Possible dumb question

Forgive me if this question is a little dumb - I'm new to wireless
networking.
I've got my home wireless system running fine - I use a laptop and two main
PC's on the network and can access the internet and all files on each pc
throughout the house.
But every time I have tried to surf via a Wi Fi hotspot outside the home via
the laptop (so far in three coffee shops ) I can connect to the network but
can't get an internet connection.
I have done a little bit of war driving and can connect to one or two
networks and access the internet in my neighbourhood, but every time I walk
into a Wi Fi Coffee shop it's a no -go
Is it a simple setting I have overlooked reach the internet or do these guys
simply set up the network and forget to pay their IP subscription or
something?

"Steve O" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Forgive me if this question is a little dumb - I'm new to wireless
> networking.
> I've got my home wireless system running fine - I use a laptop and two
> main PC's on the network and can access the internet and all files on each
> pc throughout the house.
> But every time I have tried to surf via a Wi Fi hotspot outside the home
> via the laptop (so far in three coffee shops ) I can connect to the
> network but can't get an internet connection.
> I have done a little bit of war driving and can connect to one or two
> networks and access the internet in my neighbourhood, but every time I
> walk into a Wi Fi Coffee shop it's a no -go
> Is it a simple setting I have overlooked reach the internet or do these
> guys simply set up the network and forget to pay their IP subscription or
> something?
>


You are assuming the coffee shop wifi is free.

--
John Blessing

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On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:37:59 -0000, "Steve O" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Forgive me if this question is a little dumb - I'm new to wireless
>networking.
>I've got my home wireless system running fine - I use a laptop and two main
>PC's on the network and can access the internet and all files on each pc
>throughout the house.
>But every time I have tried to surf via a Wi Fi hotspot outside the home via
>the laptop (so far in three coffee shops ) I can connect to the network but
>can't get an internet connection.
>I have done a little bit of war driving and can connect to one or two
>networks and access the internet in my neighbourhood, but every time I walk
>into a Wi Fi Coffee shop it's a no -go
>Is it a simple setting I have overlooked reach the internet or do these guys
>simply set up the network and forget to pay their IP subscription or
>something?

Even if the coffee shop wireless were for money, you should be able to
see it from your unspecified model laptop client. There is one
exception. Boingo uses a VPN to connect to the service. You will get
a web "splash" screen explaining how to use the service, but without
the Boingo client, you'll go no furthur.

Three different coffee shops makes it improbable that they all have
defective wireless networks. They might be turning it off when the
place gets busy to help clear the seat hogs.

Some coffee shops give their customers the encryption key or token of
the hour in trade for ordering some coffee or whatever. If you don't
buy anything, you don't surf. The encryption key changes at some
interval, usually an hour. I think this may be what is happening.
Windoze XP WZC client is kinda stupid with diagnostics and does not
disclose that a key exchange has failed. It just proclaimes "limited
connectivity" leaving the customer to wonder what the hell is wrong.
That's almost always an encryption key mismatch.

I think it best that you ask the coffee shop employees how to connect
to their wireless and follow their instructions. If they require a
special client or subscription, then you decide if it's worth the
money.

--
Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
831.336.2558 voice
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS
http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann
(E-Mail Removed) (E-Mail Removed)