The latest update to our favourite password-storing and syncing tool LastPass allows you to import and export your Wi-Fi passwords and store them as a secure note in the software. Normally your Wi-Fi passwords are only stored on your computer, but if you want to sync them between machines, or be able to look them up from any internet-connected device, you’ll now be able to do that.
Unless your house looks like the grid from Tron, your wireless routers and repeaters probably look pretty ugly and out of place. DIYer Bradley has a guide to hiding your repeater’s circuitry in something a little bit more attractive.
Windows 8 will include mobile broadband as a specific connection type alongside wired and Wi-Fi networks, meaning that you should be able to use a USB dongle for mobile broadband simply by plugging it in. That sounds great. The problem is we’ve heard it all before.
Free public Wi-Fi is still a relative rarity in Australia’s major cities, so how is it possible to make it viable in a town with less than 400 people? Newstead offers some interesting lessons about Wi-Fi, the National Broadband Network (NBN), open source and how to manage community projects.
Ever tried to connecting to airport lounge free Wi-Fi and concluded that it’s too slow and unreliable to be worth the effort? Qantas’ recent switch from Telstra to Optus has bought a massive improvement in performance.
Vodafone’s mobile broadband gear gets discounted pretty regularly. If you’re a hotspot fan, this is a good deal: Dick Smith has the prepaid Pocket Wifi 2 online for $39.50 including delivery, which is half the regular price. [Dick Smith via OzBargain]
Originally, I had my Billion 5200N (above) broadcasting on channel 8 and reception was strong throughout the apartment. However, a few months ago we started having constant drop-outs. Where it was once possible to smoothly stream videos from my upstairs server to my laptop, which was connected to my TV downstairs via HDMI, it had suddenly become a nightmare, with Media Player lagging and playing catch-up and VLC stuttering like no tomorrow.
We don’t have enough free public Wi-Fi in Australia, so I’m all for this: Optus will be offering a free Wi-Fi service on the grounds at the Australian Open, which kicks off in Melbourne on January 16.
Your Wi-Fi network is your convenient wireless gateway to the internet, and since you’re not keen on sharing your connection with any old hooligan who happens to be walking past your home, you secure your network with a password, right? Knowing, as you might, how easy it is to crack a WEP password, you probably secure your network using the more bulletproof WPA security protocol.
Windows/Android: If you’re travelling with a laptop and an Android phone, chances are you’ll want to connect both to any Wi-Fi networks you use on the road. Wi-Fi PC Sync saves you having to go through the entire log-in process twice.
