WiFi in Spain

Wifi in Spain
In and around Javea now you can see people sitting with their laptops communicating in cyberspace. How small the world is becoming. Also they tell me they can communicate on their blackberry (No its not a fruit!! - something you picked in summer and put in pies or made jam with) for the unenlightened, I will endeavour to explain:For those who are as uninitiated as I am, Wifi stands for Wireless Fidelity, and is radio frequencies, which can be picked up by special receivers inside your laptop or portable communication device (Blackberry etc).

A BlackBerry is a type of PDA, it is not meant to be used in the same way as a Palm Pilot or PocketPC. Those devices are literally miniature computers that in some cases happen to have email capabilities. A BlackBerry is an email/calendar reading device with some PDA abilities, and in some cases cell phone abilities. Also, BlackBerries come with complete alphanumeric keyboards; many PDAs do not. Well, I’m glad I know that.This latest technology enables you to take your laptops etc, to the local pub or restaurant without the necessity to plug into a phone line – wow I’m impressed. Even some MacDonald’s have wifi points, and as long as you buy a cup of coffee there, you are welcome to use them as long as you need to.

Once you are esconced in your café or bar, with your coffee (or beer – lets be honest about this!) you search for the individual signal from the premises, and your laptop will look for the nearest link to connect to the Internet – how clever. In some cases, you may need to ask for the bars “unique reference code” or “password” to gain access to their wifi point. This prevents non-customers from “squatting” (that’s the term used) outside the bar and not buying anything, a definite no no in Spain, or anywhere else for that matter, and downright rude into the bargain if you ask my opinion!

Wifi access is growing all the time, so ask when you arrive, but so far the bars that have this facility are:

In the Arenal

- El Mono Loco – opposite Arenal beach
- The president bar – on the sea front of the Arenal beach
- MacDonald’s – in the Port area
- Bilbo’s bar – on the main road through the middle Javea.

We will add to this list as and when more wifi spots go online!
Watch this space