dslreports logo
 story category
Time Warner Cable Joins Free Wi-Fi Push
Will offer free Wi-Fi to users in NYC

An insider tells GigaOM that Time Warner Cable will soon join both Cablevision and Comcast in offering free Wi-Fi in the New York City metro area. According to the source, the initiative will target New York City train and bus stations and city parks, for those of you who can't access the nation's biggest free ISP already (linksys). From the sound of the looming announcement, it seems likely that Time Warner Cable, like Comcast started doing last year, has probably struck an agreement with Cablevision to share some of their existing Wi-Fi infrastructure. Cablevision spent $300 million to upgrade their cable network to DOCSIS 3.0, and to deploy free Wi-Fi for commuters.

Update 1: A user below found the map of hotspot locations, and accessibility is currently, well, sparse.

Update 2: The official Time Warner Cable press release has arrived here with more detail.
view:
topics flat nest 

Straphanger
Express is Back
Mod
join:2001-12-08
Whitestone, NY

Straphanger

Mod

Not much of a network

Their Wi-Fi map leaves much to be desired. Looks like a handful of LIRR stations in Queens and the perimeter of Kissena Park (a bit of a random choice to me). It's much worse in Manhattan with only three spots available.

»www.twcnyc.com/index2.cf ··· fi/index

handydave
join:2000-12-14
Totowa, NJ

handydave

Member

Cablevision Map

I bet TWC paid Cablevision a boatload of cash for the partnership. Compare the Cablevision map:

»www.optimum.net/WiFi/Find
patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY

patcat88

Member

Re: Cablevision Map

I doubt it. Remember TW gives NY1 to CV. They dont compete, they can't hurt each other, they can only partner.
ernieJohnstn
join:2005-02-27
Lilburn, GA

ernieJohnstn

Member

Too Funny!

From the article, this quote:

... the nation's biggest free ISP already (linksys).

Even though I knew it to be true, the way it was written is just too funny.

Karl has a WICKED sense of humor.

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 edit

FFH5

Premium Member

Re: Too Funny!

said by ernieJohnstn:

From the article, this quote:

... the nation's biggest free ISP already (linksys).

Not near as true as it used to be. More and more people have security turned on. Some, because the users are getting more educated about wireless security. And many more because new wireless APs come with security turned on by default and force picking a userid/pw different from default.

A few years ago about 75% of my neighbors APs were open with no security or using Linksys as an SSID with the default password. Now, 1 out of 15 has an SSID of Linksys and is open with no security turned on. The rest have either WPA2(most) or WPA(a couple) security. None are using the discredited WEP as their security method.

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi

Member

Re: Too Funny!

I have two free linksys with good connectivity on my street. You are right that more people are locking them down but many people want a computer to work like a TV, plug and play. I don't see anything wrong with that in fact computers are just too technically and time intensive for most people. Constant upgrades, anti virus, malware, spam etc. I haven't figured out how you would do that out of the box. It's really not fair to Joe six Pack that he has to know a bunch of stuff to answer an e-mail.
iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Austin, TX

iansltx

Member

Re: Too Funny!

Chrome OS anyone?

Around here you've got university WiFi (open but protected with MAC-based authentication) and mostly closed APs, with WEP or WPA. The few open ones I know of don't seem to work. Restaurants have open WiFi but that's to be expected

roc5955
Premium Member
join:2005-11-26
Rosendale, NY

roc5955

Premium Member

How long before

They have wi-fi access in Grand Central Terminal. It would be nice to have this when waiting for my train to Poughkeepsie.
UnnDunn
Premium Member
join:2005-12-21
Brooklyn, NY

UnnDunn

Premium Member

As a Cablevision customer, I feel a bit gypped...

TWC customers get access to hundreds of additional hotspots in LI, Bk, Bx, CT and NJ. Cablevision customers get four hotspots in Manhattan and a handful in Queens.

I was hoping to get decent access throughout Manhattan without having to bum off an open Wi-Fi spot or duck into a McDonalds.
majortom1029
join:2006-10-19
Medford, NY

majortom1029

Member

already

Here on long island they are sharing Cablevisions access points.

Everywhere cablevision put one up there are now 3 ssids. optimum wifi,xfinity,and timewarnerwifi.

So here on long island atleast they are sharing.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

not as big

btw, linksys and it's friends aren't as open and/or generous as they once used to be... these routers are increasingly PASSWORDED by default as opposed to unpassworded. consumer education is taking hold.. for better or worse. though you can have the best of both worlds if you have a login for both Verizon & Cablevision.

broadband412
join:2003-06-17
Brooklyn, NY

broadband412

Member

Linksys as nation's largest free isp?

Why is linksys labeled as the nation's largest free isp? I thought they only make routers and are not an isp.
Wranthis
join:2009-09-21
Altoona, WI

Wranthis

Member

Re: Linksys as nation's largest free isp?

someone missed the joke train, they were too busy waiting for a page to load on a timewarnerwifi network
hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

nothing new.

this is nothing new with TWC. They had it before in Texas but when they sold/traded the markets to Comcast most of the access went bye-bye. But if TWC did this nationwide it would probably catch on.
visuelz
join:2003-05-01
Brooklyn, NY

visuelz

Member

wifi in 11229?

This is weird....yesterday I was out and found the timewarnercablewifi hotspot in 11229, however it does not show on their map.
UnnDunn
Premium Member
join:2005-12-21
Brooklyn, NY

UnnDunn

Premium Member

Re: wifi in 11229?

That's because the way this sharing deal works, Cablevision is adding 'timewarnercablewifi' SSIDs to all of their hotspots. So while the hotspot is operated by Cablevision, it advertises itself as both 'optimumwifi' and 'timewarnercablewifi' (as well as 'xfinitywifi' if reports are to be believed.)

Cablevision customers use 'optimumwifi'. Roadrunner customers use 'timewarnercablewifi.'
IanC
join:2005-10-31
Deer Park, NY

IanC

Member

Re: wifi in 11229?

and comcast uses "xfinitywifi"...... (from what ive read over in my forum and it makes sense since comcastwifi is no longer listed)
BainCDR
join:2010-03-05

BainCDR

Member

Re: wifi in 11229?

Is this only for Roadrunner or is Earthlink Cable included?

If its just Roadrunner I will call to switch my service over as I want the combined footprint.