Free Wi-Fi Internet at Jack in the Box

There's been no formal announcement but the evidence is hiding in plain sight: Jack in the Box restaurants across California and Arizona are starting to offer free wireless Internet.

Jack in the Box is remodeling its restaurants and each so-called "re-imaged" location is outfitted with free Wi-Fi.

If you see a big screen TV, look for a 5 digit code in the bottom left corner. It's your ticket to free Internet with your burger and fries.

Jack in the Box acknowledges the free Wi-Fi but says it's "premature to talk it about at this time." Fortunately, Knowzy is not so tight-lipped.

Find out if a Jack in the Box near you is serving up free Wi-Fi. Learn how it works and what it can and can't do for you. Ponder the unanswered questions about Jack Wi-Fi.

We cover it all right here, in Knowzy's Free Wi-Fi at Jack in the Box.

• Highlights of Jack in the Box Wireless
• How to Sign on to Jack Wi-Fi
• Downsides to Jack Wi-Fi
• Jack in the Box Locations with Wireless Internet
• How to Spot a Jack in the Box with Free Wireless
• Unanswered Questions About Jack Wi-Fi
• Who Powers Jack in the Box Wi-Fi?
• Media Coverage of Jack Wi-Fi
• Talk About It

 

 

Highlights of Jack in the Box Wireless

Jack in the Box locations with free wireless Internet are still rare. Here's what you can expect if you're lucky enough to find a Wi-Fi-enabled JITB.

Be sure to check out our unofficial list of Jack Wi-Fi locations to see if there's one near you.

• Free: For JIB customers
• Fast: High-speed, broadband Internet connection
• Easy: Just enter the code on the TV to sign on
• Family-friendly: Inappropriate content filtered
• Surf Safely: Spyware and phishing sites blocked
• Ready for Work: VPN (IPsec) compatible
• Entertaining: Audio and video streaming permitted
• Consistent: Wireless network name is always "jackwifi"

 

 

How to Sign on to Jack Wi-Fi

If the Jack in the Box you're visiting has free wireless, getting on is fairly easy:

1. Buy something

   Technically, there's nothing to stop you from jumping on the 'net without purchase. However, the Jack in the Box manager is there to keep you honest.

2. Connect to the "jackwifi" network

   Your laptop should detect a wireless network when you're in the restaurant. Follow your computer's lead to connect to the "jackwifi" network.

3. Bring up any site in your web browser

   Visiting any page on the Internet will take you to Jack Wi-Fi sign-in screen (instead of the web site you called up).

4. Get access code from TV

   Enter the 5 digit code from the TV in your web browser where it reads "Access Code" and click the "I Agree" button. The code is found in the bottom left corner of any TV in the store (see picture).

5. Surf the Internet

   A few seconds after entering the access code, your browser automatically pays a visit to the Jack in the Box home page. You are now on the Internet.

 

 

Downsides to Jack Wi-Fi

What kind of roadblocks or limitations might you encounter using Jack in the Box Internet? Here are a few:

• Two hour limit every 12 hours

  Jack in the Box doesn't want you buying one 69 cent deep-fried taco and then mooching their Internet connection all day. After two hours, the system cuts you off. It won't let you in again for another 10 hours.

• Heavy-handed filtering of inappropriate content

  Jack Wi-Fi blocks pornography, spyware and phishing sites. Sure, parents don't want their kids freaking out by what the dirty-old-man at the next table has on his laptop screen. However, the ScanSafe-powered filter seems particularly restrictive: You are not even permitted to view the search results page if a single inappropriate site matches your query. On the plus side, it does pass the "breast cancer" test.

• Popup blocker suppresses timer

  After you successfully sign on, your popup blocker acts up. No, they're not trying to shove an ad in your face! They're trying to pop up a "session timer" window to help you track how long you've been online. You don't need it to use the free Internet. You just won't have a warning if you approach that two hour limit. Adjust your popup blocker settings accordingly.

