WiFi Fails to obtain address of non-secure site

I have a ThinkPad which I use at a airport. There are usually 2 non
secure access ids. One, if it is available, obtains the required
address with no problem. When this one is not available I try to access
a second source. It goes into the acquiring address mode and after a
while times out and returns me to the available connections screen. Can
anyone give me a hint as to what my problem is. the spec sheets on my
ThinkPad says it has a built in wireless/lan antenna. The networking
info says it has a network adapter Ethernet fast Ethernet IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g.

Can someone give me a few pointer OR tell me how to contact or get
information regarding the connection which BTW is public and has a name
of AI-GSP.

Don Jacobs

Donald Jacobs

Donald Jacobs wrote:

> I have a ThinkPad which I use at a airport. There are usually 2 non
> secure access ids. One, if it is available, obtains the required
> address with no problem. When this one is not available I try to access
> a second source. It goes into the acquiring address mode and after a
> while times out and returns me to the available connections screen. Can
> anyone give me a hint as to what my problem is. the spec sheets on my
> ThinkPad says it has a built in wireless/lan antenna. The networking
> info says it has a network adapter Ethernet fast Ethernet IEEE 802.11b,
> IEEE 802.11g.
>
> Can someone give me a few pointer OR tell me how to contact or get
> information regarding the connection which BTW is public and has a name
> of AI-GSP.

Are these wireless connections that you are actually paying for - a service
provided by the airport or a Starbucks-type place in the airport? Or are
they wireless connections just "floating" in the air?

If the former, ask the provider why you can't connect. If the latter, then
probably the second connection is not set up as a DHCP server and isn't
providing IP addresses. This is why you aren't getting one.

When Thinkpad was owned by IBM, the laptops with wireless built-in came with
a very handy network manager - I think it was called something like "IBM
Connect". If you have this utility, it might be useful to you.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Malke

"Donald Jacobs" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I have a ThinkPad which I use at a airport. There are usually 2 non secure
>access ids. One, if it is available, obtains the required address with no
>problem. When this one is not available I try to access a second source.
>It goes into the acquiring address mode and after a while times out and
>returns me to the available connections screen. Can anyone give me a hint
>as to what my problem is. the spec sheets on my ThinkPad says it has a
>built in wireless/lan antenna. The networking info says it has a network
>adapter Ethernet fast Ethernet IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g.
>

Some wireless places are "apparently" open but in fact use one security
feature (not that by itself it is good enough but it helps) which is Mac
filtering. If you are on the list of allowed Macs, you get in and if you
aren't then you don't. So, it doesn't matter, in such cases, that you can
see the SSID and strength is good etc. You wont get on (unless you are a
hacker who knows HOW to get around that, of course) and that is that.

If you think you SHOULD be able to get on to that SSID and that it is NOT
Mac filtering, I would ask them what they are doing. They may not allow DHCP
and this may be why your computer isn't getting on.

Diamontina Cocktail

Thanks for the assistance. Mine is one of the last provided by IBM but
Lenovo had just bought the company. I think I have the IBM connect on
it but it was disabled at the suggestion of an IBM help desk tech rep
almost a year ago. He had me set it up as the Windows connection. My
question is if I use the IBM connect and it does not work how do I get
back to the Window connect facility.

Thanks, Don

Malke wrote:
> Donald Jacobs wrote:
>
>
>>I have a ThinkPad which I use at a airport. There are usually 2 non
>>secure access ids. One, if it is available, obtains the required
>>address with no problem. When this one is not available I try to access
>>a second source. It goes into the acquiring address mode and after a
>>while times out and returns me to the available connections screen. Can
>>anyone give me a hint as to what my problem is. the spec sheets on my
>>ThinkPad says it has a built in wireless/lan antenna. The networking
>>info says it has a network adapter Ethernet fast Ethernet IEEE 802.11b,
>>IEEE 802.11g.
>>
>>Can someone give me a few pointer OR tell me how to contact or get
>>information regarding the connection which BTW is public and has a name
>>of AI-GSP.
>
>
> Are these wireless connections that you are actually paying for - a service
> provided by the airport or a Starbucks-type place in the airport? Or are
> they wireless connections just "floating" in the air?
>
> If the former, ask the provider why you can't connect. If the latter, then
> probably the second connection is not set up as a DHCP server and isn't
> providing IP addresses. This is why you aren't getting one.
>
> When Thinkpad was owned by IBM, the laptops with wireless built-in came with
> a very handy network manager - I think it was called something like "IBM
> Connect". If you have this utility, it might be useful to you.
>
> Malke

Donald Jacobs

Donald Jacobs wrote:

> Thanks for the assistance. Mine is one of the last provided by IBM but
> Lenovo had just bought the company. I think I have the IBM connect on
> it but it was disabled at the suggestion of an IBM help desk tech rep
> almost a year ago. He had me set it up as the Windows connection. My
> question is if I use the IBM connect and it does not work how do I get
> back to the Window connect facility.

You would just disable the program the way you did it the first time. There
is probably an option to do so. I can't check for you because I don't run
Windows on my Thinkpad.

The IBM Connect will not let you get an IP address from an access point that
isn't giving any IP addresses out, though. You didn't answer my previous
question about the wireless networks to which you are trying to connect. If
you are just hitchhiking onto someone's unsecured network then I would say
you have to accept the fact that you won't be able to connect to the second
one (no IP address).

