Access Point (AP)
The hardware device that broadcasts the wireless network signal and, in the case of a Boingo Hot Spot, is connected to the Internet by a hard wire
The Boingo Client
Software application that runs on your laptop computer helping you connect to Wi-Fi networks, and enabling connection to the Boingo network
Boingo Wireless
Provider of wireless internet services with hundreds of access points nationwide.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Free Communities
A location where Wi-Fi access is provided by a person or group at no cost to the user. You will never be charged to connect to a Free Community.
Hot Spot
A location from which you can access the internet using Wi-Fi. Hot Spots include both official Boingo locations, and free communities.
IP Address
Internet Protocol address; every computer directly connected to the internet must have a unique 12 digit numerical address. This address is dynamically assigned every time your computer connects to the internet.
Mail Client/Email Client
The program which you use to download and read your email. (e.g. MS Outlook, MS Outlook Express, Netscape Mail)
NAT
Network Address Translation; A network environment in which one set of IP addresses are used to connect to the Internet directly, and another set are used internally. In the case of most Wi-Fi networks, you will be given a NATed address, meaning that you will have a subset IP address instead of a true Internet IP address.
PCMCIA Card/Slot
Originally designed to add memory to laptops and portable computers, PCMCIA adapters have evolved into the most common port used to add hardware to a laptop. Your Wi-Fi card is most likely a PCMCIA card. Also called PC Card. (The acronym stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association)
SSID
Service Set IDentifier; This is the wireless network name or descriptor for an access point or collective group of access points. You can see the SSID of a signal by clicking on Details, then Available Signal Details from inside the client.
VPN
Virtual Private Network, a secure connection to corporate or other remote network. A VPN encrypts information so that it is only readable by the sending computer and the server on the other side of the VPN connection.
WEP Key
Wired Equivalent Privacy; The security key that encrypts your data and protects from other people from snooping on your internet connection or gaining access to your access point without your permission
Wi-Fi
Short for "Wireless Fidelity"; Another term for 802.11b, the technology that this client uses. Wi-Fi/802.11b is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology that uses 2.1 GHz radio signals to allow up to 11Mbps (mega-bits per second) of data transfer.