Problems connecting at Starbucks

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Level 1

0 points

Problems connecting at Starbucks

Hey guys, I went to Starbucks today to connect to the Internet and I had a problem I couldn't solve. I could see it connected to their network with full signal, but my IP address came back as 169.254.x.x (don't remember the last two octets, merely that it's the default IP when you can't get one via DHCP). It was very weird. I tried shutting the Airport off and then turning it back on, manually configuring a 192.168 address (I figured that's what they used), and even rebooting my iBook and I still couldn't connect, even though the signal was completely full.

I don't know much about Macs, but I know they should connect to free networks like those at Starbucks or Panera. It's the first time I tried to connect somewhere other than my house or my girlfriends appartment, but I want to know how to troubleshoot it better if it ever happens again.

Can you guys tell me what went wrong there? I can't figure it out.

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Mar 19, 2006 7:08 PM

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Answer 1

Deme

Level 4

1,140 points

Mar 19, 2006 9:43 PM in response to BoricuaMac

I don't know about where you live, but here Starbucks do not offer free WIFI. You have to sign up through a third party, so that might be your problem

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Answer 2

BoricuaMac Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 20, 2006 4:58 AM in response to Deme

Well, even on closed networks, you open Safari and you get prompted for a user name and password. Starbucks has an open network (or at least Airport asked if I wanted to join the open network "Starbucks") so it should just pull an IP via DHCP.

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Answer 3

Mar 20, 2006 10:59 AM in response to BoricuaMac

Had a similar problem twice with T-Mobile at Starbucks. Just turning Airport off, then on again, fixed it the first time it happened. Second time, when nothing seemed to work, I asked and was told their internet access was down.

iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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Answer 4

Big Joe

Level 2

180 points

Mar 27, 2006 7:49 PM in response to BoricuaMac

I have no idea that Starbucks offer free WiFi connection. You need to have a subscription or pay the fee to connect in WiFi for Starbucks or T-mobile. You're correct about detecting the open network in starbucks store and having full signal, but it doesn't mean you can use the internet. Yes, it is DHCP, but you need to log-in to their server first.

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