Techsurvivors

Archives => 2007 => Topic started by: kbeartx on June 26, 2007, 06:52:26 PM

Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: kbeartx on June 26, 2007, 06:52:26 PM
My trusty 12" 1.33 GHz PBook connects to many public wifi networks w/ one exception.

When this particular open wireless network is detected, I get a window that alerts me to the presence of said network and offers me a choice of connecting to it or not.  Clicking "Connect" results in nothing happening [as do the other options presented].

It's a nearby downtown hotel, and several PC-weilding colleagues connect regularly w/o incident.

Any experience?  Ideas, theories, WAGs?

Is there a way to view the 'dialog' between my PB and the wifi server [like the Verbose mode you could invoke when using dialup connections to troubleshoot a squirrely one]?

TIA,

KB
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: kelly on June 26, 2007, 06:55:52 PM
This is a good way to get more information. smile.gif

MacStumbler

http://www.macstumbler.com/
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: kbeartx on June 27, 2007, 02:22:21 PM
QUOTE(kelly @ Jun 26 2007, 06:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is a good way to get more information: MacStumbler


Thansk!  I'll czech it out and see if it gives useful info.
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: kbeartx on July 01, 2007, 05:06:34 PM
Tried Mac Stumbler... it's a nifty little app, but it did not help w/ my problem...only difference was that when using MS, I received an error msg ['There was a problem connecting to XYZ'].

Someone suggested that b/c my PB is 3-ish years old, it might not handle weak signals as well as newer machines.

So my question now is this: is it possible to use my Airport Express Base Station to connect to this weak wifi signal and then connect to the PB as well?
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: kbeartx on July 02, 2007, 04:00:54 PM
bump.gif  bump.gif
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 02, 2007, 04:59:40 PM
I don't know for sure. Can't see any harm by trying, however. It will either work or it won't.

I suppose the Airport BS might have a better, cleaner, stronger receiver than your PB. And the Airports transmitter is obviously closer to your PB than the "open" transmitter. So, it might work, assuming the Airport BS can connect. OTOH, I think all 802 transmitters are restricted to a very low power and nothing you have may get a strong enough signal, period. Any chance you can mosey around the neighborhood to find a stronger signal and nail down the location of the transmitter? Then you might be able to find an apartment closer to it to move in to... smile.gif
Title: "open' WiFi help requested
Post by: sandbox on July 02, 2007, 08:03:07 PM
Mr. K, there are many things that could conspire to eliminate you from accessing that router but I suspect it could be this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.1x .
Question do you use a WEP or WPA?