Safari will not redirect to loging page at internet cafe'

Question

Level 1

5 points

Safari will not redirect to loging page at internet cafe'

I travel a lot. Not sure when this started but I can not longer get Safari to redirect to a service provider's login page at internet cafe'. So if I am at a Starbucks, a book store or some hotel and need to use their wifi my Mac doesn't seem to redirect to the webpage to allow me to sign up or login to their service.

I have tried emptying my cashe but that doen't help. The computer finds the wifi signal fine but when I open the browser (any one of them) it just sits there and then says I am not logged on to the network. Though I have full bars. It only seems to happen on sites that need me to log into via the net. It doesn't do it if I connect to a friends signal and enter the user name and password in the network prefs. Is it a Java issue?

I am running Leopard and on a 17" MacBook Pro.

Can anyone help me resolve this issue?

MacBook Pro 17", Mac OS X (10.4.8), 2 gb Ram, 120 HD

Posted on Jun 12, 2008 9:48 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mulder

Level 6

8,990 points

Jun 12, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Mattbo

This is not a Java issue; that has nothing to do with it. It's sounds like the problem is in your Network preferences; that is, you may not have a location setup for a wi-fi network, so your browser doesn't know you're on wi-fi and can't redirect you to a login page.

Mulder

Reply

Answer 2

Mattbo Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 12, 2008 12:00 PM in response to Mulder

Mulder,

I don't think this is it. I am on wifi at my home and at other peoples homes. When I am in the cafes I get the signal and the network prefs tell me I am connected and even the ip address and router info. but no way to log on to it from the browser. In other words, I get a full signal from attwifi at Starbucks but when I go to the brwser to login I get nothing and then finally a message asking me to check that I am connected. Strange.

Any other ideas?

Matt

Reply

Answer 3

Mulder

Level 6

8,990 points

Jun 12, 2008 7:51 PM in response to Mattbo

I don't know how helpful this will be, since I don't use Wi-Fi at all, but you should make sure you're following these steps:

1. Be sure AirPort is turned on.
2. Select your desired Network.
3. A dialog box should appear asking if you want to join this network in the future. Click YES, and that will automagically add the network to your list of trusted networks and allow automagic connection in the future.
4. You should be connected to the network now, so check the signal strength via the AirPort icon on your menu bar.
5. Now you can launch your browser and login to the network.

Depending on the Wi-Fi network, your browser may not be recognized by the JavaScript (AJAX) function, in which case you may be out of luck in connecting. Safari is one of those browsers that is subject to the problem, but that seems like it's something the network administrators could fix if they used a little bit of effort.

Mulder

Reply

Answer 4

Mattbo Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 13, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Mulder

I found the problem. It was a pesky little preference I had not checked deep in an application is called Covenant Eyes. The preference was an option to allow hot spots and I had not check it. Covenant Eyes is a watch dog program of sorts for internet ****. So all is well. Thanks for the help.

Matt

Reply