Wifi + Login Screens = Fail

Question

Level 1

7 points

Wifi + Login Screens = Fail

Has anyone had success joining a wifi network that requires a login through a webpage?

I see dozens of posts about router configuration problems. That's great if you have control over the router.

Since I bought my iPad, I've stayed in four hotels and could not use the wifi service at any of them because iPad can't get past the login screen.

I live in Singapore and have an account with the public wifi service "Wireless@SG", which is available most places I go daily. Can't get past the login screen on the iPad. So I go to the coffee shop and have to put away my big iPad and go back to my little iPhone if I want connectivity.

So basically, with the current issues, the iPad is awesome if you have control over the router, but for those of us who travel 80% of the time - which is an ideal consumer for the iPad - we don't have the luxury of configuring the routers. I don't think the hotels are running to fix their HTML5 compatibility just for one device.

iPad, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on May 11, 2010 7:34 PM

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Answer 1

Cluto

Level 1

9 points

May 12, 2010 4:21 AM in response to ChefRogi

Chef, I am also currently in Singapore at Changi. I am also unable to get TO wireless@SG's log-in page. Thus, I'm stuck sitting here with my crap Acer netbook next to my beautiful iPad that everyone gawks at but only says "cannot open page. Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding."

I was here a week ago and it worked ONE time. I logged in and enjoyed my free WIFI experience. However, after putting the iPad to sleep, it has never worked since. The last time I tried it, I just got CONNECTING on the screen. This time, I have FORGOTTEN the wireless@SG network, I have reset the network settings and still cannot even get to the start up screen. Oddly, when I choose Starhub, the log-in page comes up in a new window.

This beautiful device has become useful only as an overpriced e-book reader at this point. I was hoping to travel exclusively with it, but I will have to bring my MacBook or Acer on trips as I cannot connect to the internet in the places I need it most.

Useless and sad.

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Answer 2

etresoft

Level 9

56,794 points

May 11, 2010 7:59 PM in response to ChefRogi

ChefRogi wrote:
Has anyone had success joining a wifi network that requires a login through a webpage?

Yes, but I've also had great success with wifi in general.

Since I bought my iPad, I've stayed in four hotels and could not use the wifi service at any of them because iPad can't get past the login screen.

If you can get to a login screen, then any problem you are having has nothing to do with the router. What you have to do is call the tech support people when this happens and let them know. There is no way to tell from here what is causing it. My guess is that there is browser and/or platform specific code in those web sites. They see Safari and think it is a Mac. Or they see MobileSafari and think it is an iPhone.

This is similar to the router issue in that people are experiencing it because none of the routers or login screens has ever been tested with an iPad. The iPad didn't exist when either the routers or login screens were built. When you call in, don't expect too much. You are mainly registering an official bug report that the site didn't work with an iPad. Once they get enough of those, they will do something about it.

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Answer 3

Flabyboy

Level 1

0 points

May 13, 2010 7:23 AM in response to ChefRogi

I started having this problem this morning at work after experiencing zero problems the first week I had the ipad. Usually my iPad would find the guest netwrok and then a sign in screen would pop up and I would tap accept. The signin screen no longer pops up and safari will not open to it either. I had no problems whatsoever the first 2 weeks I tried this at work and now...

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Answer 4

ChefRogi Author

Level 1

7 points

May 13, 2010 9:29 PM in response to etresoft

Understood, but this CAN'T be the solution, that every wifi service has to update their code, or that I need to take some initiative. It's not feasible, and the whole point of products like this is that "they just work", not that I need to study the technology behind it. From searching a bit, some others have said it has to do with the iPad implementation of HTML5, like it can't receive the cookie or something.

Basically the login page comes up, I enter my username and password. If I enter the wrong user/pass it correctly tells me it's invalid. So that was encouraging. But when I do enter the correct user/pass, nothing happens. The page just freezes for a minute.

The most frustrating part is that my iPhone connects to the same service without issue. I get the feeling that Apple didn't test the device very thoroughly on the road.

Here's my record with wifi:
* Marriott Austin Tx - FAIL
* Holiday Inn Express Madison Sq Garden... FAIL
* Boingo in Newark airport - FAIL
* Boingo in Narita aiport - FAIL
* Hotel wifi in Tokyo - FAIL
* Seoul Royal Hotel - FAIL
* Wireless@SG (Singapore) - FAIL

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Answer 5

ChefRogi Author

Level 1

7 points

May 13, 2010 9:35 PM in response to Cluto

Cluto,

They will fix it, I have no doubt about that, but what's absolutely shocking to me is that they didn't give us a fix within the first week. I'm not worried, just tired of waiting. I want to go to the coffee shop and get online. Can't.

I agree, it's basically worthless on the road in the current situation. My main reason for buying it was for travel, so I hope they can resolve this soon.

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Answer 6

Cluto

Level 1

9 points

May 14, 2010 1:53 AM in response to ChefRogi

Hello ChefRogi,

I completely agree. It should be an easy fix, but they obviously rushed the product to market without enough testing. After owning Apple products from the start, it is disappointing to have something like this fail consistently. My only connection if Wifi so if it doesn't work, it's useless.

