Apple IPad 2 can't get WIFI overseas

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Geems

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#90313 19-Sep-2011 18:51

Hope someone can help me with connecting my IPad2 to wifi while I'm overseas. I have the most expensive one I could get with the 3G and Wifi etc etc. The hotel technicians have looked at it and said it's "locked" and I need to go back to where I purchased it. I doubt a phonecall to the big Aussie store I purchased it from will be much help to me - so wondering if anyone has any suggestions??
Thanks, Geems

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#523186 19-Sep-2011 18:54

ipads are not 'locked' to any network, wifi or otherwise.

Are you sure it wasn't the wifi network itself that was locked (i.e. with a password?)

xpd

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#523187 19-Sep-2011 18:54

Locked ? Wifi dosent get "locked", think theyre looking at your Sim card....

Does the wifi network show up in the settings ? Prompts you for a key/password ?

XPD / Gavin

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Geems

35 posts

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#523190 19-Sep-2011 19:07

Here's the weird thing - the hotel wireless name shows up as being connected with a little tick beside it. But then when I go into safari it says "cannot open this page because it is not connected to theInternet. Strangely it has never prompted me for the hotel's password.

boby55

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#523193 19-Sep-2011 19:12

Try "Forget this network" and re connect. If that fails do it manually

alasta

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#523194 19-Sep-2011 19:15

Geems: Here's the weird thing - the hotel wireless name shows up as being connected with a little tick beside it. But then when I go into safari it says "cannot open this page because it is not connected to theInternet. Strangely it has never prompted me for the hotel's password.

Have you tried telling it to 'forget this network' and then reconnecting?

Do you experience this problem when trying to connecting to all Wifi networks, or have you been able to connect to
certain networks in other locations?

Apple did some serious damage to their Wifi functionality when they released iOS 4 and the problem that you have described, among others, intermittently affects my iPad depending on the particular network that I try to connect to. Some people have reportedly solved their problems by fiddling with settings on their router but obviously that's not an option if you're trying to connect to a public network.

Geems

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#523195 19-Sep-2011 19:24

Hi yep I've tried "forget this network" and tried to reconnect manually although not sure if I'm doing it right. Although the Hotel IT guy couldn't seem to do it either. I can connect to other WiFi spots in NZ no problem but this is the first time I've taken it overseas. Will be gutted if I can't use it this week.

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alasta

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#523211 19-Sep-2011 19:54

Have you investigated whether it would be feasible to get a cheap prepaid data SIM in the country that you're visiting, so that you can use 3G instead of Wifi?

Geems

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#523226 19-Sep-2011 20:19

Yeah it looks like I might have to try that although in Thailand I wouldn't know where to start. It's annoying to see other people successfully using their ipads. And when I get back to NZ how do I prove that there was a problem with it overseas? all very annoying when you pay so much $$ for something and expect it to be able to work properly anywhere. Anyway thanks heaps for your replies. cheers

trig42

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#523231 19-Sep-2011 20:29

In the wireless settings, when you tap the red arrow does it show you what IP address it has assigned (when you are "connected" and with the tick)?

cyril7

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#523233 19-Sep-2011 20:33

Sound to me like you have got a layer2 connection via the WiFi but not been challenged with a HotSpot login from the Hotel router, I also assume you have your WiFi TCP interface set to DHCP.

Cyril

Geems

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#523237 19-Sep-2011 20:38

@trig42 - no IP address showing
@cyril yes it is set to DHCP

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trig42

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#523240 19-Sep-2011 20:41

Doesn't sound like a problem with the iPad.

Can you take it to a McDonalds or somewhere with free WiFi (or even an internet Cafe) and see if it connects.

cyril7

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#523242 19-Sep-2011 20:43

So you are saying there is no IP address been assigned, then that indicates the DHCP (client/server) connection has not worked, this is most likely because the WiFi connection is not right, I would disconnect and try to connect (at WiFi level) again, just like other posters have asked.

Failing that I would go to reception and ask for service, WiFi connections are not locked assuming you have a valid key for the AP which is open in this case. The state of the 3G/UMTS connection has no bearing on the WiFi interface, and further to that Voda NZ does not lock its clients so the hotel technician (sic) is way off mark.

+1 on going to Mac D's and get a free connection elsewhere

Cyril

Geems

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#523249 19-Sep-2011 20:57

Yeah I tried it at Changi airport and it wouldn't connect there either )-:

Geems

35 posts

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#523253 19-Sep-2011 21:01

Yeah I have tried the Hotel staff for assistance - two staff who seemed to know their way around an IPad tried to look at it and then they called their specialist IT technician who said I needed to refer back to where I bought it. I'll try and find somewhere else with free WiFi tonight and see what happens - but as I said, I couldn't connect at Changi either. Failing all of this I spotted some Germans on an IPad at the bar - so maybe I'll go and get them to look at it.

Thanks guys - if anyone else thinks of any other solution I'll be logging in periodically (there is WiFi in the hotel room on this TV). Cheers

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