# Kindles and WiFi **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536 "2011-06-06T19:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/1 "2011-06-06T19:39:29Z")
Hi all, I signed up to receive my daily hometown paper on my Kindle. I am leaving for vacation Wednesday; can I expect my Kindle to download the paper each day as long as I am within range of WiFi? Is there anything special I need to do to accomplish this? (it’s already set up with my Amazon account and I have no problems when I am at home). Thanks, mmm ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/2 "2011-06-06T19:42:42Z")
Free or open WiFi or a WiFi that is secure that you have the login/password for. Kindle is pretty intuitive to pick up and access an open WiFi spot. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/3 "2011-06-06T19:52:53Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Free or open WiFi or a WiFi that is secure that you have the login/password for. > > Kindle is pretty intuitive to pick up and access an open WiFi spot. Well, the only available WiFi will be in the lobby of the hotel I am staying at, so I guess it’s open (?) mmm ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/4 "2011-06-06T21:26:12Z")
I have a first generation Kindle - this has a cellular data connection and does not have a WiFi option. I have found it possible to avoid paying for Kindle newspapers by using a piece of software called Calibre - this takes the newspaper rss feed (which is generally free) and turns it into a .mobi file that Kindle can read. This file is then sent to the Kindle as often as you specify. I still maintain some magazine subscriptions on the Kindle, but use this service to get news content every day. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/5 "2011-06-07T01:25:44Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Well, the only available WiFi will be in the lobby of the hotel I am staying at, so I guess it’s open (?) > mmm Possibly. It’s also possible it’s part of your bill to get a password. Or that it won’t work without a computer to allow you to read the terms click the “I agree” button to let you in. Can the Kindle not update over its cellular modem? Has that been removed? ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2011, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindles-and-wifi/584536/6 "2011-06-07T03:05:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Can the Kindle not update over its cellular modem? Has that been removed? I’m not exactly sure what you mean. But the latest generation of Kindles are available either in 3G+WiFi or WiFi-only varieties. If you have the 3G-WiFi version, you have the option of having data (e.g. electronic newspapers) sent to your Kindle via 3G (which I guess is what you mean by “cellular modem”) or WiFi, but there’s an extra charge to use 3G if you’re getting things sent to you from anywhere besides [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) itself. (Though there may be ways around this if you use the Kindle’s web browser and download stuff through it; I haven’t tried.)