Internet Help

General

What is Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi?
Qwest Wi-Fi gives you the freedom to connect to the Web while away from your home or office. Qwest High-Speed Internet customers get FREE Wi-Fi access at thousands of hotspot locations nationwide.

What equipment do I need in order to use the service?
Any laptop that has wireless capability can use the service. If you are unsure if your computer has wireless capability, consult your computer's specification sheet or contact the computer manufacturer. Some portable devices like smart phones and handheld gaming units offer Wi-Fi functionality; however these devices are currently not supported by Qwest, and may not offer the best wireless browsing experience.

What is the definition of "Wi-Fi"?
Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) connects your laptop to a Wi-Fi hotspot, enabling public wireless high-speed Internet access at speeds much faster than dial-up when you're within a 150-foot range of a public hotspot.

What is a hotspot?
A hotspot is generally a publicly accessible location where people can connect their laptop computer to the internet while away from home. In many cases, the hotspot provider charges a fee to utilize the service. Qwest High-Speed Internet customers can access Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T hotspots for free at participating locations.

What is a SSID (service set identifier)?
A SSID is a name used by a Wireless Access Point (WAP) such as a Wi-Fi hotspot to advertise its presence to other wireless devices. You can view and connect to the internet from a hotspot by selecting your provider's SSID in your list of wireless networks.

How much does the service cost?
While many providers charge fees for Wi-Fi access, it's FREE to current Qwest High-Speed Internet customers at participating locations nationwide.
 
How do I get Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi?
Current Qwest High-Speed Internet customers already have access to the service and just need to follow the connection instructions below. If you are not already a Qwest High-Speed Internet customer, you can find more information about Qwest High-Speed Internet or Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi.
 
How does Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi differ from my wireless network at my home or business?

Qwest Wi-Fi:

• Is accessible at participating hotspots.
• Offers a wireless connection to the Web while away from the home or office
• Doesn't require your own modem
• Is a shared resource consumed by all the users of the same hotspot
• Is not protected with a wireless encryption key (see the Security section below for more detail)

Your wireless network at home or business:

• Offers a wireless connection to the Web from within the home or office
• Requires your own wireless modem or router
• Shares bandwidth with only the users of your own wireless network
• Can be protected with an encryption key such as WEP or WPA/WPA2

How do I locate a participating hotspot?
Use the locator tool to find a location near you. New hotspot locations are added regularly.

Is the service available when I travel internationally?
Qwest Wi-Fi is only available within the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

Connections

How do I connect to Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi?
Consult the Configuration Instructions.

What types of wireless devices are compatible with Qwest Wi-Fi?
Any laptop wireless devices that meet the IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless standard can be used with the service. To find out if your wireless equipment is compliant with this standard, consult your computer manual.

If you would like to purchase a wireless adapter from Qwest:

• Residential customers call 800-475-7526
• Business customers call 877-744-4416

Note: Some portable devices like smart phones and handheld gaming units offer Wi-Fi functionality; however these devices are currently not supported by Qwest, and may not offer the best wireless browsing experience.

What if I have trouble connecting to or using Qwest Wi-Fi?
Follow the troubleshooting steps. If these steps do not solve the problem, contact Qwest Technical Support by using the click to chat button below or calling 866-325-4228.

Security

How secure is the information exchanged through Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi?
Qwest Wi-Fi does not enable WEP (Wired Equivalency Protection) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption on any of the wireless equipment used in its public Wi-Fi networks. Therefore, no special keys are required to use Qwest Wi-Fi.

The unsecured nature of any public hotspot technology does make it possible for technically sophisticated computer users to capture data packets as they travel between your wireless device and the Internet.

While the data transferred over a wireless internet signal may be vulnerable, a specific web site or application may be secure. If you have questions about the security of a specific web site or application, we recommend you contact the web site provider.

Using Qwest Wi-Fi powered by AT&T Wi-Fi can be a fun and convenient experience if you are aware of your surroundings and the inherent security risks in this technology.

Is my VPN software compatible with the service?
Most VPN software programs will be compatible. The service provides fully routable and public IP addresses and does not block any ports except incoming ports 80 and 139, which VPNs do not use.

How do I get connected to the service using my VPN software?