My first try at Free Wi-Fi Hotspots

Hi everyone,

I JUST started reading this group, and have learned a few things. I am
VERY new to all things Wi-Fi so please bear with me if I ask dumb questions.

My wife and I recently took the plunge and got Cable internet access, as
ell, we recently (for Xmas) bought a Netgear router, (802.11b) and
Netgear USB thumbdrive type adapter (802.11b) I think it's model WA111.

Anyway, after a little tinkering, it works perfect. I can now get
online, share files with the wife, and print, via our new home wireless
network. HOORAY!! In fact I'm online via it now.

WHAT i am wondering about is this. Today I went to our Local (Large)
bookstore, (NOT a B&N or Borders) that has FREE Wi-Fi access (Hotspot).

when I was there, My adapter recognized their network, as soon as I
inserted the adapter in my USB port. My connectoid in my system tray
said I had anywhere from a good to very good signal, (it waffled back
and forth). BUT, I couldn't do anything.

I loaded my browser, and it wouldnt/couldn't go any where.
I loaded my email client, and it couldn't find my ISP's server.

OH, and I'm letting Windows XP control everything. As the software that
came with my adapter, wouldn't allow it to work properly on my laptop.
(HP Pavilion ze5185, W/512M Ram ,etc..

WHAT AM i DOING WRONG?

Thanks so much for your help everyone.

Michael
--
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Michael L. Arends wrote:

[Summary: poster can access home wireless network from [laptop?]; can
connect to WiFi hotspot in bookshop but can't get onto Internet]

I don't know Windows XP but I'm wondering, do you use static IPs at home?
Most hotspot APs rely on you using DHCP to get your IP, DNS IPs and
gateway. Maybe WinXP handles that automatically?

--
Garry Knight
garryknight<at>gmx.net ICQ 126351135
Linux registered user 182025

In infinite wisdom Garry Knight answered:
> Michael L. Arends wrote:
>
> [Summary: poster can access home wireless network from [laptop?]; can
> connect to WiFi hotspot in bookshop but can't get onto Internet]
>
> I don't know Windows XP but I'm wondering, do you use static IPs at home?
> Most hotspot APs rely on you using DHCP to get your IP, DNS IPs and
> gateway. Maybe WinXP handles that automatically?
>
See, that goes "zing" right over my head. 8-)

You could be right, But I have No idea. As I said I'm pretty new at
this. Can ya tell? 8-/

Guess I'll need a little Hand Holding on something like this.
Don't worry, I don't have sweaty Palms. ;-)


Again, Thanks EVERYONE for your Ideas, and Help.

Michael
--
~\\|//~
-(o o)-
__________oOOOo--(_)--oOOOo__________
/ Michael Arends \
| To Contact me, remove NODAMNSPAM |
| ----------------------- |
| (E-Mail Removed) |
\_____________________________________/

Michael L. Arends wrote:

> when I was there, My adapter recognized their network, as soon as I
> inserted the adapter in my USB port. My connectoid in my system tray
> said I had anywhere from a good to very good signal, (it waffled back
> and forth). BUT, I couldn't do anything.
>
> I loaded my browser, and it wouldnt/couldn't go any where.
> I loaded my email client, and it couldn't find my ISP's server.

You might not be able to access the mail server from elsewhere, except
possibly via web mail
>
> OH, and I'm letting Windows XP control everything. As the software that
> came with my adapter, wouldn't allow it to work properly on my laptop.
> (HP Pavilion ze5185, W/512M Ram ,etc..
>
> WHAT AM i DOING WRONG?

You might have to arrange access with the book store.
>
> Thanks so much for your help everyone.
>
> Michael

--

Fundamentalism is fundamentally wrong.

To reply to this message, replace everything to the left of "@" with
james.knott.

Michael,

I happen to be using a similar USB adapter as you, Netgear MA111 (are you
sure you are using WA111?).

My adapter works great at home, grabbed a free signal at a Borders WiFi
"free day" location, but had the same experience as you at a local airport
WiFi service (Sacramento). I got the signal but couldn't initialize the
browser.

After talking to the airport network guy after I returned from my trip, I
became convinced that I just didn't do an "accept" of the airport signal, as
he was pretty adamant that they had no problems with reception of their
signal and really wanted to figure out why I couldn't grab it.

The obvious thing you need to be certain you do for that signal is to grab
the signal and accept it in your Netgear adapter config box.

The other response you got to this message, of having an automatic
assignment of DHCP IP, is something you should check on your laptop.

