern Tier from Bar Harbor to Anacortes.  Most private campgrounds provided Wi-Fi for free, sometimes for a fee.  If you have problems it will probably be in North Dakota and eastern Montana. 

Offline hpscott

Re: WiFI access on Northern Tier
« Reply #9 on: October 26, 2010, 04:23:10 pm »
Thanks for the responses, everyone!  I was surprised by how easy it was to find WiFi.  The only places I couldn't readily get access were the national parks, but that was fine. Otherwise, even small towns usually had libraries with free WiFi, and the networks were often available after hours outside.