• Must have a web browser

  Your laptop, iPhone, PSP or PDA should work fine. However, Wi-Fi enabled devices like VoIP phones, digital cameras or Zunes will not work. None of these devices have a web browser to enter the magic access code.

• Visually impaired will need assistance

  The five digit code you need for Internet access is on a TV screen that is typically six feet from the ground. If you are blind or have difficulty reading smallish print from a distance, a Jack in the Box employee can give you the access code.

 

 

Jack in the Box Locations with Wireless Internet

Here is an unofficial list of Jack in the Box restaurants that have free Internet. Not all of these locations have been confirmed by Knowzy. Unless you see a "Y" in the K column, the location is simply culled from a major Wi-Fi directory.

Note that some locations may not be official Jack in the Box wireless hotspots. The network could belong to a neighboring business or residence.

The official network name is "jackwifi." Use caution if you connect to a wireless network by another name!

Someday this list will not be necessary as Jack in the Box will eventually publish their own. Until then, here are free Wi-Fi locations that we know about...

 

Jack Wi-Fi Locations (Unofficial)

Online Now
City	Address	Zip	Phone	J	W	O	Z
Agoura, CA1	5033 N Kanan Rd	91301	818-889-1653	Go
Azusa, CA1	877 E Alosta	91702	626-969-1153	Go	Go	Go
Brea, CA1	315 S Brea Blvd	92821	714-529-2361	Go	Go
Goleta, CA	6875 Hollister Ave	93117	805-685-8552	Go
Irvine, CA	4289 Campus Dr	92612	949-823-8983	Go	Go	Go	Go
Newport Beach , CA	4625 W Coast Hwy	92663	949-650-1763	Go
Oxnard, CA1	2580 N Vineyard Ave	93030	805-485-0773	Go
San Diego, CA	9380 Mira Mesa Blvd	92126	858-566-0052	Go		Go
San Diego, CA	4798 Clairemont Mesa Blvd	92117	858-627-9552	Go
San Luis Obispo, CA	390 Santa Rosa	93405	805-547-0852	Go	Go
Santa Maria, CA	830 South Broadway	93454	805-922-5693	Go
Santa Barbara, CA	3747 State St	93105	805-682-8674	Go
Temecula, CA	27410 Jefferson Ave	92590	951-676-6037	Go
Thousand Oaks, CA	484 N. Moorpark Road	91360	805-495-7874	Go
Tucson, AZ	934 E Speedway	85719	520-792-3054	Go		Go
Coming Soon
City	Address	Zip	Phone	J	W	O	Z
Atascadero, CA	6300 El Camino Real	93422	805-461-0613	Go
Arroyo Grande, CA	1208 Grand Ave	93420	805-489-3668	Go
Paso Robles, CA	1900 Ramada Dr	93446	805-226-8262	Go
Paso Robles, CA	2304 Spring St	93446	805-238-9002	Go
Pismo Beach, CA	334 Five Cities Dr	93449	805-556-0580	Go
Santa Maria, CA	2306 S Broadway Ave	93454	805-922-0627	Go
Santa Maria, CA	1041 E. Main St	93454	805-346-1190	Go
Notes 1 This Jack in the Box has a different free Wi-Fi system. Ask a cashier for details. Legend J Map and directions to this Jack in the Box location. W See listing in Wi-Fi FreeSpot directory (if available). O See listing in Open WiFiSpots directory (if available). Z See listing in JiWire's ZONE Finder directory (if available).

 

 

How to Spot a Jack in the Box with Free Wireless

With few exceptions, all Jack in the Box locations Knowzy visited had a "jackwifi" wireless network. Some even had the big screen TV.

Those hints alone don't add up to free Wi-Fi.

The telltale sign that the Jack in the Box you're visiting has free wireless is on the TV itself. Look in the bottom left corner of the screen for the phrase "Wi-Fi" followed by a 5 digit code. If the code is there, hop on the Internet!

If the wireless network isn't up and running, ask a store manager about it. Most that Knowzy talked to knew when it's coming to their location. The most popular answer was "April," following their remodel.