--Ray

"Michael L. Arends" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) s.com...
> Hi everyone,
>
> I JUST started reading this group, and have learned a few things. I am
> VERY new to all things Wi-Fi so please bear with me if I ask dumb
questions.
>
> My wife and I recently took the plunge and got Cable internet access, as
> ell, we recently (for Xmas) bought a Netgear router, (802.11b) and
> Netgear USB thumbdrive type adapter (802.11b) I think it's model WA111.
>
> Anyway, after a little tinkering, it works perfect. I can now get
> online, share files with the wife, and print, via our new home wireless
> network. HOORAY!! In fact I'm online via it now.
>
> WHAT i am wondering about is this. Today I went to our Local (Large)
> bookstore, (NOT a B&N or Borders) that has FREE Wi-Fi access (Hotspot).
>
> when I was there, My adapter recognized their network, as soon as I
> inserted the adapter in my USB port. My connectoid in my system tray
> said I had anywhere from a good to very good signal, (it waffled back
> and forth). BUT, I couldn't do anything.
>
> I loaded my browser, and it wouldnt/couldn't go any where.
> I loaded my email client, and it couldn't find my ISP's server.
>
> OH, and I'm letting Windows XP control everything. As the software that
> came with my adapter, wouldn't allow it to work properly on my laptop.
> (HP Pavilion ze5185, W/512M Ram ,etc..
>
> WHAT AM i DOING WRONG?
>
> Thanks so much for your help everyone.
>
> Michael
> --
> ~\\|//~
> -(o o)-
> __________oOOOo--(_)--oOOOo__________
> / Michael Arends \
> | To Contact me, remove NODAMNSPAM |
> | ----------------------- |
> | (E-Mail Removed) |
> \_____________________________________/
>
>

In infinite wisdom Ray Bacon answered:
> Michael,
>
> I happen to be using a similar USB adapter as you, Netgear MA111 (are you
> sure you are using WA111?).

Yeah That's it I think.. MA111 Works great at home.
>
> My adapter works great at home, grabbed a free signal at a Borders WiFi
> "free day" location, but had the same experience as you at a local airport
> WiFi service (Sacramento). I got the signal but couldn't initialize the
> browser.
>
> After talking to the airport network guy after I returned from my trip, I
> became convinced that I just didn't do an "accept" of the airport signal, as
> he was pretty adamant that they had no problems with reception of their
> signal and really wanted to figure out why I couldn't grab it.
>
> The obvious thing you need to be certain you do for that signal is to grab
> the signal and accept it in your Netgear adapter config box.
How do I do this?? Sorry!
>
> The other response you got to this message, of having an automatic
> assignment of DHCP IP, is something you should check on your laptop.
>
> --Ray

How do you do this? Sorry, don't mean to be dense. This is just all so
new to me.

--
~\\|//~
-(o o)-
__________oOOOo--(_)--oOOOo__________
/ Michael Arends \
| To Contact me, remove NODAMNSPAM |
| ----------------------- |
| (E-Mail Removed) |
\_____________________________________/

In infinite wisdom Garry Knight answered:

> Michael L. Arends wrote:
>
>
>>In infinite wisdom Garry Knight answered:
>>
>>>I don't know Windows XP but I'm wondering, do you use static IPs at home?
>>>Most hotspot APs rely on you using DHCP to get your IP, DNS IPs and
>>>gateway. Maybe WinXP handles that automatically?
>>>
>>
>>See, that goes "zing" right over my head. 8-)
>
>
> Well, here's what happens with my Pocket PC. I have a Compact Flash WiFi
> card plugged in; this is configured to have a static IP address
> (192.168.0.3) and to use the WiFi PCI card on my PC (with IP 192.168.0.2)
> as a gateway. My PC runs Linux and is set up to pass networking requests to
> and from the local LAN and the Internet.
>
> When I come across a WiFi hotspot my Pocket PC's WiFi card detects the
> network Access Point but won't connect to it since my PPC is set to connect
> to my LAN. If I go in and change the settings so it looks for an SSID of
> 'ANY' then it connects to the AP. However, it still won't be able to reach
> the Internet since a) it's still using the static IP of 192.168.0.3, and b)
> the Access Point's gateway IP almost certainly isn't 192.168.0.2. So I need
> to go back in and configure my card to use 'Dynamic IP' (also known as DHCP
> - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).
>
> This is one place where profile management breaks down. I can change profile
> from my home setup to a generic WiFi access spot setup, but my PPC's IP is
> linked to my card, not to any of my profiles. I'd like to see profile
> management include the option of reconfiguring DHCP vs static IP. It may be
> that your WinXP setup already includes this option.
>
> I'm sorry if this is still over your head but I can't explain further
> without giving you Network 101 and a) this isn't the right place (Google
> is, though), and b) it's 3am local time and I'm out of energy right now.
>
> Hopefully the cavalry are somewhere in your locality...
>
Thank you very much for your help Garry.

