South Padre WIFI

[SouthPadreLive]

WIFI
As I understand it would be cost prohibitive vs benefit for our city to provide WIFI.
If enough local business would provide it as a value added service I personally believe that would satisfy most visitors.

It is more of a draw than most local business people seem to realize.

I personally have asked the local chamber to poll their members as to who provides it and I think they got back one or two responses.

I offer a great free way to tell the would be traveler that you offer such services on www.southpadrehotspots.com

Have you ever been by the sunset café at 1004 padre and seen all the laptops open while enjoying what the café has to offer.

That guy has a WIFI goldmine right there

The concept of lying on the beach with laptop really does not seem practical.
I have tried it and the screen is almost impossible to see.

Individual business owners can cover most of this island with the basics of internet connectivity then it becomes a matter of speed, which ever has the fastest WIFI could become the next big selling point.

I will personally go around and test each listing on the page and post the results.

Just an idea! What do you think?

JW

[starsfan2299]

Thanks for posting this information. We are visiting in a couple of weeks (if repairs are made in time) and our condo does not have internet access.

[islander]

Since this benefits the lodging industry directly, it seems to me they should get together and fund this.

It will probably not determine if someone comes to the island at all, but it may determine where they stay.

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by islander

Since this benefits the lodging industry directly, it seems to me they should get together and fund this.

It will probably not determine if someone comes to the island at all, but it may determine where they stay.

Islander

We field many calls and emails each day and even more since dolly and people are starting to ask where the WIFI is?

It really does make a difference so much so that we personally invested in an always on High Speed Mobile Set up for our business and we now have the ability to offer on the spot mobile WIFI to any area in south padre.

We have joined SPI Musicfest in helping to promote that event and plan to use our equipment to stream live reports from the island during the fest.

We could not wait for WIFI so we carry ours around with us!


JW

[Swells]

I think there's more than just 4 places, JW. I used to have a notebook with a wireless card and was surprised that almost every street in SPI has a good signal from routers that were not password-protected and encrypted. Try it sometime. Do you have an open, public WIFI channel, too?

I'm a little confused because at one time, the new City Hall was supposed to have it - mainly for emergency operation on one channel and for public use on another. Is that being cut from the budget? Sheesh, I thought it was a done deal. I thought is was the 5 to 20 "hotspot" network that was being discontinued or debatable in the budget?

But there are some pay-for WIFI hot spots in certain hotels and businesses, and Paragraphs promises to have WIFI there after it opens (free I don't know). I'll never forget how nice it was to drive down the street and find a signal and download 500 messages ... some were important enough I was glad to get them! -sam

[SouthPadreLive]

Swells

I am sure there are more.

Two minutes to send me an email and tell me so and i will promote it like crazy.

I don't know if its the DUH factor or what!
Getting people "business owners" to participate in something even when its free and bound to help drive visitors to them has always been extremely hard here.

The Chamber sent notices by mail and email to no avail.

I just need good current info and i will publish it for free for ever.

I dont even care who sends me the info, i will go to each spot to confirm it is free and open WIFI or it does not get on the site.


JW

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by Swells

I think there's more than just 4 places, JW. I used to have a notebook with a wireless card and was surprised that almost every street in SPI has a good signal from routers that were not password-protected and encrypted. Try it sometime. Do you have an open, public WIFI channel, too?

I'm a little confused because at one time, the new City Hall was supposed to have it - mainly for emergency operation on one channel and for public use on another. Is that being cut from the budget? Sheesh, I thought it was a done deal. I thought is was the 5 to 20 "hotspot" network that was being discontinued or debatable in the budget?

But there are some pay-for WIFI hot spots in certain hotels and businesses, and Paragraphs promises to have WIFI there after it opens (free I don't know). I'll never forget how nice it was to drive down the street and find a signal and download 500 messages ... some were important enough I was glad to get them! -sam

I do maintain a high speed network at Louie's.

It is a closed network but available with advanced notice and to gain access all you have to do is join my newsletter and ask for access.

it's speed can not be matched by your average wireless node and we use it for meetings and such, it is also is what powers the server that runs the Streaming cams.

Louie's also maintains a seperate open and free wireless network

JW

[Joni]

But there are some pay-for WIFI hot spots in certain hotels and businesses, and Paragraphs promises to have WIFI there after it opens (free I don't know). I'll never forget how nice it was to drive down the street and find a signal and download 500 messages ... some were important enough I was glad to get them! -sam

Yes, it will be free. La Quinta offers free WIFI with their rooms and in public areas.

The WiFi the town was providing had two components. First it was to be used by the town for communications purposes. Then depending on the bandwidth requirements (???) the decision would be made on how much free access to give to the public. At the last meeting I attended there was some fine print discussion about charging customers for additional access or to obtain faster speeds - if that makes sense. /JSM

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by Joni

Yes, it will be free. La Quinta offers free WIFI with their rooms and in public areas.

The WiFi the town was providing had two components. First it was to be used by the town for communications purposes. Then depending on the bandwidth requirements (???) the decision would be made on how much free access to give to the public. At the last meeting I attended there was some fine print discussion about charging customers for additional access or to obtain faster speeds - if that makes sense. /JSM

Joni
You have just exposed my DUH factor!
I am the webmaster for La Quinta and La Copa and totally forgot they both offer WIFI as well does South Beach Inn

They have now been added to the list.
Come on forum peep's do you know of any more?

What’s the name of that Italian ice cream shop next to blackbeards?
Does anyone know if Zeste's offers WIFI?

[rw1146]

Originally Posted by Joni

Yes, it will be free. La Quinta offers free WIFI with their rooms and in public areas. /JSM

Since places that offer WIFI are being mentioned I think those which don't should be mentioned. My wife and I stayed at the Rad five nights last March and it cost fifty cents for a half hour local call, any time over half an hour was extra cost. There was no WIFI. Luckily I have an AOL account and was able to get online through the Brownsville AOL dialup connection, a local call. I do volunteer work for rootsweb.com and had to defer any editing online until we got to a small motel in Gonzales, TX which had free high speed. Go figure!
Bob Sanders

[SouthPadreLive]

That is a very good point that rw1146 just made!

Of course I will not post any place that does not offer totally free WIFI.

I often wonder why someone would stay and pay for any accommodations in this time of everything internet that does not offer full WIFI in the room?

To be fair the Radisson does offer a business center with free internet access, they just don’t offer it in public areas or in the rooms if I have my facts correct.

Personally when I travel I not only ask but I test the WIFI before I decide to stay!

Have you ever tried to get a desk clerk to reboot a router?

In this a free market driven business I would not only ask but demand free WIFI or I would take my dollars elsewhere.

[chezron]

Just a note...Radisson does have WIFI. We have used it the last two winters in our rental condo and in their Starbucks coffee shop.

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by chezron

Just a note...Radisson does have WIFI. We have used it the last two winters in our rental condo and in their Starbucks coffee shop.

I will test Radission for WIFI once they reopen.

I do miss my sunday trip to the breakfast buffet, maybe now i can lower my cholesterol count!

[mustlovespi]

Zeste has WiFi = at least that is what the temporary sign out front says.

[SouthPadreLive]

Originally Posted by mustlovespi

Zeste has WiFi = at least that is what the temporary sign out front says.

I have seen Zeste post on here, would they now chime in and tell us for sure that they have WIFI?


Don't make me come over there and blow my diet!

The fancy pickled items get me every time.

JW