Internet wifi help

[goodcool]

Okay I'm new here and I'm sorry if someone has posted something like this before, I had a look but I couldn't see anything.

So my problem is this, I'm trying to connect to an open wifi zone, but mobile access has been blocked it only allows computers. Is there a way or application to make my phone look the same as a computer so it can connect? Or anything to get around this?

I'm using android 2.1


Thanks in advance...

 

[Darkseas]

I'm trying to connect to an open wifi zone, but mobile access has been blocked it only allows computers. Is there a way or application to make my phone look the same as a computer so it can connect? Or anything to get around this?

I've never heard of anything like this. How can a network be "open" and block any kind of access? Are you in the United States?

AFAIK, phones, kindles, laptops, and wireless cards don't identify themselves in any way except by sending their MAC addresses. I suppose a network could allow or block a range of MAC addresses, but that would be a pretty ugly way to do it that might shut out a lot of the people you want to let in.

When you see the list of available networks on your phone, do you see the open network? What type of security is listed for it? None? Wep? WPA1/2? 802.1X Enterprise?

If it says anything but "none," it's not really open. You'll need a password to get in.

If you can provide more details on this network, I'm sure we'll be able to give you more help.

 

[Howdie!]

I'm trying to connect to an open wifi zone, but mobile access has been blocked it only allows computers.

Have the SysAdmin of that 'open' WiFi zone unblock it for phones...

Of course if that SysAdmin is your nextdoor neighbor and you're just trying to get a free ride on his WiFi router/internet connection, or worse: access his devices, he may be less than enthusiastic.

 

[goodcool]

I've never heard of anything like this. How can a network be "open" and block any kind of access? Are you in the United States?

AFAIK, phones, kindles, laptops, and wireless cards don't identify themselves in any way except by sending their MAC addresses. I suppose a network could allow or block a range of MAC addresses, but that would be a pretty ugly way to do it that might shut out a lot of the people you want to let in.

When you see the list of available networks on your phone, do you see the open network? What type of security is listed for it? None? Wep? WPA1/2? 802.1X Enterprise?

If it says anything but "none," it's not really open. You'll need a password to get in.

If you can provide more details on this network, I'm sure we'll be able to give you more help.

Okay, sorry I should have given more information to start with...

The Network I'm trying to connect to is at my college, I can connect no problem using a laptop. It's not actually a open network, my phone tells me it uses "WPA/WPA2 PSK" but as I'm a student I have the necessary passwords. So my phone can get connect to the network, but it blocks any date transfer. On the college website it says "will not be enabled for mobile phone access, only for laptops."

So this brings me back to my question, what is the difference between a computer and a phone? How does the network know the I'm on a phone? and is there anyway to make my phone look the same as a computer?


Also before you can connect with a laptop you need to set your browser to "automatically detect proxy settings" but I cant see anywhere to do this in my phone. Could this be the difference and the reason why it's stopping me?
I'm guessing maybe it is as as far as I know a computer and phone wifi are the same, so I cant see any other reason why it would be blocking me.

Thanks again.

 

[Darkseas]

before you can connect with a laptop you need to set your browser to "automatically detect proxy settings" but I cant see anywhere to do this in my phone. Could this be the difference and the reason why it's stopping me?

Yes and no! It can't prevent you from signing onto the network, but it can prevent you from accessing the internet. They're not the same thing.

Look for a place to enter proxy settings in your phone's browser and e-mail programs.

But honestly, the best place to get help would be the college's tech support center. I bet all the folks who work there can access the internet on their phones! <grin>

 

[PSkeptic]

Change your UA on the browser. If you can't do it on the stock browser, then you need to download a new Browser (Like Dolphin, or Opera).

 

[Darkseas]

PSkeptic has given us another way that a network could check for mobile devices, at least in part. By using UA (user agent) sniffing, a web site-based login interface could reject logins from devices for which the browser sends a UA typical of a mobile device. That's considered bad practice and could be beaten by UA spoofing, but if the network follows W3C guidelines it could conduct tests of the browser and identify those that do things related to mobile devices (asking for smaller images, for example).

I don't know if anyone does this, but they certainly could. Seems as if it would be more trouble than just adding network capacity, though.

 

[goodcool]

PSkeptic has given us another way that a network could check for mobile devices, at least in part. By using UA (user agent) sniffing, a web site-based login interface could reject logins from devices for which the browser sends a UA typical of a mobile device. That's considered bad practice and could be beaten by UA spoofing, but if the network follows W3C guidelines it could conduct tests of the browser and identify those that do things related to mobile devices (asking for smaller images, for example).

I don't know if anyone does this, but they certainly could. Seems as if it would be more trouble than just adding network capacity, though.

Okay thanks for the help so far...
I'll try some of the things that have been suggested like UA spoofing, and I'll look for a new browser where I can easily change more setting (any suggestions?)

Next time in I'm college I'll try these things and see if I have any luck or not.

I think the big issue is going to be the proxy though, but I hear this is quite a common problem and apparently android doesn't have any proxy settings. You need to frig around a lot to access/use proxy's or something? :/


Thanks again