If you find a functioning Jack Wi-Fi location, please let us know and we'll add it to list.

 

 

Unanswered Questions About Jack Wi-Fi

Knowzy apparently caught Jack in the Box off guard in breaking this story. None of the companies involved returned calls and e-mails for comment. Knowzy had to rely on Jack store managers to get the scoop.

As the news media began picking up the story, Nancy Luna, "The Fast Food Maven" of the Orange County Register, got the first official word from Jack in the Box. Spokeswoman Kathleen Anthony is quoted as saying, "It’s something we’re testing, but it’s too premature to talk it about at this time."

Until Jack in the Box starts talking, Knowzy and everyone else is left to speculate about the service.

Here are some questions on Knowzy's mind. Please write in if you have additional questions to pose.

• Will it remain free?

  The Wi-Fi is free at Jack in the Box now. But will it stay free after the "testing" phase? McDonald's offers free Wi-Fi to AT&T broadband customers. Starbucks will soon offer free two hours wireless sessions to its gift card-toting customers. Hopefully Jack will lead the pack by offering easy-to-access, free Wi-Fi for all its customers. But we don't know for sure.

• When will the "testing" phase end?

  Knowzy first noticed the free Wi-Fi in the San Luis Obispo store in mid-January. By mid-February, nearly every Jack location Knowzy visited in the area had the "jackwifi" network up, though not functioning. Store managers in the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara areas almost unanimously told Knowzy that free Wi-Fi is coming to their store in April. Clearly all 2,100 Jack in the Box restaurants will not be online by April. But when will Jack consider the existing hotspots ready-to-go?

• How quickly is Jack in the Box bringing stores online?

  If the Wi-Fi rollout strictly follows the remodels (or "re-imaging" as Jack calls it), one third of all Jack in the Box restaurants will be online by 2009. The CoStar Group reports, "400 restaurants have completed re-imaging and another 400 are scheduled to undergo re-imaging this year." That's 800 Wi-Fi stores out of a total of 2,139 or 37%. Of course, that's a big "if" and a best case scenario. Bringing up a Wi-Fi network of that size can be quite challenging.

• What if network congestion becomes a problem?

  Under T-Mobile's exclusive contract with Starbucks (which is no longer exclusive), each location is required to have a T-1 connection to the Internet (a T-1 is a fast, resilient and more expensive Internet connection). Jack in the Box's Wi-Fi provider, Ripple, doesn't appear to be setting the bar that high. One manager told Knowzy that they are using a cable modem connection to the Internet. In addition, the big screen TVs are apparently fed by the same Internet connection used by Wi-Fi customers. If true, an inexpensive Internet connection plus an always-on video stream plus several customers surfing the 'net equals the potential to overload the connection. Will Jack in the Box beef up its bandwidth if the Wi-Fi gets sluggish?

 

 

Who Powers Jack in the Box Wi-Fi?

Ripple

This fairly young company's claim to fame is a network of entertaining big screen TVs in retail establishments. A mix of news, entertainment, advertising and ShoutOuts, these Ripple TVs grab customers' attention while they wait in line or ignore their dining partners.

Free Wi-Fi was part of the Ripple mix early on. We predict the deal with Jack will bring free wireless front and center.

Ripple gets in the door of the retail locations by charging little up front and sharing the advertising revenue. Lately, some big name clients have signed on, including Jiffy Lube, Borders, the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Tully's Coffee.

In mid-2007, Ripple struck the deal with Jack in the Box. No one seemed to notice the free Wi-Fi bit at the time.

On the heels of two major free Wi-Fi announcements, one from Starbucks and another from McDonald's/AT&T, the free Internet part will not go unnoticed today.

 

Sputnik

Ripple manages their Wi-Fi network with a solution from San Francisco-based Sputnik. They are the backbone of Jack's free Wi-Fi network.

Jack Wi-Fi users see Sputnik's "captive portal" sign in page when first connecting. Until the Wi-Fi access code is entered, attempts to view web pages redirect users to the captive portal.

