Just added all the eircom ones that could be geocoded. Julie, mymaps is pretty limited in functionality. Unless you export the data and sort yourself the best bet to find free ones is to zoom into your area and look for green markers as they are usually free ones. If you don't want to go through each page in turn then copy this link (http://www.geodatasolutions.co.uk/demo/mergedhotspots.kml) into the "search maps" text box and click "search". All should be displayed when you zoom in.

is there a way to filter the map to display hotspots by marker type? for example, just the free hotspots? If so, it's completely eluding me.

@theq. If it's a BT openzone or FON these have come directly from their own databases and been batch uploaded so it's highly likely there are errors. But the beauty of this type of project is that you can delete or move the point when you spot a problem.

very useful map, well done. However, are you quite sure they are all correct? I just happened to notice one near where I live (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112855554048460880778.0004358aea20ba94cba25&om=0&ll=54.041739,-8.42205&spn=0.068039,0.159645&z=13). However, this is a regional country road (off the R295, I think), between Ballymote, Co. Sligo and Boyle, Co. Roscommon. I'd be very surprised if there's a hotspot there, and there definitely isn't an Insomnia Coffee Shop there (unless it's in someone's front room, and they're not advertising it!).

Does anybody know where i can get a list of Post Codes of wifi hotspots in the UK?
I need to load into our companies mapping software for something i'm working on! does such a list exist?

@OpenGeo, I've previously added Eircom hotspots, manually, for the places in Newcastlewest, Adare and Limerick that I could locate. I'm also hoping that other collaborators will do the same for their local areas. It wouldn't be that big a job if everyone just grabbed a few.

@topgold want to fill the eircom blanks for Tipperary as well as your own Garmin waypoints? Thanks for helping out :)

I will have an operative GPS by the end of February (my Garmin was snatched in a smash and dash) and I'll start putting stuff on the Irish wifi hotspot map.

Thinking about it a bit longer and found another approach. I've merged all the data into one network link kml (ie it will always be updated when somebody adds a marker to this map) file whch I've hosted at my own site http://www.geodatasolutions.co.uk/demo/mergedhotspots.kml

If you want to view all in Google Earth just download that kml file and view on your PC. If you want to view in Google Maps then copy that link into the search box on the map page. Zoom into your area and all markers should load.

Nope. Google MyMaps seems to have a limit of approx 150 markers per page. Couple of ways to get round it, the first being to create a 'proper' google map on a seperate page. Or you could make a MyMap for each type of hotspot then you could just turn this on or off in your own MyMaps collection.

I see a problem, you have to flick through each page of hotspots to see if there is one in the area you are looking at, or is there a way to see them all at once?

Stats so far.

225 bt openzone
15 eircom
309 fon
126 free
2 paid private
6 free but login required

683 total.

I've checked the Eircom website and they have hundreds of hotspots we could add. Only problem is that there's no easy way of extracting the data. C'mon Eircom even BT provide a CSV file with coordinates. Anybody volunteering?

If anybody notices hotspots in the wrong place then feel free to correct as I noticed FON and BT aren't always too hot matching hotspots and coordinates.

Open collaboration now turned back on. Thanks to Will King for changing all the icons :)

Please note, Collaboration is temporarily closed while we bulk update markers.

Ok, great let's go with that then. So we're saying -
green = free & open
yellow = free but login required
red = paid
red circle = FON
red puspin = BT Openzone

Is that correct? Let me know when you're ready to go ahead with this so please Will and I'll disable collaboration.

Simplicity is best but I'd suggest using red=paid but also use a different symbol for the FON hotspots (red circle maybe?) and BTopenzones (red pushpin?). This would be useful to those who had accounts with eithier.

I would really like to see the number of colours used limited to the following:
green = free & open
yellow = free but login required
red = paid

James/Michael. I can do this programatically to save time, see example map link below. However I will need to download all data first. If we go ahead with this then I would need you James to disallow colaboration on the map to stop any fresh updates. Once all data is downloaded and changed then comes the risky bit (well not really as all going to be backed up) as you alone (as the map creator) have to upload it and check the box marked "overwrite all on this map". All of the markers should then be changed to suit. I'm busy for next couple of days though so if anybody else wants a shot then go for it...If you can wait until weekend and want me to do this then agree on colour code and we're ready to rock!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100150371439994382257.0004450bc5d88b017af88&ll=53.956086,-6.569824&spn=2.708603,7.404785&z=7&om=0

That's a good point Michael and something we need to discuss IMHO. I too started off using green for 'free', yellow for 'passcode required' and red for 'not working when last tried'. Then I started using purple for eircom points. What do you think Will (OpenGeo)? I don't mind going through the BT OpenZone and Fon hotspots to change them if/after we agree a convention.

Added a Fon Hotspot on Lwr Baggot Street. I used a blue icon because that's what the other Fon's seem to use, but are people sticking to conventions with the colours at all?

Would be handy if, for example, green = free+open, yellow = needs passcode, blue = fon, etc.

Eirepreneur...to batch upload just click "edit" then click the "import" link to the left of the button and browse to the location of your kml file.