iPad can't connect to ibahn in Marriot hotel

I have the same problem logging into Wi-Fi in Grand Formosa Regent Hotel in Taipei. They use a service called inter-touch.net. The iPad does not access the right sign-on screens (you need to input last name and room number) so cannot connect.

Both my laptop AND my iPhone work perfectly, so this is obviously an iPad problem.

iPad not close to being a laptop killer until this is fixed.

This is a software/firmware bug and not a hardware problem.

I have recently encountered a similar problem. Two calls to Apple Support got me nowhere, except to direct me to the nearest Apple Store Genius Bar. There, the support rep was able to duplicate the connection problem by attempting to connect with WiFi at another shop in the mall.

He identified the issue as an incompatibility of the iPad Safari HTML5 implementation. Safari did not execute the redirection to the page that allowed me to accept the terms of agreement. Instead, Safari shows an error message that the connection was dropped (it was not). It appears that Apple's HTML implementation isn't compatible with legacy HTML code. By the way, my iPhone and MacBook Pro both could easily connect and get redirected to the agreement page. Only the iPad failed.

Until Apple comes up with a software update for iPad Safari, one workaround is to load another browser such as Opera on your iPad. I haven't verified that it is compatible, but its worth a try.

RocketJSquirel wrote:
iPad not close to being a laptop killer until this is fixed.

As it was never intended to be anything like that, Apple will be unsurprised.

Safari does not support microsoft active-x plugin. So, if the portal you are trying to access is using active-x plugin, then you won't be able to sign up.

This is true. They claim however that it is the best way to experience the web and it is magical and revolutionary. Maybe they'll be a little surprised. 😉

But Apple claims that ActiveX is unsecured, and will give you a bad experience of the web. A lot of viruses, spyware and adware programs came disguised as ActiveX controls.

Franchise76 wrote:
by the way I was able to connect to the wireless ibahn network through my laptop in the same room so I know the network is working...

The network is working, but not necessarily configured correctly. I once ran into a very similar situation when I first got my MacBook. I finally got to a tech support person who had me enter manual IP addresses. Once he got to the subnet mask, I knew what the problem was. Their network was just misconfigured. It only worked because Windows' networking is also broken with respect to subnet masks. Of course, I guess I deserved it. This was the night before my job interview with Microsoft and the hotel was across the street from the Redmond campus.

What you describe is a classic DHCP problem. You are connecting to the network, but you aren't getting a valid IP address. This is not related to the ibahn system. Most likely, the router(s) are misconfigured or just need a reboot. Unfortunately, this is not usually easy to accomplish.

Maybe try going to the lobby or a different floor to connect to a different router. That connection could stick back in your room. It's just a guess, but worth a try.

So the last comment was in April, 10? Is there a solution here- hello marriott, apple?

Many wifi suppliers (including Ibahn) require that you "log in" before they will connect you to the Internet. They really only want you to agree to their terms and conditions. Ibahn also wants to know if you want a one day or 7 day connection, after which they make you log in again.

The steps that work for me are to make sure that I am connected, then open Safari and search for anything. Doesn't matter what. In a few minutes, you will be connected to a vendor web page, in the case oh Ibahn it is a hotel specific web page with local maps and adds. There is also a link to "go to the Internet". Click on it and you're there.

That is if everything goes as planned. Occasionally, this doesn't work. If this happens, power down and try it again. I am able to connect 99% of the time without rebooting.