Wi-Fi (Wireless Broadband) FAQ

This page is about our Wireless Broadband product that lets you access the Internet from BT Openzone hotspots. For information about connecting to broadband at home or in your office with a wireless router, check out our setup guide. (Note that this is for the Voyager 2110 Wireless Router but instructions should be similar for all wireless routers).

What is Wireless Broadband and can I get it?

1. What is Wireless Broadband?
2. Where can I use Wireless Broadband?
3. What hardware do I need?

Using Wireless Broadband

4. How do I login to my Wireless Broadband?
5. How do I end a Wireless Broadband session?
6. How can I find out how many minutes I’ve used?
7. How long can I stay online?
8. Do you limit data transfer?
9. Do you port block or limit Wireless Broadband?
10. Is Wireless Broadband secure?
11. Can I access my email with Wireless Broadband?
12. Can I use my wireless-enabled PDA?
13. How far away from a hotspot can I receive access?

Wireless Broadband accounts

14. Can I upgrade or downgrade my Wireless Broadband account?
15. Can I cancel my Wireless Broadband account?

Wireless Broadband prices and billing

16. How much does Wireless Broadband cost?
17. Do Wireless Broadband minutes expire?
18. What are additional minutes?
19. When will I be billed for any additional minutes used?

What is Wireless Broadband and can I get it?

1. What is Wireless Broadband?
Wireless is the fast, reliable and mobile way to get broadband Internet access in public places.
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2.Where can I use Wireless Broadband?
At BT Openzone hotspots. Locations are nationwide and range from bars to airports. You can download a full list of these as either a:

• PDF file
• Excel spreadsheet

Please note those hotspots highlight in blue cannot be used at this time. We aim to provide connection through these other providers' hotspots in the future.
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3. What hardware do I need?
A 802.11b or 802.11g wireless enabled laptop, running MS Windows (any version from Windows 95), Apple Mac (OS 9 or later), or any Linux distribution.

Wireless Broadband uses the 802.11b Wireless LAN protocol. Laptops using the newer 802.11g standard can also use 802.11b.
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Using Wireless Broadband

4. How do I login to my Wireless Broadband?

1. Find a BT Openzone hotspot.
2. Windows XP will attempt to connect to the hotspot. If it can’t detect it, you can manually connect.
3. Check your laptop’s Wireless Network Connection is set to BT Openzone by opening the wireless icon in your system tray.
4. Open your web browser e.g. Internet Explorer.
5. Type wifilogin.plus.net in the address bar.
6. Enter your username and password when prompted. This will access your Wireless Broadband minutes.
7. Login to Wireless Broadband.

You are now connected to the Internet with Wireless Broadband.
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5. How do I end a Wireless Broadband session?
Always remember to logout when you’ve finished your session - you will be charged for every minute you stay connected.

To end your Wireless Broadband session:

• Type wifilogin.plus.net in the web browser address bar.
• Click logout.
• You will be disconnected

Important: Your connection will time-out and disconnect if you don’t use it for 10 minutes.
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6. How can I find out how many minutes I’ve used?
The View My Wireless Broadband Usage tool allows you to keep track online. The tool displays total minutes used, when and where.

The tool is in the Connection Settings section of My Account in the Member Centre.
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7. How long can I stay online?

You will be disconnected if you exceed the maximum session for your product. You can get back online straightaway.
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8. Do you limit data transfer?
No. With Wireless Broadband you are charged for the time you spend online, not the amount of data you transfer.

We don’t recommend downloading files bigger than 10MB.
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9. Do you port block or limit Wireless Broadband?
We restrict port 25, used by SMTP servers, to prevent spam abuse. This won’t stop you from sending and receiving email.

Router assigned, private IP addresses may prevent access to services that make a direct connection to your computer.

You cannot run the ping command to test your connection, as it has been disabled.
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10. Is Wireless Broadband secure?
Your account is password protected. All data is protected with a 128 bit public key and SSL encryption.

Always check for the padlock icon in your browser when accessing financially sensitive websites. Click the icon to prove that the website is genuine and secure.

We also recommend:

• Installing a security program on your laptop to protect it against viruses and system intrusion.
• Deactivating any automatic log-in features, e.g. Auto Complete in Internet Explorer.
• Using a secure Virtual Private Networking (VPN) when connecting to a corporate network.
• Checking for the padlock icon on your web browser to prove a website is secure.

11. Can I access my email with Wireless Broadband?
Yes. Most email programs, including Outlook Express, won’t require any changes to work with Wireless Broadband.

If you have difficulties accessing your email, switch your email program’s outgoing mail server (sending SMTP) to the BT Openzone mail server:

smtp.btopenzone.com

Your email program should now work properly.
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12. Can I use my wireless-enabled PDA?
PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are not supported on Wireless Broadband, but connection is possible.
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13. How far away from a hotspot can I receive access?
Hotspots broadcast a standard wireless frequency, with a range of up to:

• 50 metres indoors.
• 150 metres outdoors.

Wireless Broadband accounts

14. Can I upgrade or downgrade my Wireless Broadband account?
Yes, at any time. Upgrades are instant - all costs are pro-rated to your next billing date.

Downgrades happen on your next billing date.
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15. Can I cancel my Wireless Broadband account?
Yes, at any time. Your account is closed 30 days after your cancellation request. See the Cancelling Wireless Broadband guide for more information.
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Wireless Broadband prices and billing

16. How much does Wireless Broadband cost?
Per Minute - only available to existing customers with a broadband or dial-up connection product.

Buy and use minutes as required. All minutes are charged at the standard Per Minute rate (see table below).

Pre-Pay - buy blocks of minutes as you need them.

Subscription - a monthly subscription with included minutes. Any additional minutes are charged at the standard Per Minute rate (see table below).

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17. Do Wireless Broadband minutes expire?
Per Minute - no expiry date. Can be bought and used at anytime.

Pre-Pay - buy credit in a block, e.g. £10. The block will expire a week after you start using it.

Example: if you buy a £10 credit block on 21 June, but don’t start using it until 15 October, the credit block will expire by 22 October.

Subscription - all included minutes must be used in the billing month. Minutes cannot be carried over to the next month.
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You can use up to £15 of minutes before your service is suspended. You will be unable to connect with Wireless Broadband until you pay off the outstanding balance.

Additional minutes are only available on Per Minute and Subscription products.
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19. When will I be billed for any additional minutes used?
The date you are billed for these minutes depends on the amount you've used within a month:

Over £5.00 - you will pay for these minutes on your usual billing date.
Under £5.00 - this balance is carried forward to your next billing date.

Read the Wireless Broadband Billing Guide for more info.
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This page last updated 23rd September 2008