Overnight wifi?

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I didn't want to hijack another thread, and anyway, this is kind of a specialized question.

Do stores that provide free wifi generally turn it off when they close for the night?

I'm wondering if it's possible (assuming you have a good external antenna, etc.) to watch movies and tv shows in the wee hours when the bandwidth isn't being clogged by 27 other people trying to use it at the same time?

What's the experience of others here?

Regards
John

 

[wagoneer]

Out West it's a crap shoot park too close and the local PD will be suspicious, you have a shot at seven eleven, employees are not as vigilant and security cameras are on. Occasionally a random signal is spotted I have left an open door on many occasions.

 

[compassrose]

I have not found the wifi was turned off at night. I tended to rent a movie from Redbox while traveling. Sometimes I returned it in the same place I was staying at before leaving out. Sometimes I returned at my next stop (often in another state). Because sometimes, we were too tired to watch the movie by the time we got all settled in for the night. So we watched it once stopped the next night. I also have a pretty large collection of DVDs (I use Redbox as a screening process to decide if I like a movie enough to watch it often... has saved me a lot of money) Most of the wifi signals we used were from businesses around the parking lot we were staying in. Our preferred parking lot is a Sam's Club. I don't think they turned theirs off at night. I really can't remember. I've slept since then.

 

[rvpopeye]

I've used it overnight in a couple of Lowes .

Places with free wi-fi aren't always a very fast connection so streaming movies won't always be an option everywhere.

They usually work well enough to do updates though!

I've got a StraightTalk no contract 4G LTE hotspot and places with free wi-fi sure help to save my data on that.

 

[ccbreder]

I am in a Comcast area. I learned of Comcast wifi hotspots. You need a Comcast account pass word. 24/7. Got a friend?

 

[rvwandering]

Lowes, Home Depot, Panera Bread, Safeway grocery stores, Sam' Club - we've had good luck getting on all of the free WiFi networks at theses places. All have been left on after the stores closed.

 

[MK7]

Get this bigass antenna, it will help right away and it's cheap: http://www.amazon.com/HQRP-SET-2-4-...qid=1433986631&sr=8-32&keywords=tenda+antenna

 

[HarmonicaBruce]

I've used wifi at lots of places after hours and have never seen one turned off.  It's work to turn it off, and back on, and so much easier to leave it on.  The VFW and Eagles usually have wifi.  A good antenna is helpful.  I have this, and I'm happy with it, but others say this is a really good antenna, and it's much cheaper.  I've found excellent wi fi at laundromats, and I could park close.