Wireless Internet is a valuable commodity in today’s day and age. People with laptops going places always like to stay connected and business people need it as commerce continues on, even when you’re away from your desk and not online. I recently discovered that the New York State Thruway is offering free WiFi service at all of their rest areas. The New York State Thruway is a toll road and having free WiFi at the rest areas is particularly helpful for people needing to get online to find directions, find their way around, and to get information about where they are and get going!
The New York State Thruway is a very well traveled road; free WiFi access on the New York State Thruway is a blessing. All you need is a WiFi device which runs a standard Internet connection and you’re all set. The New York State Thruway WiFi network supports 802.11 a/b/g wireless standards. Your wireless network settings need to be connected to “Thruway” and the TCP/IP properties must be set to either “DHCP” or “Obtain IP/DNS Automatically.” For most people who regularly use a wireless Internet connection, connecting to the New York State Thruway’s Free WiFi should not be a problem.
For many users running Windows enabled products, they should be put on notice; a warning message will come up warning you not navigate to this host because there are security breaches. There will be two choices for you to click; click the red lettered choice which says something to the effect of: “connect to this website/not recommended.” Many people may be worried about viruses and such like that but this is not a problem at least in my experience with this warning on the New York State Thruway.
While most people who are using the free WiFi on the New York State Thruway, it will just be to check up on things for a little while and then you’ll be on your way. However for hippies like my wife and myself, free WiFi on the New York State Thruway could be the beginning of a commune! Folks who try and overstay the posted time limits at these rest areas should be warned: The New York State Thruway will tow a car that remains at one rest area for longer than four hours. So you may be getting free WiFi from the New York State Thruway but you may be put in a tight pickle when you get back to your car and find that it’s gone!
There are 27 travel plazas which are WiFi enabled on the New York State Thruway. On Interstate 90 eastbound from the Pennsylvania state line to Albany folks can go to Angola, Pembroke, Scottsville, Clifton Springs, Port Byron, DeWitt, Oneida, Indian Castle, Mohawk, and Guilderland. Travel plazas located on Interstate 90 westbound from Albany to Pennsylvania state line include Pattersonville, Iroquois, Schuyler, Chittenango, Warners, Junius Ponds, Seneca, Ontario, Clarence, and Angola.
The travel plazas on Interstate 87 northbound from New York City to Albany include Ardsley, Sloatsburg, Platterkill, Malden, and New Baltimore. The travel Plazas located on Interstate 87 southbound; from Albany to New York City are New Baltimore, Ulster, Modena, and Ramapo.
Sources:
http://www.nysthruway.gov/travelplazas/directory.html
