I just came back from quick coffee grab and tried to find some free surfing grounds. Turned on wifi, didn't connect. Loaded up wififofum just for the fun of it, and found out that there were several networks in the area. Some of them had wap on so I didn't mind not being able to connect to those, but the attwifi network (which I should be able to connect to because Barnes advertises them there and whatnot) and two other networks (which I think were classified as device-to-device) would not connect for the life of me. So:
1) What exactly is device-to-device
2) Should I suspect my device or just crappy luck?
2a) Any suggestions?
Moreover, I can only remember getting access in 2-3 places, and I only rely on getting access at my home.
Thank you very much in advance for whomever finds the time. I just want to see the soccer scores on my phone!
Try Hitchhiker, it works better for me.
Related
Hey guys.
I bought my XdaIIs almost a year ago, but have had no need to use the WiFi until quite recently. I'm with O2 on the 200 Plan (light user) and everything works fine with the phone, including the GRPS: apart from the WiFi. When the phone was sold to me I was told very clearly, and on multiple occasions, that if I can pick up a WiFi signal, and that it's free, then I can connect and browse for free. I don't have a WiFi connection at home, so it's only when out and about that I need to connect. However, when I tried this at a Coffee House that had free access I could only connect via one of two of O2's "Gateway Partners" and they wanted to charge me for this, which I find outrageous! Can someone confirm to me whether this is correct, as O2 told me that I have to be a "Business User" on a Business Plan to get free WiFi, and that the fact that the phone has WiFi doees not mean that they support it!
If the above is the case, is there anyway around this, such as unlocking the phone, or connecting via a completely different network? I just find it galling that O2 can mis-sell me the phone on the basis that I can connect via WiFi "anywhere and anytime for free" and then to be told that this isn't the case.
Thanks in advance.
Tron
Tron,
WiFi isn't free. It's usually provided by some operator (e.g. BT, The Cloud, T-Mobile, etc), and these guys want money for providing a service.
Generally you can create an account with them whilst you are in a WiFi Hotspot - and their charges vary. It's nowhere near as prevalent as GSM, so you'll find that not all of these operators have agreements between themselves; basically this means that you can use an operators account only with it's partners.
As for if "if you can see a wifi signal it's free" - it's not true. Not wishing to condone anything illegal, you can generally get away with it if there's no encryption on the access point; but it is illegal to use a signal that is not meant for you. The idea of unlocking your phone doesn't really apply in this case either - it's nothing to do with the network lock but the way the people who run the equipment choose to charge; remember the equipment for WiFi is completely separate from the Mobile GSM network you use when you call someone on your mobile.
As for the O2 WiFi network/partners, I've no idea about the pricing. But it does make sense that they would have a different tariff for those subscribing to their wifi service, like their Business Plan.
No doubt the salesperson over-played this a bit when selling it to you!
Hey Bal, thanks for the reply.
So, if I'm sitting in a Library, for arguements sake, and they have a completely free and open WiFi connection, how am I meant to connect? Surely O2 via "The Cloud" cannot charge me to use someone's network who are letting me use it for free: can they? Likewise, if I pop around your house and you let me use your connection, do I have to connect via one of O2's partners? That's what I'm trying to get at, I guess.
Thanks once again.
wifi is just like a normal network between computers you set up at home
you can let people from the outside hop on if you want
but you are to blame if they abuse your network connection though i guess
some places offer free wifi too some plane companys offer it in their planes
some trains offer it
7-11 offer it and so does mcdonals i believe
Rudegar is right of course, if it's free and you open your wireless lan manager you should see the network and be able to connect without a password.
This has nothing to do with the mobile operator you have a contract with.
It's the same as you bringing your laptop over to my place and plugging it into the wired lan - only difference being that there are no wires involved.
If you think of your wifi as just a way of "plugging into" a network rather than as part of your mobile it makes more sense.
I would suggest that you find somewhere with wifi access and have a play - you'll learn much more that way
well if the mobile operators wanted to they could offer it
and charge people for it of cause it would require them
to set up MANY hotspots and repeaters to service all their customers
Okay, cool. Thanks for all of the help guys. I guess I'll have to wander around an find a free WiFi spot (there are none that I know of anywhere near me).
Ross
or you could just get a wifi router for your internet connection for your normal computers should you have a such
and make your own hotspot
I have a Sprint Mogul and basically hate it because it's slow and poorly designed. So I switched to the Treo 700wx and like it a lot better (or at least as much as anyone can really "like" Windows Mobile).
