The third week of our Wi-Fi odyssey took us from the wonderful wireless waterfront of Grand Haven, Michigan through Byron, Illinois to Caledonia and Racine, Wisconsin, where things definitely went downhill on the Internet front. But aside from a close encounter with the worst campground ever, and almost losing the RV air conditioner to a low-hanging tree, the trip was great!

This week was the most challenging in terms of Internet connectivity. The campgrounds we stayed at didnt have Wi-Fi, but they were close to family. We were only staying in Byron for a few days, so we figured wed try the T-Mobile cellular data service and, failing that, wed use our cell phone for dialup service. We have a Nokia 3650, which you can turn into a standard modem with a Bluetooth adapter.

Avoiding the kisses at Grandma's.

However, in Byron, we discovered there was no cell phone signal! So much for Plan B. That left us with our dial-up account using Grandmas phone line. Luckily, we didn't need to transact much business over the July 4 holiday weekend, so dialing in from downstairs kept things running. Frank, Max and Cousin Ben also discovered that if they played games downstairs on Franks laptop, they could escape the buxom hugs and sloppy lipstick kisses of aggressive grandmothers and aunts.

We finally got the cell phone signal back near the Wisconsin border and, in South Beloit, Illinois, we found a Flying J truck stop with Wi-Fi access. The service worked flawlessly and we jumped online directly from the parking lot.

1297 miles from home.

At the Jellystone Park in Caledonia, WI, a sign reminded us that we were 1297 miles from home. The cellular data service was our primary way of getting online there so we ventured into Racine to find a high-speed connection. Our first stop was a McDonald's that advertised Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, we could not access it from the RV/Bus parking lot, and there was no playground. We werent too keen on working inside while the kids jumped around asking for one McFlurry after another, so we went looking for another hotspot.

We found a nearby Starbucks instead, and were easily able to access the T-Mobile Hotspot service from the parking lot. Back when we signed up for T-Mobile cellular data service, we added unlimited hotspot access for $19.99 a month. T-Mobile provides the hotspot service for Starbucks, as well as Borders bookstores, for thousands of locations across the country.

Getting online from the
Starbucks' parking lot.

We worked from the comfort of the RV while drinking Caramel Frappuccinos with extra whipped cream. Ali and Frank watched TV and Max played with his trains on the floor. When we packed up to leave, however, Richards shoe found the Frappuccino that two-year-old Max had left on the floor, resulting in a coffee, whipped cream, and caramel explosion on the carpet.

Since were driving around and sticking our Wi-Fi cards into large, public networks, we should probably talk a bit about security this week.

A Wi-Fi connection is really just a fancy radio. When you use a Wi-Fi connection, you are literally broadcasting everything across the airwaves to reach a receiver thats connected to the Internet. This means anyone between you and the receiver can eavesdrop on what you are sending, as well as get inside your computer through the same wireless connection.

To stop eavesdroppers and crooks from watching us while we work, we use:

• A firewall. This is a special piece of software that looks at all the Internet traffic going in and out of your computer and blocks anything that looks suspicious. While home network routers usually have built-in firewalls, since we are on the road, we're using the extra protection of a software firewall, ZoneAlarm Pro.
• A Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs allow you to make an encrypted, direct connection across the Internet to a specific computer (in our case, the computer that runs our business site and email).

While a firewall like ZoneAlarm is something you can easily install yourself, a VPN requires the involvement of whatever company hosts the machine youre connecting to. For more on wireless security, see JiWire's "Complete Guide to Wi-Fi Security."

One of the best perks about running an online business is that you dont have to wear a tie or pantyhose. Hence, Max has never seen a real tie up close before. We had breakfast in Racine one morning with Richards friend, Chris, who was sporting bright yellow neckgear. Max kept staring at it, and finally toddled over, reached up, and gave that tie a big yank!

Were heading south now, through the Las Vegas of the Ozarks (Branson, Missouri), and Texarkana, Texas, and then down to the Houston area. Well access the Internet through Angelas parents satellite connection and through the numerous Wi-Fi hotspots nearby.

You can also check out our adventures daily at www.wirelesstrips.com.