WiFi hotspots - are they hot or not?

[Davidish]

Okay people, survey time. Have any of you used the Netbook in a commercial/outdoor WiFi hotspot? (e.g. starbucks/t-mobile , boingo, etc...) IF so, which one, and with which WiFi card? Did it all work smoothly, or did you have any config problems? What did you have to do to get it working?

Iask because Irecently tried using mine (avec Cisco 340 card)in a Starbucks and got nothing. No network. (NB: it works fine in my home wifi net)

D

[MartinG]

Hi David,

Yes I have. I passed through Copenhagen airport last week and gave it a try. Connected instantly. Didn't matter where I pointed the browser (Opera 5.14) initially - it got re-directed. I had automatic redirection turned off so I watched it in action and manually authorised the redirects. I even took a screendump (see attached) for a possible future WiFi article for FoxPop just to prove it! Of course, it wanted me to part with hard cash to go any further so that's as far as I went... ;)

However, I tried it later at a Hilton hotel and - whilst the site did the initial redirection ok - it fell over at the 2nd. Looks like a bad setup at that particular Hilton...

Buffalo WLI-PCM-L11GP PCMCIA card (Lucent chipset and cheap as chips!).

Cheers,
Martin

[diem]

I had success at the Starbucks in Birmingham where they're running the trial. All you have to do is enter an SSID of 't-mobile', try to connect, and you get redirected. They ask you for minimal registration details (none of the fields are compulsory IIRC), and then you're on. It remembers your MAC address, so next time you return you can get going straight away.

I use an Enterasys Roamabout (rebadged Avaya with Lucent chipset); stylus it may block, but that chunky aerial pod means excellent range :)

Their signal was just strong enough to work on the tables outside (the Starbucks in question is located in a heavy old stone building), so now I can just sit down outside, browse to my heart's content, then I'm off on my way - no purchase necessary ;)

Obviously using the netBook outdoors means you suffer screen visibility problems, but I find its always possible to find an angle/brightness/contrast combination to see it, plus it makes a good privacy feature!

[Davidish]

thanks guys. hmmm.... perhaps it's the card that's the problem. I will try it out again with a Lucent card and see if I get a better result. Shame the stylus-friendly cisco cards aren't as well supported.

[diem]

As I've said elsewhere, I don't see stylus blocking to be an issue at all. The Psion implementation is all about instant-on, power only when in use and all that, so if I need my stylus I just eject the card partway, get the stylus, reinsert the card and carry on browsing. The reconnect dialog is only what you'd get if you switched the machine off or if it auto powered off.

Combine this with the Lucent having the lowest power requirement of all the supported cards (285mA VS over 600mA for the Cisco!) and having the best range, and I think its the hands-down winner :cool:

[ifor.evans]

I loggen on recently in a Hotel in Marlow that had a WI-FI network. I have a 7Book with an Avaya Gold card. Got redirected to the Hotel's 'payup page' but it definitly worked ...

Regards

...ifor

[markdeppe]

Stylus blocking solution: I use index digit "stylus" works great with a netbook (no tipping over like with a 5mx), in conjunction with homemade screen protector from OHP sheet :-) I haven't tried WiFi yet as still struggling with Wifie initialisation trouble - she feels I spend to much time with Psion already and my argument that it would save time is not working with her yet

[diem]

Originally posted by markdeppe
Wifie initialisation trouble
LOL!

[johnstretch]

I am unable to get Opera to access the internet even though I am connected to the wifi networm. NetStatRF indicates that I am connected to the network but I can't get any web access. The unwelcome side effect is that it shuts down access to my two pc's until I reboot the router/modem.

Any odeas?

Regards,
John

[fladda]

Originally posted by johnstretch
I am unable to get Opera to access the internet even though I am connected to the wifi networm. NetStatRF indicates that I am connected to the network but I can't get any web access. The unwelcome side effect is that it shuts down access to my two pc's until I reboot the router/modem.

Any ideas?


Sounds like a problem with your router. Is it a Netgear per chance ? Whatever, try flashing your router with some newer firmware. Oh I assume that you've enabled DHCP on your Netbook.

I've been using an Actiontec ADSL WiFi Router for 18 months or so. Very simple and very reliable, and now also very cheap.

For the ultimate WiFi card for the Netbook I suggest a CF Dell Truemobile 1180 fitted into a PCMCIA adapter. This uses the Hermes/Orinoco chipset too, so should work fine in the Psion. Even less 'real estate' than that excellent Melco/Buffalo slimline card.

Ralph

[wanman]

As per Martin, I use the Buffalo WLI-PCM-L11GP PCMCIA as it is an 1) excellent card, 2) Very small and neat, 3) Does not block the stylus hole, 4) Works very well with the netBook and 5) VERY VERY CHEAP !!! (£29+vat)

I have only tried mine at Starbucks Birmingham and it worked very well but mainly used in and around the home !!

Si

[johnstretch]

Thanks everyone. It's working now. I have setup the NB manually. I also used the command line from the NB http://192.168.2.1/main/pmain.html instead of just the numbers as advised by someone else. Initially I had an IP address conflict but have now resolved that by using a number outside the range of those allocated to my two other pc's

Thanks,
John

[stolkjo]

Panera Bread in the US is offering free Wifi in most locations. I'm using a Avaya Silver. Works great. I just created a seperate profile for them, one for home and one for in the office.

John