I have not tried it in as many places as you, but I cannot even get the log-in page on Wireless@SG to come up. It worked exactly one time, I logged in and used the internet, now it won't even get to the place I can try to log-in. I'll try again next week, but I highly doubt anything will be different. The wifi works fine if it's an open network without a log-in page so that is encouraging.

I really want this iPad to replace my Macbook and netbook for my travels. That is the sole reason I bought it.

Good luck and report back if you have any success.

Cheers!

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Answer 7

JimHdk

Level 7

28,898 points

May 14, 2010 7:27 AM in response to ChefRogi

ChefRogi wrote:
Understood, but this CAN'T be the solution, that every wifi service has to update their code, or that I need to take some initiative. It's not feasible, and the whole point of products like this is that "they just work", not that I need to study the technology behind it. From searching a bit, some others have said it has to do with the iPad implementation of HTML5, like it can't receive the cookie or something.

Unfortunately, the wireless network you are trying to connect to may very well be looking at browser-supplied identification in a very non-standard way. For example, there are, unfortunately, still too many sites that do not work unless the browser is Internet Explorer. The way to get this corrected is to notify the wireless provider of the problem. The fix may not be immediate but it will certainly come faster than if no one says anything.

Note that Cookies are part of the HTTP standard not HTML so I doubt that has anything to do with the problem.

For your immediate problems I would suggest looking at the following Apps (free) which have been provided for WiFi access by two of the wireless networks that you have been having problems with.

*1-Click Wireless@SG*
*Boingo Mobile WiFi*
*Boingo WiFi Credits*

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Answer 8

JimHdk

Level 7

28,898 points

May 14, 2010 7:38 AM in response to Cluto

Cluto wrote:

I completely agree. It should be an easy fix, but they obviously rushed the product to market without enough testing. After owning Apple products from the start, it is disappointing to have something like this fail consistently. My only connection if Wifi so if it doesn't work, it's useless.

I have not tried it in as many places as you, but I cannot even get the log-in page on Wireless@SG to come up. It worked exactly one time, I logged in and used the internet, now it won't even get to the place I can try to log-in. I'll try again next week, but I highly doubt anything will be different. The wifi works fine if it's an open network without a log-in page so that is encouraging.

The fact that it worked once should have told you that the problem is not in the iPad but in the wireless access provider's S/W. In this case it may have something to do with being hung up in the system (never properly logged out).

For your immediate problem with Wireless@SG I would suggest looking at the following App (free) which has been provided by them for WiFi access to this network.

*1-Click Wireless@SG*

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Answer 9

nugirl

Level 1

0 points

May 14, 2010 4:45 PM in response to ChefRogi

I have a different kind of log-in issue. At work the iPad searches for the network, finds the sign-in screen, but only displays it for a fraction of a second. Not enough time for me to click the accept button. It usually takes me a few minutes of playing in settings to get signed on :grumble: Any idea how long until they issue a fix for this?

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Answer 10

JimHdk

Level 7

28,898 points

May 14, 2010 5:19 PM in response to nugirl

nugirl wrote:
I have a different kind of log-in issue. At work the iPad searches for the network, finds the sign-in screen, but only displays it for a fraction of a second. Not enough time for me to click the accept button. It usually takes me a few minutes of playing in settings to get signed on :grumble: Any idea how long until they issue a fix for this?

This isn't necessarily a problem in the iPad. It may be do to non-standard techniques being used by the WiFi provider that just don't work with the iPad. *Therefore, don't count on any fix to the iPad allowing you access to the network you are having problems with.* Problems like this should be reported to the WiFi provider.

What Network are you having problems with?

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Answer 11

Cluto

Level 1

9 points

May 15, 2010 10:22 PM in response to JimHdk

I disagree. You're pushing the "iPad doesn't have a problem" point of view but too many people are having the same issue for it to be a fluke or the wireless provider's fault. If my POS $300 netbook can connect in Singapore, why can't the "life-changing" iPad?

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Answer 12

May 16, 2010 1:45 AM in response to ChefRogi

Chef, I see you have Boingo. Have you tried the Boingo app for iPad? You get a one hour credit for about two bucks and it's charged to your iTunes account. It comes with one free credit and you can use that to get online and buy more credits so you're never left in the lurch (after all you have to be online first in order to buy credits). Just download and install the app, and when you want to use Boingo just select the partner network in Settings/Wi-fi, start the Boingo app, and it will sense the network and ask you if you want to use a credit to get online.

For what it's worth, I've never been able to get online in Singapore using my iPhone because I don't have a Singapore telephone number. Next time I'm there I'll have Boingo and a fighting chance of getting wi-fi.

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Answer 13

nugirl

Level 1

0 points

May 16, 2010 1:51 AM in response to JimHdk

It's the network in the hospital I work in. And the IT people have no interest in helping. Hopefully the upgrade I hear is coming in a few months(?) will solve the problem.

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