Yes it is true that there is free public access Wifi. Some folks or business's are willing to broadcast free Wifi signals. Now an unsecured router isn't the way to connect but, most of the Wifi signals coming from towers have an unique SSID that identifies their signal as private (with WEP-WPA encryption) or is public and is free to use. In the time that I last posted I setup a free access WiFi tower (nothing to fancy, about 50ft tall) and I'm simply using a Lynksys router (pre-programmed on my computer) w/ signal amps, a
modulator (motorola high speed modem). I just hook the setup to the WiFi feed from my dish via switcher/splitter to the modem it descrambles the signal into a readable signal for the router via a CAT5 cable. Then the router/access point broadcasts the Wifi. I tested it with my buddies laptop and his adapter got about 185 yards away before losing my signal. (With a clear line of sight)
And keep in mind the router is not hooked up to my computer contunasly I only hook it up and take the network down for checking of the router settings and check the logs for user traffic. See my SSID is AVK629FreeWiFi, so folks will know that it is free to use when they scan with their wireless adapters nearby in the neiborhood. Now since the signal i'm grabbing from the tower is free to use, it is free to broadcast at a more lower scale like my setup.
You can acually hook up a high speed modem (motorola surfboard $50-$55) to your cable internet feed, then hook that up to a router (Lynksys Wireless-G WRT54G router $50-$60) then get a wireless adapter (USB 2.0 works good) (D-link Wireless G & N capable 56mbps $60=$70) hook that to your computer and get great performing wireless internet troughout your home and possibly on your porch too! You just have to pogram your router hooked up to the computer as is the normal setup, after that unhook it and follow those instructions. Even if you don't have security feature on it will still be secure with your firewall and anti-virus program going, because the router hase no hard-link to your pc is is that much more secure from hackers. But ordering online and using creditcards, you should have WEP-WPA security features enabled.