Need help connecting smart TV to public Wi-Fi

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Azzaw1980

73 posts

Master Geek

#286031 31-May-2021 19:44

Hey there. I had a search on here but couldn't find anything, or maybe im not searching right, so i apologise in advance if this has been answered. I have a customer in a lodge, living in a caravan. They have access to the public wifi there, but its an open type that requires a web based login for it to work. Thats ok for most devices but the smart TV and recorder wont allow access to the site to login to get it working. Ive heard of travel routers using a bridge mode but i cannot find anything out here that seems to do the job. Anyone know of a unit that will allow me to do this, and then create another encrypted wifi network?

Cheers

Aaron

rscole86

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#2716386 31-May-2021 20:21

Something like the TP Link travel router is what they need. TP-Link TL-WR902AC

Azzaw1980

73 posts

Master Geek

#2716389 31-May-2021 20:24

rscole86: Something like the TP Link travel router is what they need. TP-Link TL-WR902AC

I emailed TP-Link and they said they dont do anything that does that, does that model allow access to the web browser login for the public wifi?

shk292

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#2716401 31-May-2021 21:17

I emailed TP-Link and they said they dont do anything that does that, does that model allow access to the web browser login for the public wifi?

Strange, because that's exactly what they do. Have a look at the webpage here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/tl-wr902ac/

Scroll down to where it shows "access point mode"

I have an older model and use it for this when travelling

davidcole

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#2716437 1-Jun-2021 07:16

shk292:

I emailed TP-Link and they said they dont do anything that does that, does that model allow access to the web browser login for the public wifi?

Strange, because that's exactly what they do. Have a look at the webpage here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/tl-wr902ac/

Scroll down to where it shows "access point mode"

I have an older model and use it for this when travelling

you've posted a tp link us link....OP, you might be better to email someone like pbtech and let them know what you're after. They should know all the local products

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sbiddle

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#2716439 1-Jun-2021 07:37

shk292:

I emailed TP-Link and they said they dont do anything that does that, does that model allow access to the web browser login for the public wifi?

Strange, because that's exactly what they do. Have a look at the webpage here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/tl-wr902ac/

Scroll down to where it shows "access point mode"

I have an older model and use it for this when travelling

AP mode isn't going to be a solution here. That just allows the device to be a WiFi AP - you still need another radio to connect to the guest WiFi.

I've used a few of these devices as 5GHz bridges because they're so cheap, and from memory the hotspot mode does what the OP wants which is to connect to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network and then do DHCP and function as an AP on the other wireless band that's not being used for the WISP uplink.

If you connect to the local network you can authenticate with the captive portal and then other devices behind the NAT will have access without needing to authenticate.

Azzaw1980

73 posts

Master Geek

#2716820 1-Jun-2021 17:59

shk292:

I emailed TP-Link and they said they dont do anything that does that, does that model allow access to the web browser login for the public wifi?

Strange, because that's exactly what they do. Have a look at the webpage here: https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/tl-wr902ac/

Scroll down to where it shows "access point mode"

I have an older model and use it for this when travelling

Looking at that page i need client mode but client mode needs to be able to login to the wifi via a web browser first. And i suspect most of those are designed for wifi networks using a password, not open level wifi with browser password access :(

Azzaw1980

73 posts

Master Geek

#2716821 1-Jun-2021 18:01

sbiddle:

AP mode isn't going to be a solution here. That just allows the device to be a WiFi AP - you still need another radio to connect to the guest WiFi.

I've used a few of these devices as 5GHz bridges because they're so cheap, and from memory the hotspot mode does what the OP wants which is to connect to a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network and then do DHCP and function as an AP on the other wireless band that's not being used for the WISP uplink.

If you connect to the local network you can authenticate with the captive portal and then other devices behind the NAT will have access without needing to authenticate.

Thanks you could actually be right there. Might need to see if they are available here and give that i go.. Cheers!

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jonb

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#2716864 1-Jun-2021 20:17

Looking at that page i need client mode but client mode needs to be able to login to the wifi via a web browser first. And i suspect most of those are designed for wifi networks using a password, not open level wifi with browser password access :(

You can do that step from your phone or laptop

shk292

2853 posts

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#2716870 1-Jun-2021 20:35

The one I use is a D-Link I bought about 6 years ago but travel routers all have the same functionality - even between countries as far as I know. On mine it's called Hotspot mode - you log into the travel router from your phone/tablet/laptop using its wifi network. You then use its web GUI to configure it to connect to the hotel/public network - there is usually a "site survey" option to help with this. Once it has connected, the first time you try to access the internet using the travel router's Wifi, you'll be presented with the hotel captive portal webpage, where you log in to the network. Once you've done this with one device, any other device that you connect to your router will just see the internet without the portal page. It also allows devices on your network to see each other (so you can do things like streaming from phone to Chromecast).

If your client device is connected via ethernet, it will be more efficient because the travel router's wifi is only being used for the public-facing network.

They're very useful little devices, I never travel without one