Can't connect to free wifi on OSF

[Guest]

I have an Orange San Francisco which I've only had for a few weeks. I am currently on holiday abroad where there are several places with free wifi.

I was able to connect at one hotel with a code, but haven't been able to connect anywhere else including places like Starbucks.

It starts scanning, says it is finding the IP address then disconnects.

I have managed to connect the laptop to some of these free wifi hot spots, but not the phone.

I have APNdroid installed. Phone is ROM'd with Swedish Spring.

I would be grateful for any ideas.

I haven't been able to try free wifi in the UK as there is none available where I live.

[Guest Stuart_f]

Mine does this with some Access points in airport lounges. There's no fix that I know of.

[Guest Len Ash]

Mine does this with some Access points in airport lounges. There's no fix that I know of.

Because they aren't free? As in Free Beer. You need the WPA key and that costs.

[Guest gray66]

Because they aren't free? As in Free Beer. You need the WPA key and that costs.

I connect to BT Openzone using the BT FON App. You need to connect it 1st before the wifi will connect (or so it seems !). Thats the only free (to me as I have BT Broadband) network 've managed to connect to so far.

Gray

[Guest sambartle]

I can confirm that Free WiFi networks work fine for me, including Starbucks and a fair few others..

How it usually works is you connect to the Unsecured WiFi network, and any requests are redirected to a landing page where you have to sign in or sign up (if it a commercial one you pay for) if it's just free then it should just work.

If it fails every time when getting an IP Address that's not right, however usually its just because you are too far from the access point.. the laptop has a bigger aerial so its less of a problem.

If you have a laptop with you you could try logcat and see if it shows anything happening when the connection is lost.

You mentioned you are not in the UK.. in theory that might be a problem if your phone was bought in the UK as WiFi bands are slightly different around the world.. they could be disabled by your location settings, however this seems very unlikely.. I've not had any problems with this.

[Guest Len Ash]

generally, the IP will not be resolved unless you have the "access rights" to the AP...

As above, Free may mean Free once you have the passkey/code/app to do so.

The number of Free & Free hotspots is very limited...

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies.

I am now in another hotel with wifi and was able to get the connection page up and connect. It seems to be the free wifi hot spots I can't connect to.

In one hotel I had to accept the T&C's on the laptop before I could connect. However I didn't even get that page to appear on the phone to be able to accept them.

I do understand that the signal strength is probaly less on the phone. I just expect it might connect to at least one of the ones I've tried.

[Guest dwl99]

Thanks for the replies.

I am now in another hotel with wifi and was able to get the connection page up and connect. It seems to be the free wifi hot spots I can't connect to.

In one hotel I had to accept the T&C's on the laptop before I could connect. However I didn't even get that page to appear on the phone to be able to accept them.

I do understand that the signal strength is probaly less on the phone. I just expect it might connect to at least one of the ones I've tried.

This is a big problem with Android - it will not work with wifi sites that redirect your browser to a landing page where you have to accept the T&Cs. I haven't found a way round this after much searching.

[Guest Len Ash]

This is a big problem with Android - it will not work with wifi sites that redirect your browser to a landing page where you have to accept the T&Cs. I haven't found a way round this after much searching.

Usually involves refeshing browser, or trying another url - then the HotSpot sign in page appears.

[Guest glossywhite]

This is a big problem with Android - it will not work with wifi sites that redirect your browser to a landing page where you have to accept the T&Cs. I haven't found a way round this after much searching.

I think you're wrong. I go to Costa Coffee twice a week, and they use "freerunner" with an open access point, which re-directs to a landing page, where you enter a voucher number to gain internet access.

How is that a "problem with Android"? I think you maybe misunderstand it, or it hasn't worked for you? Works for me every time, without fail.

[Guest Elgreco77]

I have an Orange San Francisco which I've only had for a few weeks. I am currently on holiday abroad where there are several places with free wifi.

I was able to connect at one hotel with a code, but haven't been able to connect anywhere else including places like Starbucks.

It starts scanning, says it is finding the IP address then disconnects.

I have managed to connect the laptop to some of these free wifi hot spots, but not the phone.

I have APNdroid installed. Phone is ROM'd with Swedish Spring.

I would be grateful for any ideas.

I haven't been able to try free wifi in the UK as there is none available where I live.

How did you manage to get Apndroid installed mine won't download it?

Thanks

[Guest Phoenix Silver]

I use swedish spring

Blade has always connected in any hot spot i tried

I'm in a different hotel each day so different hot spot each day.

Always worked for open or protected hot spots

[Guest haris.b]

I have an Orange San Francisco which I've only had for a few weeks. I am currently on holiday abroad where there are several places with free wifi.

I was able to connect at one hotel with a code, but haven't been able to connect anywhere else including places like Starbucks.

It starts scanning, says it is finding the IP address then disconnects.

I have managed to connect the laptop to some of these free wifi hot spots, but not the phone.

I have APNdroid installed. Phone is ROM'd with Swedish Spring.

I would be grateful for any ideas.

I haven't been able to try free wifi in the UK as there is none available where I live.

perhaps it was wireless N standard? our Blade does not support N standard...

[Guest christianwells28]

Sometimes you have to open up your browser and load a page for the wifi to work properly. Depending on the free wifi it may ask you to log in or it may just literally be free wifi. I know at my college i have to log in to use the free wifi and i just load up google images and then it loads a new window asking to log in then you can use apps which use wifi access. Hope this helps

[Guest Thar]

perhaps it was wireless N standard? our Blade does not support N standard...

We have a wireless N router and can connect with our Blades. I thought wireless was backward compatible anyway.

[Guest Stuart_f]

Because they aren't free? As in Free Beer. You need the WPA key and that costs.

Very late reply. What I meant to say was that I cannot connect to them with the Blade even when I have the key, my netbook works fine with the same access point. Some brands of routers just don't play nicely with the Blade at all.

[Guest jolleri]

I can confirm a problem with redirected login.

At my university's wifi you are redirected to a login page as well. With my Blade i can always connect, and i get a valid ip, but i am not always redirected to the login page. Some days it will work the whole day, and some days not at all. I've tried with SS RLS4 and RLS 5 + various versions of CM7, I have also tried out different browsers (opera mobile, opera mini, dolphin, stock 2.2, stock 2.3 with different user agents) without any luck. This is a problem with other android phones as well. With iphone there are no problems though.

Edited February 9, 2012 by jolleri

[Guest Tomsy]

I have the same issue...