Albany-area free wi-fi access
NOTE: This page is moving to sites.google.com/site/albanyfreewifi, to facilitate passing it along. So use it there. This version will just become an auto-forwarder before too long.
Here are some legit open and free wi-fi access points in the Capital Region of New York. Those with a [+] at the end are ones I have personally checked out.
- Apple Computer Store, Crossgates Mall
- Bentley’s Burgers: Corner of South Pearl and Howard Streets, Albany
- Bethlehem Public Library: 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY, 12054; 518-439-9314
- Bombers Burrito Bar: 258 Lark St.; 518-463-9636
- Clifton Park Sunoco Station: 601 Plank Rd. (Exit 9 on I-87)
- The Daily Grind: 204 Lark St, Albany
- East Greenbush Community Library: 10 Community Way, East Greenbush, 518-477-7476 [+]
- Empire State Plaza: The main cafeteria on the concourse
- Flavor Cafe & Lounge: 228 4th St,, Troy; 518-266-9253 [+]
- Halfmoon Public Library: 47 Clifton Country Rd., Clifton Park, NY 12065; 518-371-8622
- Java Net Beanery: 43 Mall, Routes 43 and 150, West Sand Lake, 693-6882 [+]
- Latham 76 Diner: 722 New Loudon Rd. Latham, 518-785-3793
- Liberteks.com: 148 Western Ave, Albany, 518-452-0550
- The Muddy Cup: 1038 Madison Avenue (in front of the Madison Theatre)
- MochaBlend Espresso Bar & Cafe: 720 Hoosick Road, Brunswick Plaza (next to Pollocks True Value), 518-271-1089
- Nicole’s Bistro: Quackenbush Square, Albany
- Nothing but Noodles: Peter Harris Plaza, Latham
- OK Office Supplies: 90 State Street, Albany
- Omni Plaza: 50 Beaver Street, Albany
- Panera Bread, several locations:
- Crossgates Commons (Washington Ave Ext.) [+]
- Latham Farms (601 Troy-Schenectady Road; Latham, NY 12210; 518-783-5980) [+]
- Mohawk Commons (412 Balltown Road; Niskayuna, NY 12309; 518-377-9808) [+]
- Wilton (3070 Route 50; Wilton, NY 12831; 518-226-0095) [?]
- Rensselaer County Plaza (279 Troy Road (Route 4); Rensselaer, NY 12144; 518-283-2091) [+]
- Price Chopper Cafe: Westgate Plaza, 911 Central Ave, Albany
- Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary: 217 Wolf Road, Colonie, NY. [+]
- Saratoga Public Library: 49 Henry Street; Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; 518-584-7860
- Schenectady County Public Library: 99 Clinton St., Schenectady, NY; 518-388-4500
- Slow Jed’s Mudhouse: 3028 Rte 43, Averill Park
- Stagecoach Coffee: 90 State Street, Albany
- Ultraviolet Café: 290 Delaware Ave., Albany, 434-0333 (next to the Spectrum)
- Uncommon Grounds: 1235 Western Ave., Albany; and 402 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
- Waterford Public Library: 117 Third Street; Waterford, NY 12188; 518-237-0891
Other Albany-Area Wi-Fi Links
Here are a few other links to stuff relevant to Wi-Fi in the Albany area, or to Wi-Fi issues more generally.
- AlbanyWiFi.com: Forums, FAQs, maps, and Wardriving stuff for the area. Much useful stuff here; if you want more than the summary I give here, this is the place to go. Especially, check out the forum thread on Albany-Area Hotspots.
- Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory has a New York State page.
- USA Today & JWire have a hotspot finder.
- Stumbler dot net: Home of the NetStumbler Wi-Fi searching program, and related news and the like.
- Netstumbler Forums: Home of the forums for the NetStumber program.
- Wireless Librarian: Guide to public libraries with free Wi-Fi.
Additions and revisions?
If you have information about possible additions or revisions to this list, I’d be happy to hear; please use the form below to send them along.
More, newer, and the future
I’m in the process (Summer 07) of shifting this to being a page managed by Blinklist; for now, here are some new links done that way:
