Re: OT: getting on a wifi hotspot in a library
- From: Ben Myers <ben_myers_spam_me_not@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:56:17 -0400
Thanks, KC. This message is a real keeper... Ben
On Mon, 9 Jul 2007 08:42:11 -0500, "Kevin Childers" <kchilder@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
<SNIP>
.
Ben's got the right idea, bring as much back up as you can. I work for a
company that supports a lot of hotels etc. Even we don't know why some
cards work and others don't when sitting side by side. Here are the key
items that cover most locations any company road warrior may find
him/herself at.
1. Know your own hardware/software, OS, wireless radio on/off switches and
keys, etc. It's amazing the simplest items can trip you up when you go to
connect. The radio on/off switch is not standardized throughout the
industry so you may or may not have a hardware/software switch on you model.
There is no centralized database of this info either. Windows Vista is very
different from 98/ME/2000/XP, and has a whole new set of issues to resolve.
Like wise Internet Explorer 7 seems to see everything as a threat, I wonder
why. And yes some folks do have their Windows Vista set to ask permission
for almost every action the take. Saying permit over the telephone every
time it ask gets annoying for the techs so keep it to yourself.
2. Check if the location offers wired and or wireless connections and where
exactly (in-room/lobby/business center/meeting rooms). To date the only
place I know of where they changed the set-up for a guest was Las Vegas and
as the explained it several high stakes gamblers requested it for the high
rollers suite so they could use it while enjoying a private series of games.
3. Apple makes a nice PC, but safari sucks at doing page redirects for
log-in at most public venues, For most locations the sequence for browsers
in IE (like it or not), Mozilla/Netscape, Safari. Once your logged in, you
can pretty much use what ever you want. AOL is proprietary and will not
allow the redirect until it's logged into AOL, so it ain't going to happen
with their browser. Once your logged into the network though your free and
clear to be all that AOL will let you be.
4. Email, IPSec/VPN. RealIP, etc. will only work after you have logged in
using an open connection. After your connected you free to use what ever
you need. The hotel's IT staff will not be able to help you with your
companies VPN, that's company secrets and your IT staff would prefer the
stay that way.
5. Company IT can set up company PCs any way they want and if they lock
done access to networking controls, there is nothing the hotel IT staff can
do about it. You can learn to live with it or you can discuss it with your
company IT guys. Any hotel IT staff will generally be happy to work with
your company IT staff to get you online at the hotel.
6. Wireless access at large facilities uses multiple switches and access
points (APs). Connectivity in the lobby may be different than in other
parts of the hotel. Some hotels offer mixed networks with wired, Wireless B
and/or G networks. Most are wired for 10 Mbps with wireless B & G at 10 and
56 Mbps respectively.
7. The base line configuration for wired connections is 10 Mbps, Half
Duplex. Yes there are faster networks and faster configurations, but that
is the baseline due to the variety of systems they have to support for their
guest. And yes some folks do expect connect their Windows 98 PC as easily
as their Windows XP machine.
8. All of the locations we support use TCP/IP, not PPOE or any thing else.
It's the de facto standard as far as I know. They also use dynamically
assigned IP & DNS addresses. IP addresses are NATed, unless you select
IPSec/RealIP. You may need this for your company's VPN/security to work.
Ask your IT staff in advance. If you are IT staff has security locked down
to require VPN access to connect to any network the Hotel's IT staff may or
may not be able to work assist you with this by filtering you through the
log-in server (also referred to as a MAC filter). If you are on a
governmental PC check the connection requirements before you travel with
your IT staff and with the locations you will need to connect at. Yes the
hotel staff can filter you in, but doing it for 600 PCs takes time, to get
each MAC address and to individually filter each one.
9. Wireless signals vary due to many factors, including a buildings
structural materials, other electrical devices, whatever else is emitting
into the electromagnetic spectrum in the area as well as distance and
occasionally weather. Soma APs are inside and some are outside. Some
locations have AP's in every 3rd or 4th room on the same or alternating
floors. Some have a radiating cable running down a central corridor. All
effect wireless connectivity for better or worse. Also signals may over
lap.
10. Check to make sure which network SSID your hotel is using. I have yet
to see one set-up as "FreePublicWiFi". Users see that in a lot of locations
and try to connect thinking it is from their hotel. It's not and the hotels
UID & PW will not work there. Also if the hotel uses access cards with the
access code written on them, scratch off the silver stuff and that is
usually the access code. The numbers on these cards is for accountability
purposes only, you can't use it to log-in to the network.
