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I'm starting to sympathise with the French traveller as the last 7 days in France we've only been able to pick up Wifi once in our overnight locations vs success rates of 70-80% in Greece / Eastern Europe.
What I have noticed however is a massive number of SFR Wifi Public and Free.Fr wifi hotspots (Free unfortunately being the name of the network, not 'gratuit' as in without charge) - usually 2 or 3 at least.
How does one go about obtaining a login for these hotspots? A friend of mine did succeed by getting friendly with an assistant in an SFR shop and was given the assistants own login(!) but it seemed there was no other way.
I have not researched this myself yet but posing an open question
I had a look at this, since as you say the SFR hotspots seem to be everywhere. As far as I could understand it, access to SFR hotspots is similar to BT Openzone in the UK, free for SFR broadband subscribers otherwide you have to subscribe on an annual basis. If anybody knows better I stand to be corrected. I struggled with WIFI access in France except for McD's and campsites.
Go to the maire, the campsite office, the office de tourisme, the local hypermarket etc etc and they will all give you the log-in for the local free network. France has been networking up it's towns, cities and villages for some years now and that is all you need to do.
Welcome to the real world!!!!! Internet access in France is very expensive whether it is Broadband at home or internet on a smart phone or any other device. I don't know why this should be, we have recently been looking at other providers than what we have now. Its a minefield and the only way we can get it cheaper is by having France Telecom and calls via the modem. Thats nearly 40 euros as against the 62 euros we are paying now, although we have free calls to the UK and France for 30 minutes maximum call but if you want to phone a mobile then you need a mortgage.
We have only been successful with WiFi when we have a Friends access code and connected in their houses and MacDonalds although there are a few shopping malls now that are on WiFi.
Hi Addie
Are you returning early then?
I live in France and am a subscriber to SFR for landline/broadband.
The system works the same as Fon where the Neuf (SFR) box emits two signals-one personal and one public.
An SFR subscriber can log in to all other Neuf/SFR wifi hotspots with one's e.mail address and password.
This system is great for us but no good for other non subscribers.
Hope this helps.
If you are anywhere near Limoges/Angouleme you are welcome to a hook up and wifi for the night!!!
Regards
Alshymer
Addie...sorry but I thought you meant free wifi access when you stop for the night. We've seldom been without it on village or town aires but you do have to have the log-in code first. It is however, completely free. Over the years we've watched it get better and better and there are few places where you can't get access now.
I don't know what you need to do if you are moving there for domestic use.
Go to the maire, the campsite office, the office de tourisme, the local hypermarket etc etc and they will all give you the log-in for the local free network. France has been networking up it's towns, cities and villages for some years now and that is all you need to do.
G
Unfortunately these are not valid for SFR or FREE and these are the only networks of this type we have found at out overnight spots.
Of course Wifi is available at the regular places (tourist offices, campsites, McD's, some towns / cafes) but given the prevalance of these two networks everywhere I'm interested in any partner networks which may grant access, albeit potentially paid for.
Fortunately we have Vodafone Data Traveller (using it to post now on this thread) so we are still 'connected' to the internet.
Ashymer - thanks for the offer, we're not returning early but skirting along the South of France from Greece / Italy en-route to Spain for Xmas and then Morocco in Jan
Unfortunately these are not valid for SFR or FREE and these are the only networks of this type we have found at out overnight spots.
Of course Wifi is available at the regular places (tourist offices, campsites, McD's) but given the prevalance of these two networks I'm interested in any partner networks which may grant access, albeit potentially paid for.
Addie, have you tried inputting a password from the local office into these free networks ? I'm puzzled as to why you have had problems at aires etc- usually there is a free local network we've found- free as in no cost / no contract ( unlike Cloud etc !)
Addie, have you tried inputting a password from the local office into these free networks ? I'm puzzled as to why you have had problems at aires etc- usually there is a free local network we've found- free as in no cost / no contract ( unlike Cloud etc !)
No, but SFR / Free.Fr is a country wide network like BT FON, I have a friend who has been in France for months and has only been able to gain access using SFR login details given to him by a paying customer. These two particular networks are commercial networks - not local tourist / municipal networks.
We don't 'need' Wifi - our 25/MB with Vodafone more then suffices (been browsing 2hrs, used 13MB to browse 130MB of websites using Opera Mini on my phone) but was asking since I can now sympathise with members who post continually struggling to get Wifi in France.
Vodafone are partners with SFR but do not have a link through using a Vodafone password. I have been complaining to them for 2 years over this.
BT Fon subscribers I believe can enter their FON password into SFR and get connection. That is the way I read the SFR opening screen.
We don't have a landline, being full timers, but use Vodafone for phone and data. €9.99 per day at 25mb data use limit while roaming.
We tried to obtain a French dongle when we were over and were told that even for PAYG you had to have a French residence and a French bank account. Visa was not acceptable.
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Italy