Rant aside, I have the Mogul still and have been trying to set it to simply access the net via WiFi, but it just is showing me no love. I can see and connect to my access point fine (just as I could back when I did have a cell plan for it). But when I try to hit a page with PIE, it tries to connect to the Sprint network. I've tried deleting the Sprint connection out of the network settings as well as unchecking the "This network connects to the internet" box. But it doesn't prevent it from trying to connect to the cell towers instead of just using the WiFi.
Ideas?
Ensure you have the Wireless connection pointing to "The Internet". You should also run a ping test and ensure your router is handing out an IP via DHCP properly.
Taco Jackson said:
I have a Sprint Mogul and basically hate it because it's slow and poorly designed. So I switched to the Treo 700wx and like it a lot better (or at least as much as anyone can really "like" Windows Mobile).
Rant aside, I have the Mogul still and have been trying to set it to simply access the net via WiFi, but it just is showing me no love. I can see and connect to my access point fine (just as I could back when I did have a cell plan for it). But when I try to hit a page with PIE, it tries to connect to the Sprint network. I've tried deleting the Sprint connection out of the network settings as well as unchecking the "This network connects to the internet" box. But it doesn't prevent it from trying to connect to the cell towers instead of just using the WiFi.
Ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Frankly the phone is not really going to be appreciated (as it can be) by more basic PC user. Sounds like you want a more (pardon the expression) dumbed down version of PPC.
Instead of turning on wireless and then looking at available AP's... go into start/settings/connections tab/WiFi and try connecting from there... I noticed it to work better from there.
BTW... if you really start hating that thing... let me know and I will send you a pre-paid shipping box
veloslave said:
Frankly the phone is not really going to be appreciated (as it can be) by more basic PC user. Sounds like you want a more (pardon the expression) dumbed down version of PPC.
Instead of turning on wireless and then looking at available AP's... go into start/settings/connections tab/WiFi and try connecting from there... I noticed it to work better from there.
BTW... if you really start hating that thing... let me know and I will send you a pre-paid shipping box
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..and if you happen to forget to send the box... I'm right behind you and will happily take his poorly designed and slow Mogul.
What's the best WiFi interenet sharing solution? WalkingHotSpot, WiFiRouter,
JoikuSpot, ICSControl, Internet Sharing, or Tethering, etc. Is there another option? What's the advantages and dissadvantages of each?
What I would really like is to have a solution that allows me to configure how many people can connect and/or some kind of security, WEP, or anything at all. Is that possible?
I tried using the Internet Sharing Utility but I would keep getting a Verizon sceen saying I needed to sign up for a different service. I tried both WalkingHotSpot and WiFiRouter. WifiRouter seemed to keep my WiFi on all the time and allowed unlimited people to connect with no security, and WalkingHotSpot I couldn't get working for some reason, but it didn't look like you could set up any security with that either. Thanks for the help and time..
I don't think wifirouter can be beat, I have used it and prefer it.
I hear there is a bug in it that allows it to keep your WiFi turned on all the time. I heard there is a WEP feature and a feature that allows you to kick IPs off from using it. Do you know anything about this? Thanks.
rambrush said:
I don't think wifirouter can be beat, I have used it and prefer it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure what you are talking about.
But you can set up a secure wireless network. It is only on if the switch is on so when you disconnect and turn switch off its done.
I have run the program for 10+ hours straight while on the road it kept the wifes laptop connected anywhere we have connectivity. I do run a amplifer and external antenna for those weaker areas.
Go check out the documentation at this link to see if the info is there?
http://support.wmwifirouter.com/documentation/
What version of the software are you using? I don't remember seeing any of those options with my version. It seemed to still have WiFi working even when the button was off, the icon looked like it was still working, but I didn't test it.. Thanks...
wmwifirouter is my favorite and my dad's by far
I searched through the forums already but haven't found a solution.
I just got a new phone today but it won't connect to my wifi connection; it consistently says "authenticating" but nothing more. I know the password is correct and I even tried the security code - nothing. My laptop, netbook, and iTouch all connect fine except for the phone.
What are some things I can try to fix it? Any help would be appreciated!
This might be a "duh" but make sure your bands are compatible. With cell phones, I find G to provide the best performance. Either way, make sure your network is operating in a band your phone can support.
Also, occasionally my phones will refuse to connect to my wireless -- I find that rebooting the router takes care of it every time -- I run a pretty hacked up network though...
spookys said:
I just got a new phone today but it won't connect to my wifi connection; it consistently says "authenticating" but nothing more. I know the password is correct and I even tried the security code - nothing. My laptop, netbook, and iTouch all connect fine except for the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try fiddling around with the authentication parameters in the router. E.g. try AES vs TKIP+AES etc. Some implementations are quite buggy.
Hi Guys,
Firstly, I hope this is posted in the correct section.
