WiFi Question From A Computer Illiterate

[Marrk]

Ahoy, computer geeks! I need your help!

When I go to Starbucks, I am unable to log on to their free WiFi, even though I can successfully access free WiFi at other coffee shops and public locations. What might be the problem?

I'm on Mac using OS 10.6.8.

Thanks. :happy0180:

[mechaghost]

do you get the starbucks wifi portal through your web browser? You have to accept their terms and agreement.

So when you connect launch your browser and go to google.com it will redirect you to the starbucks page

[Marrk]

I'm trying to remember . . . I think I get as far as having my Airport recognize the att Starbucks network, but the portal page never loads.

[m.wood0213]

yes when you connect to starbucks' wifi it opens a web page and you must accept the terms and conditions before it will allow you to go any further.

[Marrk]

Right. I understand that. But the Starbucks portal webpage doesn't load. Nothing happens.

[Diode Dynamics]

I'm sure the other starbucks around the corner has better wifi lol

Nick C.

[Wo6M]

Must be MegaMan doing some virus busting. give him time as he has a few bosses to kill...

[Marrk]

Just came from Starbucks. Again, the portal page would not load.

However, I was able to log in to the same WiFi using my phone.

[Vicious LED]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Ahoy, computer geeks! I need your help!

When I go to Starbucks, I am unable to log on to their free WiFi, even though I can successfully access free WiFi at other coffee shops and public locations. What might be the problem?

I'm on Mac using OS 10.6.8.

Thanks. :happy0180:

Was going to suggest an ipconfig release/renew and a dnsflush, but I'm a PC geek. Illiterate in regards to the Mac OS world >_<

[userjack6880]

https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0

Likewise, check your network settings and see if you have any DNS servers set. That'll defeat the page that's supposed to pop up when you first connect.

If you feel adventurous, try this in terminal (Applications/Utlities)

ifconfig

Then try to figure out what device is your wifi. Usually wlan0.

Now, once you figure out what is your wifi, do the following, replacing wlan0 with whatever name your wireless is.

ifdown wlan0
ifup wlan0

Finally, do a DNS flush.

sudo dscacheutil -flushcache

If this doesn't help, then try another Starbucks without AT&T wifi.

[midnight23]

^ what he said, if you are running any static settings for home or work, connecting to the starbucks wifi will be impossible. just make everything autoconfig.

[Marrk]

Thanks for the help, guys.

@userjack6880: What you said it pretty much gibbleddygook to me. Alas, I am as computer illiterate as it says in this thread's heading. However, I am guessing that you mean something like this:

I'm on mac. Airport, which is the app. that detects the presence of WiFi signals, is set to recognize and join any available WiFi network. Furthermore, I always manually check to make sure that it has selected the appropriate WiFi network. Starbucks uses "attwifi" and that's what my Airport detects. From there, my browser (Safari) should automatically load the Starbucks "Welcome to Starbucks. Click 'I Approve,'" etc., page as soon as I open it, but this page never loads.

I have trouble of this kind at work, too. My theory is that the geeks design everything for pc, and then more or less leave mac users to go f. themselves. But I think I will figure this out eventually.

[userjack6880]

Originally Posted by Marrk

Thanks for the help, guys.

@userjack6880: What you said it pretty much gibbleddygook to me. Alas, I am as computer illiterate as it says in this thread's heading. However, I am guessing that you mean something like this:

I'm on mac. Airport, which is the app. that detects the presence of WiFi signals, is set to recognize and join any available WiFi network. Furthermore, I always manually check to make sure that it has selected the appropriate WiFi network. Starbucks uses "attwifi" and that's what my Airport detects. From there, my browser (Safari) should automatically load the Starbucks "Welcome to Starbucks. Click 'I Approve,'" etc., page as soon as I open it, but this page never loads.

I have trouble of this kind at work, too. My theory is that the geeks design everything for pc, and then more or less leave mac users to go f. themselves. But I think I will figure this out eventually.

OS X is very close to Linux, and a lot of it carries over. They just get hate from the PC fanboys due to their "artsyfartsy" image. But honestly, a lot of what can be done on one system can carry over to another.

See if you can follow the instructions in the link I provided. Hopefully that is simple enough for you to follow. My instructions were a bit more... advanced.

[Marrk]

^^Yes, what it says on that link is my problem.

I'm going to have to think about changing the Location setting before I do anything. I have a gift for making changes that turn bad situations into worse situations.