Sputnik's "Agent" embeds itself in the firmware of routers that run Linux (DD-WRT, specifically), including Linksys and Buffalo. Sputnik's co-founders made a name for themselves in the Linux services industry.

With more than 2,100 Jack in the Box locations, Sputnik has landed a big account.

 

 

Media Coverage of Jack Wi-Fi

Knowzy readers learned about free Wi-Fi at Jack in the Box before Valentine's Day this year. But let's face it, Knowzy isn't the LA Times or the AP in terms of audience size.

As the wider media picks up on the story, the rest of the world will learn about this new place to get your free Wi-Fi fix.

Below are the news outlets and blogs that have reported on the Jack wireless story. Of course, we are checking the Jack in the Box Press Room often for the official announcement:

Ripple TV Gets Funding, Jack-in-the-Box Venues

MediaDailyNews, July 9, 2007

Covers Ripple's second round of funding and the partnership with Jack in the Box. A single sentence reads: "The company is also planning to provide free Wi-Fi access to all venues that install its video displays."

RippleTV wants to ripple TV monitors across U.S., raises $10M

VentureBeat, July 9, 2007

A detailed analysis of Ripple's business model and the second round of funding. Again, the free Wi-Fi is at Jack in the Box is a side-order to the main story. However, an important technical detail is dropped here: Customers share the Internet connection used by the TV's always-on video and data stream.

Free Wireless Internet at Jack in the Box

Knowzy, February 13, 2008

You are here. In mid-January, Knowzy's founder discovered free Wi-Fi at his local Jack in the Box. This led him on a two county tour of Jack in the Box restaurants, talking to store managers, sniffing out wireless signals and drinking gallons of their wonderful fresh-brewed iced tea. What Knowzy found that weekend laid the groundwork for this article.

Jack in the Box secretly rolls out free Wi-Fi in some O.C. units

Orange County Register, February 21, 2008

Nancy Luna, the OC Register's Fast Food Maven, did a profile on Knowzy's story shortly after it broke. She was the first to get official word from Jack in the Box: It's in testing but they're not ready to talk about it. She also contacted Carl's Jr. and Del Taco, who say they are considering free wireless Internet too.

Knowzy documents free Wi-Fi at some Calif., Ariz., Jacks in the Box (Jack in the Boxes?)

Wi-Fi Networking News, February 21, 2008

Glenn Fleishman's blog covering the world of Wi-Fi news posted a short write-up on this article. He also brings up a good question: What is the plural of Jack in the Box? For this article Knowzy has been using "Jack in the Box's." Calling all grammar nitpickers!

Select Jack In The Boxes Offering Free Wi-Fi

The Consumerist, March 14, 2008

Fun and fiercely pro-consumer blog "The Consumerist" picked up our story, summarizing our article nicely. They also gave another vote to "Jack in the Boxes" as the plural of Jack in the Box.

McDonald's, Starbucks, and Jack in the Box Offering Free WiFi?

geeksugar, March 17, 2008

geeksugar, where "Geek is Chic," told its readers about free Jack in the Box Wi-Fi on St. Patrick's Day. These tech-savvy ladies ate up the news.

Guide to Free Wi-Fi at Jack In The Box

Fast Food Critic, May 7, 2008

There's a new fast food web site in town and they're talking about Jack Wi-Fi. The Fast Food Critic reviews food, provides nutrition information and much more. FFC publishes actual photos of the reviewed food rather than the idealized, Photoshopped images put out by the restaurant's marketing department. Nice.

If you see any coverage of Jack Wi-Fi not listed here, please let us know.

 

 

Talk About It

Do you know of any additional Jack in the Box's with free wireless? Do you have a Jack Wi-Fi experience to share? Are you having trouble using the Internet at Jack in the Box?

Talk about Jack Wi-Fi on our Feedback page.

Wi-Fi and french fries. Try not to get your laptop too greasy!

 

 

 

 

Originally Published:  Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Last Updated:  Tuesday, June 17, 2008