Secondly, My name is Mark, and I've followed this site/forum for a few years now, and have successfully rooted 2 old phones (HTC Nexus One & HTC One S) thanks to all the information and guides right here on xda-developers.
Thirdly, is my issue: (the back-story) [tried, tested & failed alternatives]
At work, we've recently invested in a WiFi Internet Radio, to take advantage of the tens of thousands of stations compared to the 20 or so offered on DAB/FM. Getting it connected to the internet however has been a struggle.
The offices Wired & Wireless LAN networks are locked by a pin, which nobody knows, or will give out, this network is for official business use only, by the companies own equipment. Also network tabs in the computers control panel are blocked, so these pins are completely unobtainable. There is a WiFi hotspot nearby, this is setup and ran by "The Cloud" (aka Sky). When we try to connect to this network directly from the radio, it asks for a pin, however to use these hot spots you have to register a username & password on a browser to be granted access, again, not possible with the radio. 3G/4G is very limited in the building due to the location of the building, and (we think) a chrome window tint that runs all the way around the building, We've tried, the radio can find and connect to the phone, but the phone can't connect to the internet via 3g. Even if 3g was good, it'd be very data consuming to be running radio over portable WiFi hotspot for 52 hours a week.
So what I want to do, if it's possible, is to share my WiFi connection (to the hotspot) over WiFi or USB (to the radio), using my phone as a WiFi repeater/modem in between. Or perhaps there's another alternative I've missed? I'm not overly sure on the ins and outs of usb modems and other networking hardware.
The phone is a Sony Xperia Z2 (currently not rooted, but willing to root if needs be to make this work)
The radio is a Roberts Stream 93i (has WiFi, ethernet & USB)
And in case anyone mentions, there is a STRICT ban on phones, ipods (and anything that connects to the internet) due to the confidential nature of our work, if this wasn't the case we'd just of bought a pair of speakers and streamed the internet radio on our phones.
Thanks for your help, I've been searching high & low for 3 straight days now!
Stoneyworth said:
Hi Guys,
Firstly, I hope this is posted in the correct section.
Secondly, My name is Mark, and I've followed this site/forum for a few years now, and have successfully rooted 2 old phones (HTC Nexus One & HTC One S) thanks to all the information and guides right here on xda-developers.
Thirdly, is my issue: (the back-story) [tried, tested & failed alternatives]
At work, we've recently invested in a WiFi Internet Radio, to take advantage of the tens of thousands of stations compared to the 20 or so offered on DAB/FM. Getting it connected to the internet however has been a struggle.
The offices Wired & Wireless LAN networks are locked by a pin, which nobody knows, or will give out, this network is for official business use only, by the companies own equipment. Also network tabs in the computers control panel are blocked, so these pins are completely unobtainable. There is a WiFi hotspot nearby, this is setup and ran by "The Cloud" (aka Sky). When we try to connect to this network directly from the radio, it asks for a pin, however to use these hot spots you have to register a username & password on a browser to be granted access, again, not possible with the radio. 3G/4G is very limited in the building due to the location of the building, and (we think) a chrome window tint that runs all the way around the building, We've tried, the radio can find and connect to the phone, but the phone can't connect to the internet via 3g. Even if 3g was good, it'd be very data consuming to be running radio over portable WiFi hotspot for 52 hours a week.
So what I want to do, if it's possible, is to share my WiFi connection (to the hotspot) over WiFi or USB (to the radio), using my phone as a WiFi repeater/modem in between. Or perhaps there's another alternative I've missed? I'm not overly sure on the ins and outs of usb modems and other networking hardware.
The phone is a Sony Xperia Z2 (currently not rooted, but willing to root if needs be to make this work)
The radio is a Roberts Stream 93i (has WiFi, ethernet & USB)
And in case anyone mentions, there is a STRICT ban on phones, ipods (and anything that connects to the internet) due to the confidential nature of our work, if this wasn't the case we'd just of bought a pair of speakers and streamed the internet radio on our phones.
Thanks for your help, I've been searching high & low for 3 straight days now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is the radio for the employees to enjoy, or is it being hooked into the building for customer/clients?
if it could be considered to the benefit of customers/clients, just get in touch with IT and see if they have a solution for you. (creating an exception on the netowrk for the radio, maybe?)
If you are simply trying to fly under the radar, and get the thing running, then it sounds like you might be out of luck.
so, you are saying plugging it into an ethernet port, it won't obtain access to the net?
plugging it into a known working port, it also won't work?
you could, try bringing in your own wifi router, plugging that into an open ethernet port (wan) and then see if it grabs net through that.
as i read your previous post, it leads me to believe that there is a PIN you need to input for WIFI & LAN... kind of strange for LAN