--
~\\|//~
-(o o)-
__________oOOOo--(_)--oOOOo__________
/ Michael Arends \
| To Contact me, remove NODAMNSPAM |
| ----------------------- |
| (E-Mail Removed) |
\_____________________________________/

Michael L. Arends wrote:

> In infinite wisdom Garry Knight answered:
>>
>> I don't know Windows XP but I'm wondering, do you use static IPs at home?
>> Most hotspot APs rely on you using DHCP to get your IP, DNS IPs and
>> gateway. Maybe WinXP handles that automatically?
>>
> See, that goes "zing" right over my head. 8-)

Well, here's what happens with my Pocket PC. I have a Compact Flash WiFi
card plugged in; this is configured to have a static IP address
(192.168.0.3) and to use the WiFi PCI card on my PC (with IP 192.168.0.2)
as a gateway. My PC runs Linux and is set up to pass networking requests to
and from the local LAN and the Internet.

When I come across a WiFi hotspot my Pocket PC's WiFi card detects the
network Access Point but won't connect to it since my PPC is set to connect
to my LAN. If I go in and change the settings so it looks for an SSID of
'ANY' then it connects to the AP. However, it still won't be able to reach
the Internet since a) it's still using the static IP of 192.168.0.3, and b)
the Access Point's gateway IP almost certainly isn't 192.168.0.2. So I need
to go back in and configure my card to use 'Dynamic IP' (also known as DHCP
- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol).

This is one place where profile management breaks down. I can change profile
from my home setup to a generic WiFi access spot setup, but my PPC's IP is
linked to my card, not to any of my profiles. I'd like to see profile
management include the option of reconfiguring DHCP vs static IP. It may be
that your WinXP setup already includes this option.

I'm sorry if this is still over your head but I can't explain further
without giving you Network 101 and a) this isn't the right place (Google
is, though), and b) it's 3am local time and I'm out of energy right now.

Hopefully the cavalry are somewhere in your locality...

--
Garry Knight
garryknight<at>gmx.net ICQ 126351135
Linux registered user 182025

Michael,

Okay, you have two good questions, and we are using the same type of USB
adapter (MA111, I think is what you meant):

1. To grab the signal, your Netgear adapter configuration screen should be
in infrastructue mode and should be scanning for local signals (site survey
screen). When you see the WiFi signal, click on it or highlight it and
click okay. Then check your "status" screen and verify that you are getting
a signal with data transmitted.

2. Regarding the network settings, to ensure that you can receive an
automatic assignment of an IP, go to:
Network Properties, Internet Protocol properties, and verify that your
properties are set at: 1) obtain an IP address automatically, and 2) obtain
DNS server address automatically.

The exception to the above networking change is if the WiFi provider has
particular settings (public IP) that you must input.

The above directions apply to the Netgear adapter software that I use and
for the same adapter you have (if you used it in place of the WinXP wireless
software). If anyone can fault my directions, I will not be offended.

--Ray

"Michael L. Arends" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) s.com...
> In infinite wisdom Ray Bacon answered:
> > Michael,
> >
> > I happen to be using a similar USB adapter as you, Netgear MA111 (are
you
> > sure you are using WA111?).
>
> Yeah That's it I think.. MA111 Works great at home.
> >
> > My adapter works great at home, grabbed a free signal at a Borders WiFi
> > "free day" location, but had the same experience as you at a local
airport
> > WiFi service (Sacramento). I got the signal but couldn't initialize the
> > browser.
> >
> > After talking to the airport network guy after I returned from my trip,
I
> > became convinced that I just didn't do an "accept" of the airport
signal, as
> > he was pretty adamant that they had no problems with reception of their
> > signal and really wanted to figure out why I couldn't grab it.
> >
> > The obvious thing you need to be certain you do for that signal is to
grab
> > the signal and accept it in your Netgear adapter config box.
> How do I do this?? Sorry!
> >
> > The other response you got to this message, of having an automatic
> > assignment of DHCP IP, is something you should check on your laptop.
> >
> > --Ray
>
> How do you do this? Sorry, don't mean to be dense. This is just all so
> new to me.
>
> --
> ~\\|//~
> -(o o)-
> __________oOOOo--(_)--oOOOo__________
> / Michael Arends \
> | To Contact me, remove NODAMNSPAM |
> | ----------------------- |
> | (E-Mail Removed) |
> \_____________________________________/
>
>

Each reply here has avoided mentioning the posibility of needing to renew
your DHCP address.

When changing between DHCP hosts on ALL NT based OS's... do the following:
-go to a command prompt (Start, Run, "cmd")
-release your current IP configuration "IPCONFIG /RELEASE"
-renew it "IPCONFIG /RENEW" (it will either renew and tell you your
configuration, or fail)
-test your IP connection

I use W2K Pro on my work laprop & am constantly moving between my office and
clients' sites. I had to release/ renew so often that I created a batch
file and placed it on my Windows desktop.