WIFI won't connect even with full strength

[ckest13]

When I'm home, I connect no problem. I work in the city and see places to connect to, many of then have full strength signal that do NOT require a password to join the network. I will click on it and it will say unable to connect to network. This even happens at the train station where the network is called FREE PUBLIC WIFI and it has full strength.

Has anyone experienced this? Any info would be great.


Thanks

[gibby71]

They may have MAC filtering set up. That will stop you from being able to connect.

[ckest13]

thanks for the response. not sure what MAC is but is there a way around it? or anything i can do?

[gibby71]

MAC address is how a network first identifies you. All network interfaces have a MAC address, it is built into the hardware level of the device. To see what your iPhones is click settings -> General -> About there you will see the Wi-Fi address. You will need to have the owner of the router enter that number into there router for you to be able to access it. You can read more info on MAC address here.

[ckest13]

thank you but I can imagine that the over 50 networks with good strength all have this..when my house and my inlaws house i can connect to easily. could it be?

[gibby71]

MAC filtering is a common method of protecting wifi networks, because its easy to set up. See if you can find out where one of the networks home is and have them add you. I have found a few some of my local restaurants that have wi-fi that I have had to give them my MAC to get on there wi-fi. Some Wi-Fi sites may also require you to log onto a web page to access the network. In other word if you don't know who owns the network there is no real way of know why you can not connect.

[JoeT]

Well, yes, you can get a loose idea:


If you get the "Cannot connect" message, you either:

1. Don't have a good enough signal

2. Haven't specified the correct WEP, WPA, or WPA2 passcode


Now, if MAC filtering is on, that can take one of two common forms:

1. AP is told not to permit connection - you get "Cannot connect" message.

2. AP lets you connect, but sends your traffic straight to hell - you connect but can't do a damned thing.


If they are using a portal, you will connect, but can't get anywhere except to the portal login site, which you will get when you attempt to surf anywhere in Safari.

[psylichon]

Have you perused this page?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305715