Internet Access - Serious Inquiry <3

[jordaniscreative]

Hey hey,

Sooooo I normally don't seek/need to use the internet while at the Burn, and I can personally attest to it being the better way to Burn, but this year is very different for me.

I am working on my life's dream project, and the Burn happens to be right in the middle of a time when I need to check and reply to emails briefly (10 minutes) each day.

I am looking to connect with any persons or camps who are able to offer me 10-15 minutes of internet access so I can stay on top of necessary communications with the default world. I'm happy to barter and open to suggestions. Plus I will be out a week early building anyway!

Ps.... for those curious, I am preparing to release my debut EP, and I've never done it before, so I'll be doing my best. But since the Burn is my favorite event of the year... I have to try and make both happen!

Pps.... Hope no one gives me sh** for this post.... if I could afford my own satellite phone, I would do so, and enjoy it with a cup of cold brew ice coffee.

MUCH LOVE <3

[lucky420]

i think center camp has connectivity...

somebody more knowledgeable than me will probably chime in before long

[Bless]

You should browse through the list of theme camps this year. Many often advertise wireless services.

[jordaniscreative]

Thanks Bless, I didn't think of that!

[Roundabout]

There is a good chance your cell phone will work during early entry (but will then stop working when the gates open).

[jordaniscreative]

Hey Roundabout... I've definitely experienced that other's times I've been there early for the build. I am hoping to make some good connections that first week too with other builders/organizers on site.

[jneilvindy]

Easy as can be!

First, be sure all your phone apps that upload/download are turned off.

Auto updates, photo updates ect. You don't want your phone deciding to sync your photo album over the wifi connection you find and eat up precious bandwidth.

Once you've got your phone properly locked down, just turn on it's wifi and hop on your bike. I guarantee you'll start seeing open wifi hot spots offered up by camps as you roll down a few streets. Check the portal circles, usually a camp around them has free wifi.

Fine one you like, meet the people and let them know you're checking emails or whatnot, might mention the whole auto updates, picture, contact, calendar sync stuff is all off and you're good to go and you've made some new friends

[Token]

Good luck with that.

Gonna be 50000 other folks out there and their "oh my fucking god I must upload this picture of a guy with his ... in a taco to Facebook right away" way more important lifetime dreams.

I'd make a point of riding a bike out ~ 4-5 am each morning looking for a usable signal.

[CaffeineGirl]

Last year at least two of the major carriers (I believe it was AT&T and Verizon) put in temporary towers somewhere accessible from BRC. I had full 4G service early event until about the time the crowd started lining up for official entry. After that, quite a few camps offer unsecured wifi that also gets plugged up during the day. I could usually get on it briefly around 3-5 am. You can tell which camps have secured wifi, which presumably would have fewer users and better access, by checking the wifi list on your device. After that it would be a matter of asking really nicely, perhaps with a nice bottle to trade, for light use only. Wanting desperately to post a selfie on FB will probably not work.

[jordaniscreative]

Thanks jneilvindy for those tips.... will definitely do that! <3

[jordaniscreative]

Haha CaffeineGirl and Token.... I definitely won't be posting selfies..... I'll save those for after the event and the entire year

[some seeing eye]

Every and all burners should set their expectations to be entirely off the Internet, text and voice grids for the event time within miles of being on the playa through exit. There is a slim non-reliable chance they might connect to the suggestions.

Satellite voice and data phones which can be rented are the best solution to those who need, need, need to communicate outside.

[Dr. Pyro]

I generally just wander over to Starbucks and get great reception there.

[jordaniscreative]

Hey Dr. Pyro, I am so happy to hear Starbucks will be there. In fact, I'm scrapping my whole dream, to drink Starbucks... forever

[some seeing eye]

Can I get some red wine with that black coffee at BDV? I thought all wine glasses from BDV were tracked by satellites!

Seriously, any sort of connection to the outside world if you happen to find it, other than satellite, is likely to be less than last year, likely none! Off the grid!

[spacetime]

i think center camp has connectivity...

somebody more knowledgeable than me will probably chime in before long

I think this is a common misunderstanding, as there is no wifi at center. At least this was the mantra we were repeating as volunteers at center cafe last year.

There is a super fast secured wifi network at the trash fence though. password is DAFTPUNK all upper case no spaces.

