Wifi not working in Starbucks

August 7, 2007 3:41 AM

Wifi Problem: Laptop logs on to wireless network at home instantly but doesnt do so at a Starbucks (UK). (Sony Vaio notebook (Tz) runs MS Vista) (details below)

At home it finds the favourite network, logs in and I am online. At starbucks it finds the t-mobile network, shows satisfactory connection but when I fire up the browser instead of taking me to t-mobile login page it gives me an error message saying no internet connection detected.

Can anyone help? thanks very much in advance.

posted by london302 to computers & internet (11 comments total)

Do you have a subscription to the T-Mobile network at Starbucks? At least in the US, there is no free wifi at Starbucks, which mans your computer might "see" the connection but can't use it.
posted by fiercecupcake at 5:45 AM on August 7, 2007

shows satisfactory wireless connection, good... but when you go into the network connections whatsit, does it say something like "limited access" or "local access only" and you don't have an IP address? if so...
cf
frikkin' vista
posted by dorian at 6:30 AM on August 7, 2007

fiercecupcake has it right. T-mobile charges a monthly fee for the privilege to access its "hotspots", which appear in places like Starbucks and Borders bookstores.
I'm not sure about the severity of Starbucks' infiltration in the UK, but I've never had a problem finding a free wireless connection at the inevitable coffeeshop across the street of whatever neighborhood Starbucks is trying to muscle its way into.
posted by tjvis at 9:33 AM on August 7, 2007

You will always get the login page as the OP states. Are you using static IP at home?
Network connections-->Properties-->TCP/IPv4-->Properties and make sure that "obtain IP automatically" and "obtain DNS server address automatically" is checked.
posted by Ferrari328 at 10:29 AM on August 7, 2007

Try a different browser.

Try typing ipconfig in a cmd window, then type ping google.com and see if you get a response.

Try repairing your wireless connection and reconnecting.
posted by desjardins at 10:47 AM on August 7, 2007

As others have said, Starbucks does not give free wireless. Unless you pay T-Mobile (and I think Starbucks gives you access to a page where you get the option to pay), you won't get a wireless connection.
posted by bluesky43 at 11:11 AM on August 7, 2007

The only time I've had trouble connecting to the wireless at Starbucks is when I had a static IP configured, as Ferrari328 mentioned above.

A command similar to:

netsh interface ip set address "Wireless Network Connection" dhcp

will force your connection to use a dynamic IP. You may need to change the name of the connection, but be sure to include the quotation marks if the name has spaces in it.

Hope it helps.
posted by MrHappyGoLucky at 3:40 PM on August 7, 2007

One more thing, Starbucks does not provide free wireless, but you do not have to have a T-Mobile subscription plan to use it. You can use it on a pay-per-use basis, which is the T-Mobile login page the OP is referring to.
posted by MrHappyGoLucky at 3:41 PM on August 7, 2007

Thanks all for your comments.

First, I DO have a subscription to T-Mobile hotspots but the only way I get to use it to log in via a username and password which I enter on the splash screen which my browser presents when I fire up.

Second, I have tried both Firefox and IE but both dont find a network.

I have not tried cmd > ipconfig trick. Will report back the results of this tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help...
posted by london302 at 4:37 PM on August 7, 2007

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I bring good news! The above problem is now solved. Here is the solution for the benefit of future users with the same problem:

[WARNING: THIS INVOLVES CHANGING REGISTRY SETTINGS SO NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED]

press the windows key followed by the r, to bring up the run dialogue box

2) type regedit and press enter

3) path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters\Interfaces\

4) registry option: DhcpConnForceBroadcastFlag, double click on it, in the value data box change the 1 to a 0


If you have any questions please feel free to email me.

Thanks to all those who helped me.

Regards
posted by london302 at 9:09 AM on August 8, 2007

Doh, I missed the part where you were running Vista :/
posted by MrHappyGoLucky at 10:00 AM on August 8, 2007