BT OpenZone

[Lord Braykewynde]

I'm with BT Internet at home and in the past signed up to BT OpenZone, also known as BT Fon.
Here in the caravan the wifi on my laptop picked up a network signal from OpenZone. It was all so easy, just signed in with my BT username/password and I now have a fast speed for free. I could also get VodaFone at 3G+ but have to pay for that as I would the clubs £5 per hour charge

 

[OmOnWeelz]

My daughter and partner have just bought a new house in a village and I was there plumbing in a new bathroom today. I found I was locked out from their wi-fi as they had changed the login code from the one used at their old home but I found a neighbours network was BT openzone accesible. My usual BT email address and password and I was on there network as that is permitted.
You were probably near a BT users wi-fi LordBW. BT users using BT wi-fi gear can select to open part of their network as Openzone/Fon accesible.
Click - http://maps.fon.com/ and you can find Fon network that are open to your BT /Openzone usual login.
www.fon.com should work with your usual BT email address and password as well. Quite useful when caravanning or travelling.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

ps
If you're stay is at a CC site with WiFi their KeZon/KeConnect supplier is a BT openzone partner and you should be able to use the clubs network with your usual BT login FOC

"Wi-Fi internet access in the UK and Republic of Ireland
Whichever BT Openzone account you have, you can enjoy public wireless roaming access using our network partners – including T-Mobile, KeZone and iBAHN"
Quote from BT Openzone

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

If you're stay is at a CC site with WiFi their KeZon/KeConnect supplier is a BT openzone partner and you should be able to use the clubs network with your usual BT login FOC

I've tried it and unfortunately, unlike BT Fon, it wont let you log on

 

[Paulfbu]

hello
I am with Bt at home and registered for bt-fon.
am considering using it when we go away at xmas.
looking at the map there is a couple of "hot-spots" near the site.
How close to the hot-spot do i need to be with my laptop??????????????

 

[OmOnWeelz]

BT openzone by way of someone using the option of opening part of their BT Home Hub to Openzone use is not likely to guaranteed to work over more than a few metres. You may be lucky and find you can get a connection at around 100metres if there is little to block the signal.
Our BT home hub WiFi signal couldn't even be picked up all over our house. On the other hand our new Belkin WiFi router can be detected inside our neigbours house over 100 metres away but does not have the provision to offer Openzon to fellow BT Openzone/Fon users.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

At home there is a pub about 100 yards away. They are on BT OpenZone and the signal I pick up from them is as good as my home signal.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

If the Pub offers Openzone Wi'Fi it probably has a commercial setup where the signal is boosted stronger than a home hub LordBW
Openzone access can be from commercial outlets or via a home owners home hub where the signal is not that strong. Unless you know that the Openzone Hotspot near a site is a commercial opeartion you may find you have to be very close to gain access to the net via Openzone.

Simple test. Can you get the Braykewynde Towers signal at your pub 100 metres away.

 

[JTQ]

ps
If you're stay is at a CC site with WiFi their KeZon/KeConnect supplier is a BT openzone partner and you should be able to use the clubs network with your usual BT login FOC

"Wi-Fi internet access in the UK and Republic of Ireland
Whichever BT Openzone account you have, you can enjoy public wireless roaming access using our network partners – including T-Mobile, KeZone and iBAHN"
Quote from BT Openzone

Note this is true if you are actually a BT Openzone client, its not if you are an opted in BTFON client by virtue of being a BT Total Broadband customer.
If you are a BT Total Broadband customer, and opt into the free BTFON then you can access any BT Openzone hot spots but NOT the hot spots of Openzones partners, such as KeZone etc.
[You used to be able on some promotional BT Broadband packages but that was pulled about three years ago].

 

[OmOnWeelz]

All rather confusing, We've been BT/ BT Broadband customers since the net got going. I'm not sure but I think you have to agrree to open part of your secure network as openzone/fon hotspot to get reciprocal deal. We've used other Networks using Openzone?fon loging but we dn't use CC site or KeZone but understood from friends that their loging worked.
May be if your on a newer agreement it differs.
We have unlimited mobile connection and work dongle free to use so normally get provider with out paying.
Not sure if there is a definitive answer, apart from Caravan Club have s-------d their members with their charges. Outrageous for a members club to get in to such a deal when plenty of businesses and camp sites through out Europe offer free WiFi.

 

[NickinFrance]

Our BT home hub WiFi signal couldn't even be picked up all over our house. On the other hand our new Belkin WiFi router can be detected inside our neigbours house over 100 metres away but does not have the provision to offer Openzon to fellow BT Openzone/Fon users.

If you want to open your connection to Openzon, you can still use the HomeHub to connect to the Internet & connect the Belkin Router to the HomeHub via one of the cable network ports.

 

[JTQ]

Our BT home hub WiFi signal couldn't even be picked up all over our house. On the other hand our new Belkin WiFi router can be detected inside our neigbours house over 100 metres away but does not have the provision to offer Openzon to fellow BT Openzone/Fon users.

If you want to open your connection to Openzon, you can still use the HomeHub to connect to the Internet & connect the Belkin Router to the HomeHub via one of the cable network ports.

Or you can still enjoy the benefits of BTFON [ie using other peoples and Openzone hotspots] by simply opting in and then use the Belkin by itself. They dont require you to use the hub to belong to BTFON.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Yes you are correct JTQ. We are Fon users "opted in". Two BT home hubs were not good, no one apart from a couple of neighbours who have wi-fi would come close enouugh (houses to far from public road) to us to get Openzone so there is no point in us offering Openzone so the last Homehub is just kept as reserve to the Belkin

Good info though