USB Keys for automatic connect to free WiFi (for free Internet access)	Hier gibt's auch die Deutsche (und https) Version	SSL-URL of this Site

Bootable USB keys with Knoppix

As default key i offer the small and water-proof Super Talent Pico-C with 8, 16 and 32 GB (see left picture). They will be delivered with a key ring for easier transport and to get the key easy out of the USB female plug, and with the original bead chain (12 cm long).
Other USB keys are also available, e. g. the USB Nano key 8 GB from Delock (19,4 x 15,4 x 6,9 mm), which is shorter but bigger as the Pico-C ist.

One the USB key is an installed DVD version of Knoppix. Now (August 2010) it is version 6.3. At booting you can choose the language (us, cs, da, es, fr, it, nl, pl, ru, sk, ...).
Before the installation the USB keys are tested with a read-write-test (badblocks -wsv -c 65536 -t random -o log.txt /dev/sdb 2>&1 | tee logg.txt) and the fdisk geometry optimized, so that the BIOS can boot from the USB key; it's no "Quick and Dirty" installation!

The knoppix on the USB key is a live system, a complete operating system which is booted from the key and independent from other operating system. The knoppix does not modify the files on the key and also not the files already stored on the PC.
As default the Knoppix starts with a Desktop, with Openoffice, Firefox WWW Browser, GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP), MPlayer Multimedia System and Internet access software for (W)LAN/WiFi, Modem, ISDN, UMTS/GPRS, tools for data rescue, network analysis, and system repair. It also has ADRIANE / speech output, a memory test (Memtest-86) and the FreeDOS, which can be used for updating the BIOS or other firmwares, e. g. the firmware of the grafic card or DVD burner. With this key you don't need diskettes for firmware updates.

The auto connect to free WiFis is done by a bash script, which is started by a boot script, works in the background and connects to the strongest (best) free WiFi. It also tests if the free WiFi is online by checking small test downloads.
Duplicate ESSIDs are no problem, because the MAC addresses of the Access Points (APs) are used.
The script only connects and tests but does not accept any restrictions, so the user has no restrictions using the free WiFi.
With this key you don't have to choose a WiFi device, scan, look which WiFis are open, try to connect and test if you are online with that WiFi. The script does this work for you, automatically in the background and it is started automatically at booting.
When the WiFi connection gets lost, the script automatically scans, connects and tests.

The script is derived from an other older one, which can be found here. But the script on the USB key can much more, e. g. Hotplug of WiFi adapters, an online icon for the Desktop when you are online, and the option to use the next free WiFi, if you don't want the actual one.

The script is optimized for privacy and leaves no traces: The MAC-Address gets randomized (changed to a random other) before each scan, so that your hardware MAC-Address(es) can not be seen, and the Knoppix stores nothing on the key or on another data carrier. The script uses only temporary files in the RAM.
With the desktop icon "online" the script indicates if the computer is online. This can be seen in the right picture (the lowest icon).
With this file /home/knoppix/Desktop/online it's also easy to control scripts, e. g. for downloading.
By creating a file (with "touch /var/tmp/next_wifi_please") you can switch to the next strongest free WiFi.
For maximum range and best distortion immunity only a data rate of 1 Mbit/s is used. With this rate the WiFi adapters have maximum sensitivity. This is also known as "Slow Down to speed Up" (Hack 83 in the Book Wireless Hacks from O'Reilly, Shannon Hartley Law). But you can also disable (comment) this limitation in the script to get a higher data rate. Also for maximum range and distortion immunity the transmit power is changed from the default 100 mW to 500 mW.

Notebook online under Knoppix 6.3, with the USB WiFi adapter Zydas 1211B (Minitar) at the right side and a 5 dB omni antenna for a better WiFi connection . The script also works with the integrated WiFi adapter, a RTL8187.