[dragonpilot]

Last year Shack of Sit had wifi...check to see if they're on-playa this year. If not them there w/b others.

[pink]

My email and text messages would download & send on & off at wee hours of the morning. I'd hear the pings. I have AT&T. But it's nothing you can count on. You might- might have better luck going out to the airport to get a signal directly from the tower. For EA, full connections last year, even phone, especially at Gate.

[Token]

I'll post my standard morbid risk assessment here.

Lets say you get to BM and land into some Pleasure Dome of monumental debauchery. The cell works, WiFi works but you just cant get yourself out of the mind and soul blasting bliss you stumbled into.

You do not get any emails, texts or otherwise for 9 days.

What is the damage?
Will your life be ruined forever?
What is the total cost of not getting the emails?
Is the cost less or more than a party in the desert?

These are things most folks should ask themselves before going to the Playa, but we all know we are the types that say Fuck It more often then not.

OK, see, I fooled you with the morbid part. You thought I was gonna say "run over by a 80 foot bus-trailer party rave barge" but I din'nt!

[leafx]

sorry for the hijack but for all the people wandering around with their smart phones searching for wifi signal.... how do you guys charge your phones throughout the week??
im not looking for internet exactly, but i definitely want to document occasional moments/experiences/thoughts of this trip.. but my only device is my android smartphone. i want to take some pics but i dont need constant web access to upload any until back in default world (maybe at most 1 midweek or pre-weekend to let default kids know their week sucks vs ours) but id also want to like voice record my thoughts through an app on my phone
as a first timer im arriving playa side via burner express and camping completely solo, all my gear is survival essentials with little to no spare room in my pack for a solar charger - if i bring a car charger and gift it, you think theyd let me use it too? lol

[VultureChow]

Bring a charger. Listen around your neighborhood for a generator. Ask to charge. Small devices use very little juice. Most would be happy to help out.

[Bless]

sorry for the hijack but for all the people wandering around with their smart phones searching for wifi signal.... how do you guys charge your phones throughout the week??

[Doctor VonBacon]

To the OP:

If staying connected is absolutely necessary, look into renting a satellite phone. The $15-20 or so per day (as advertised - i have not done it myself) is money well spent, and at that price should be able to work within a limited budget, and is your only reliable option.

[mudpuppy000]

Charge it in your car (assuming you got a vehicle pass Start it up every day or two to top off the battery.

[Ratty]

Paper notebook, extra fine poiny retractable sharpie and dig out your old camera.

[pink]

And do not attempt to upload photos during the event! What little connectivity there is is overloaded. So just don't.

[Captain Goddammit]

If this project requires daily Internet and it is your life dream, why the fuck are you going out to the middle of the desert?
I have had to forfeit when something like a new better job intervened.

Maybe you should see a life coach or some shit.

[Wrath]

What about home satellite with internet? It seems like you could just bring the dish plus your electrical solution & be all good!

I'm sure it could be cheaper and easier than say... building an art car.

Now that I think about it with all the nerds out there I'm sure once word got out you're bringing a dish it wouldn't be hard to make friends to help with power, serving the internet, etc.

[Eric]

I have friends who are major computer techs who've set up hotspots out there. They break down. A lot.
Some days I've been able to check emails at 3am early in the week, but by Tues or Weds ... yeah, not so much.
One, maybe two temp cell towers set up by the carriers, a couple home-made wifi hotspots, and 70,000 people. To say they get overloaded is being nice.
Sadly, if connection is a must the Sat phone is the only way to guarantee it. You really can't rely on it being there when you want or need it.

[some seeing eye]

If you have Internet dish service at home contact your provider or research if BRC, Nevada is in your same satellite footprint. Satellite Internet has delays compared to what most are used to. But sattelite anything is the best way to go this year!

Any sort of connection you have through mobile or on-playa WiFi will be much worse this year because of technical restraints, no easy solution in next few years. The land main connection for WiFi and mobile phones is over capacity. No one wants to pay to upgrade it for a week long event. Gerlach - Empire are on a remote old technology side path of the Internet-mobile phone world.

If you are a tech billionaire interested in improved connectivity by investing $e6-8 in regional connectivity, or an executive in one of about 5 major communication carriers, you probably know who to discuss it with. If you are an assistant to such reading this, you can relay.