Can't connect to public WiFi with MacBookPro at coffee shops and libraries
- by Nathan Bowers
The Problem: I can't connect to public, unencrypted WiFi at my local public library or Peets Coffee.
My Setup: Late 2006 MacBookPro running 10.5.8. I have Parallels installed.
It's supposed to work like this: 1) Connect to their unencrypted WiFi network 2) Open a browser which redirects you to their "enter password/agree to terms" page. 3) Browse normally.
I can connect to the WiFi network, but when I try to authenticate I always get stuck in a redirect loop. It's been like this for a while. Even before I upgraded to 10.5.8.
I never have trouble with encrypted networks or regular open WiFi.
What I've tried:
Disabling Parallels connections in Network Prefs. Superstition: somehow Parallels installed something in the network stack that's messing me up.
Pinging the IP address of the WiFi node I'm connected to. I can ping it, it's there, but I still get stuck in this authentication redirect loop.
Tried different browsers, tried different cookie and security settings. Even tried IE under Parallels. No dice.
Tried flushing DNS cache.
Asked library and coffee employees for help. It didn't go well.
My Question: Anybody else have this problem? What should I be looking for?