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Malke

Hi

Some Hot Spots maintain a semi controlled situation.

If the Access Point has the MAC filter On it appears as Unsecured Source but
you can not log in unless the owner let your MAC number through.

Using this method provides an easy control to the Source since the owner do
not need to provide an Encryption Key or any other parameters to the
Wireless Client you just need to check the MAC entry of the Wireless Client.
It is Not as secure as WEP/WAP connection but under many circumstances it is
a good compromise.

Might be that the second Source is MAC protected.

Jack (MVP-Networking).



"Donald Jacobs" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I have a ThinkPad which I use at a airport. There are usually 2 non secure
>access ids. One, if it is available, obtains the required address with no
>problem. When this one is not available I try to access a second source.
>It goes into the acquiring address mode and after a while times out and
>returns me to the available connections screen. Can anyone give me a hint
>as to what my problem is. the spec sheets on my ThinkPad says it has a
>built in wireless/lan antenna. The networking info says it has a network
>adapter Ethernet fast Ethernet IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g.
>
> Can someone give me a few pointer OR tell me how to contact or get
> information regarding the connection which BTW is public and has a name of
> AI-GSP.
>
> Don Jacobs
>

Jack \(MVP-Networking\).

Sorry about not answering your question. To the best of my knowledge I
don't think they are hitchhiking but I really don't know. I have the
feeling it is a company housed at the airport BUT I can't figure out who
they are. The one that I can access belongs to a limo service and when
it is up it is great. But for some reason they are not up every time I
am at the airport. When I've called them the person on the phone say
they do not have a wifi network but I think he is just a dispatcher and
does not know.

BTW, I tried t find the IBM connect on my ThinkPad but it seems to not
be there. It is possible that the guy had me remove it and now my
warranty is expired so no help there.

Thanks for your help.
Don


Malke wrote:
> Donald Jacobs wrote:
>
>
>>Thanks for the assistance. Mine is one of the last provided by IBM but
>>Lenovo had just bought the company. I think I have the IBM connect on
>>it but it was disabled at the suggestion of an IBM help desk tech rep
>>almost a year ago. He had me set it up as the Windows connection. My
>>question is if I use the IBM connect and it does not work how do I get
>>back to the Window connect facility.
>
>
> You would just disable the program the way you did it the first time. There
> is probably an option to do so. I can't check for you because I don't run
> Windows on my Thinkpad.
>
> The IBM Connect will not let you get an IP address from an access point that
> isn't giving any IP addresses out, though. You didn't answer my previous
> question about the wireless networks to which you are trying to connect. If
> you are just hitchhiking onto someone's unsecured network then I would say
> you have to accept the fact that you won't be able to connect to the second
> one (no IP address).
>
> Malke

Donald Jacobs

Donald Jacobs wrote:

> Sorry about not answering your question. To the best of my knowledge I
> don't think they are hitchhiking but I really don't know. I have the
> feeling it is a company housed at the airport BUT I can't figure out who
> they are. The one that I can access belongs to a limo service and when
> it is up it is great. But for some reason they are not up every time I
> am at the airport. When I've called them the person on the phone say
> they do not have a wifi network but I think he is just a dispatcher and
> does not know.
>
> BTW, I tried t find the IBM connect on my ThinkPad but it seems to not
> be there. It is possible that the guy had me remove it and now my
> warranty is expired so no help there.

OK, you have answered the question. You are just using open wireless
networks without permission. I'm not going to address the morality of doing
that because it's none of my business. But you certainly can't complain if
you can't jump onto someone else's network. If you want to be sure you have
a wireless connection when you are at an airport, find a Starbucks or
hotspot cafe and pay for one.

You can download the IBM Connect software from Lenovo if you want it. It
doesn't matter about your warranty.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Malke

Thanks for the info. As to the Starbucks, etc. there is nothing
available in the airport. While the airport has a public access WiFi it
does not cover the information desk (I man on a volunteer basis) area in
which I work, at the far end of the facility. Therefore I cannot get to
the internet to check flight status etc for passengers without resulting
to a morality issue.
Don J

Malke wrote:
> Donald Jacobs wrote:
>
>
>>Sorry about not answering your question. To the best of my knowledge I
>>don't think they are hitchhiking but I really don't know. I have the
>>feeling it is a company housed at the airport BUT I can't figure out who
>>they are. The one that I can access belongs to a limo service and when
>>it is up it is great. But for some reason they are not up every time I
>>am at the airport. When I've called them the person on the phone say
>>they do not have a wifi network but I think he is just a dispatcher and
>>does not know.
>>
>>BTW, I tried t find the IBM connect on my ThinkPad but it seems to not
>>be there. It is possible that the guy had me remove it and now my
>>warranty is expired so no help there.
>
>
> OK, you have answered the question. You are just using open wireless
> networks without permission. I'm not going to address the morality of doing
> that because it's none of my business. But you certainly can't complain if
> you can't jump onto someone else's network. If you want to be sure you have
> a wireless connection when you are at an airport, find a Starbucks or
> hotspot cafe and pay for one.
>
> You can download the IBM Connect software from Lenovo if you want it. It
> doesn't matter about your warranty.
>
> Malke

Donald Jacobs