Worldcon 2005 UK - Internet Access at Interaction

Internet Access at Interaction

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Internet Access at Interaction

This article is intended to give you an idea of what is available in Glasgow and at the convention, along with details of specific packages available in the larger hotels.

Convention Internet Lounge

We will be providing FREE internet access through an Internet Lounge located in Hall 2.

There will be 8 computers in the lounge. Please note that this service is expected to be very popular, and that sessions will therefore be limited to 15 minutes when there is a queue. It has been designed to enable people to check their mail or look up specific information on the Internet - not for extended surfing.

The Lounge machines will be locked down to protect them - and you! We also recommend that you restart whichever computer you are allocated at the start and end of your internet session. This is for security reasons: it will remove any private information from the last session and from yours.

SECC and Hotel Services

The SECC has a WiFi Network, access to this is quite expensive at about £80 per connection for the duration of the convention and hence it is not possible for us to provide a general public service wireless connection within the SECC. Members wanting access will therefore need to take advantage of the packages that are available through many of the facilities. The specifics of these vary from hotel to hotel, although in general, some level of service is available in most of the major locations. If you want to have access whilst on site, the Moat House has a week-long package at around £46, although the coverage does not extend across the SECC so you will typically have to cross to the hotel to use it.

Infotel has included information about Internet access on the web pages describing the hotels, and they will update those as more information becomes available. The Infotel site can be found here.

For those used to US services note that UK provision is more fragmented and more expensive. This means, for instance, that hotels may have both wired and wireless access – but these are often from separate providers and hence not interchangeable. Wireless services are also often restricted to specific areas such as public spaces, rather than being available in the bedrooms. There may be only wireless services at some sites. Costs for broadband vary but typically fall in the range of £15-£18 per day where available. Passes purchased for a longer period may offer significant discounts.

The Moat House has WiFi access throughout the meeting space and the bedrooms, provided by Eurospot. They also have connections in the room that turn the WiFi into wired access. Prices for a day (24 hours from first sign-on) are £17; there are lower prices for shorter times. If you’re staying for more than 3 days, then their £46/week plan is a better buy. It is unclear if the same purchase can be used for both WiFi and wired access.

The City Inn has WiFi in the bedrooms and in the meeting space, where it’s complimentary. There is no wired access.

The Campanile has no broadband access.

The Hilton has WiFi throughout, provided by BT. There is also wired access in the bedrooms for £15/day (noon-noon).

The Marriott has no broadband in the bedrooms. There is WiFi in the lobby at £15/day.

The Radisson SAS has WiFi throughout the hotel, although it is expensive, since there’s only a shortterm rate (£3/half hour). There is wired broadband in all the bedrooms for £15/day (24 hours from first sign-on).

Other Wifi Services

There are WiFi sites in locations throughout the city, although none near the SECC. Paid access is available at Starbucks, Tinderbox, etc., and at least one site, Morton’s on Byres Rd, has free access.

A more general listing of Glasgow WiFi hotspots can be found at www.totalhotspots.com. Just enter Glasgow as the town and press GO. You can then refine your search later.

Page last updated 1^st August 2005