11. The hotel guest IT support staff (usually a sub-contractor) will ask
you a lot of questions, but that is because they have to document each call
and caller to get paid. Some hotels are easier than other to get connected
to, each one is different. Also not all equipment is equal, some high speed
network cards (i.e. Broadcom) do not like to slow down from gigabit
connectivity to lowly 10 Mbps half duplex hotel connections automatically.
12. Since there is no industrial standard for wireless connectivity
management software every manufacturer may or may not choose to create their
own application to manage the functions and connectivity of any given WiFi
Card model. Variance from make to make and model to model is the rule not
the exception. Most hotels will only pay for the basics, that being Windows
or MAC OSs controlling the WiFi connection. If a tech is willing and able
to assist you with your Intel Proset/Linksys/Belkin/etc. wireless
Manager/Utility, he/she is generally going beyond the requirements of their
job. The usual route is to refer you to the front desk for a "Wireless
Bridge", to your company IT staff, the card manufacturers support techs, or
politely tell they are sorry they can not get you connected to the network.
13. Wireless bridges, et al. A wireless bridge is an external WiFi radio
set that is set to connect to the specific hotels network. (It will not
work anywhere else.) It allow computers without a WiFi card to connect to
the network as well as enabling guest who are unable to connect tot the
hotel's network with their own WiFi card to connect. All you should need to
do is plug it in to your Ethernet ports and to it's specific power source,
usually your PCs USB 2.x port (some do use a power transformed for power
from a standard electrical wall outlet. As far as you computer will see it,
you are on a wired network. (To avoid any conflicts it is best to turn off
or disable you WiFi radio/connection.) You should see lights for Power,
Link/LAN, & WiFi/WAN. They show that your connection is good between the
computer and the Wireless Bridge and between the Wireless Bridge and the
hotels network. First step in trouble shooting it is to check that the
connections are solid. Second step is to power cycle the Wireless bridge,
by disconnecting the power for about 15 seconds and then plugging it back
in. After that call the tech support line.
14. Some other set-ups are a bit unique. Wired connections will usually be
via CAT5 Ethernet (there are still a few dual CAT3 cabled locations) or some
flavor of DSL. Some wired connection use a VDSL modem built into the base
of the telephone. If there are Link & Data lights, both should be on.
Link is the connection to your computer and Data is the modems link to the
network. If you are physically connected and both aren't on, follow the
cord in the back to the transform that is plugged into the wall outlet or
power strip. Un plug it for 15 seconds and then plug it back in, both
lights should come on in about a minute. Also make sure the wall outlet is
not controlled by the light switch on the wall, it is make sure the switch
is on. Some require the cable TVs movie system to be fully functional. Us
the remote to turn on the TV and then press Menu. If it say's something
needs to be installed, call tech support.
15. Most hotels do not offer support for non-computer devices (PDAs, IP
Phones, etc). No hotel I know of supports any gaming system (Xbox 360, et
al). Also none support bulk downloads or uploads. Movie and wares going up
or down the pipe adversely effect the over all bandwidth available to other
guest. If you want to see a particular movie, see the concierge desk about
the location of the nearest movie rental store.
16. Email is a toss up. Incoming Email is never blocked. Due to spamming
issues, some hotels have outgoing Email (port 25) locked down completely.
Others offer open access to the guest home Email server. Some offer guest
access to the hotels outgoing Email server. These either have a total or
daily email message limit or have a tarpit to slow down any bulk postings.
If you don't see any info in the room you can call tech support for help.
In the later case you will need to change the outgoing email server address
in what ever mail client you are using. In the case of a complete lock down
on port 25, you can still use your providers web mail portal if they have
one. If not, try using www.mail2web.com. This does not apply to VPN/IPSec
connection to your companies Exchange or other mail server.
17. Very few hotels allow open access, due to abuse issues. Getting black
listed is true pain in the ass for the IT staff to get fixed. If you are
caught or suspected of abusing the system, you can expect to get MAC
filtered as denied for access. If your innocent you can call tech support
and they may or may not be able to get the filter removed. A second strike
is usually the last, unless you can prove your innocence beyond a shadow of
a doubt. Usually, MAC filters for "denied" access are forever. Very rarely
are these removed from the network, so if you are caught you can scratch
that hotel of your list of Spam launching sites.
18. Last but not least, if it's windows, try rebooting before you call. A
reboot often resolves many a Windows issue. Also make sure the reboot is
finished before you dial.
- Follow-Ups:
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- OT: getting on a wifi hotspot in a library
- From: RnR
- Re: OT: getting on a wifi hotspot in a library
- From: Ben Myers
- Re: OT: getting on a wifi hotspot in a library
- From: Kevin Childers
- OT: getting on a wifi hotspot in a library
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