Problem connecting to internet at wireless public access point

Icemanlaw · 30 Aug 2012

Hello! I regularly burn the midnight oil at my favorite local coffee shop. I recently purchased a new laptop which seems to have problems connecting to the wireless public router the coffee shop has for its guests. When it works, you are immediately taken to a landing page in your browser where you accept the terms of some agreement, which gives you free access to the internet. Most of the time, however, I can't connect and get a yellow exclamation mark over my network icon or a message that my computer cannot connect to the DNS server. The funny thing is that my wireless card detects the network and gets a signal.

From what I can tell, I can always connect after the shop resets its modem. If I leave and come back at some future date and the router has not been reset since my last visit, I am unable to connect. I suspect that the router is not renewing my ip address or is somehow remembering me from my prior visit. Oddly, no one else around me has this problem.

Also, not sure if it matters, but the coffee shop also has a second, slower network connection which I am able to access and does not require the use of the above described landing page and agreement.

I would greatly appreciate any help you can provide. It gets very frustrating spending half an hour each evening trying to resolve this issue.

karlsnooks · 30 Aug 2012

I had one coffee shop where I needed to change my MAC address or needed them to reset their router.

If you live in Austin, I can make a couple of suggestions.

In general, McDonalds is slow and problematic. Some places have a habit of kicking you off after two hours which is here the MAC change will help.

Icemanlaw · 30 Aug 2012

Well, I've been going to the same coffee shop in the Dallas area for the past 6 years. Close to my house and super fast internet when I can connect.

karlsnooks · 30 Aug 2012

Here's a quick one you can try:
WIN + X | in the Wireless Network section, Turn Wireless Off | Close the window
WIN + X | in the Wireless Network section, Turn Wireless ON | Close the window.

WIN = key with Microsoft logo on top.

Icemanlaw · 30 Aug 2012

Didn't work. I think it may be more complicated as it appears there is a problem with it assigning me a new IP address or something else.

Icemanlaw · 31 Aug 2012

Anyone else have any ideas? I was planning on working at the shop tonight. Thanks in advance

karlsnooks · 31 Aug 2012

If it works in other coffee shops, then is it not logical that the problem is with the router at that one coffee shop?

You will serve yourself better by carrying out following:
Update your SevenForums System Specs
User CP (located on the top menu bar) |
Your Profile | Edit System Spec (left-hand column)

To gather info, use Speccy (my favorite) or SIW or System Info

In the System Manufacturer Block, enter:
Ø Manufacturer and Model OR Custom build.
Ø ADD the word laptop, desktop, netbook or tablet.
For example:
Toshiba Satellite L305D notebook.

Provide full windows version info, for example:
MS Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-bit

Use the “Other Info” block for Optical Reader,
Mouse, touchpad, wifi adapter, speakers, monitor, etc

Scroll down and click on SAVE CHANGES.

With Speccy, you can select with your mouse/touchpad info from the display
and paste that info into your specs.

SIW is a marvelous program, but the free version does not offer
this capability.

Icemanlaw · 01 Sep 2012

Thx Karlsnooks!

I'm not that savvy with a computer and have always wondered how to find all the information needed to describe the specs on my system. Speccy worked great!

Everything is updated and I hope that helps with finding a solution. As for it being a problem with the router, you probably are right. They just implemented the system that sends users to the landing page where you have to "accept" the terms of the agreement. However, no one else around me has this problem. Each time they come back to the coffee shop, they are redirected to the landing page and have to accept a new agreement to start a new session. For me, it fails to redirect me to the landing page (almost like it still remembers me from an older session) and it eventually times out trying to connect to a page. Any help you can provide would be great! Thanks and have a good weekend!

karlsnooks · 01 Sep 2012

Sometimes anti-malware and firewall programs cause problems.

sometimes your browser and its settings cause the trouble.

Sometimes other programs cause this problem.

Please submit following:
Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button

UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
======================================

Your system specs help to rule out certain possibilities.

Icemanlaw · 09 Sep 2012

Hope I did this correctly. Please let me know if I messed something up and I'll correct it. Thanks for all the help!