Cannot access web or pop servers.

iadom · 16-05-2006, 19:47

I have had this WiFi laptop for a few months now. Works perfectly at home. I also take it on the road with me. If I can find a wireless connection it is a great help to be able to access certain spares and tech info sites that I use in the course of my business. Often the networks are in the customers house and if they are unprotected I do advise them to take steps to rectify this. With their permission I have always been able to connect to their router and access web etc.
Today I was in a house and my PC could 'see' five networks, two of which where open. I identified the one belonging to this customer and connected. Windows reports 'connected' with very good signal strength but for some reason I could not access Internet or Pop 3 servers. Wireless Connection Status appears to have no problems.

Is there something simple that I am missing or that I need to alter for certain networks.?

Druchii · 16-05-2006, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

I have had this WiFi laptop for a few months now. Works perfectly at home. I also take it on the road with me. If I can find a wireless connection it is a great help to be able to access certain spares and tech info sites that I use in the course of my business. Often the networks are in the customers house and if they are unprotected I do advise them to take steps to rectify this. With their permission I have always been able to connect to their router and access web etc. Today I was in a house and my PC could 'see' five networks, two of which where open. I identified the one belonging to this customer and connected. Windows reports 'connected' with very good signal strength but for some reason I could not access Internet or Pop 3 servers. Wireless Connection Status appears to have no problems. Is there something simple that I am missing or that I need to alter for certain networks.?

Mac Address filtering?

iadom · 16-05-2006, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druchii

Mac Address filtering?

Well go on then, explain in laymans terms,

Druchii · 16-05-2006, 21:34

Each Network card connected to a pc, whether it be wirelessly, GPRS, wired (ethernet) or anything else has a MAC address, its an address that identifies that particular card. Whether it has a valid IP address or not.

Most routers/hubs and even in some cases switches can tell which MAC address is which and block them from accessing parts of the network, only allowing certain known Network cards in, this does create some good security... In theory. Of course MAC addresses can be cloned, and therefore that is all security gone, unless it's encrypted

Well, i hope you understand what i mean, it will simply reject you any access other than connecting, somtimes it will not even let you connect.

iadom · 16-05-2006, 22:30

Thanks for that, much clearer now. So basically there is nothing I can do on my laptop to gain access even if the network registers as unsecured.

Druchii · 16-05-2006, 22:32

Of course, it could be something totally different

Thats what sprung to my mind, i'm by no means an expert though... Some other people should be here to tell you some other variables etc...

I don't mind helping

iadom · 16-05-2006, 22:57

Any help is most gratefully received, today is the first time this has happened, I have been able to connect to several unprotected networks without any problems up to now, will just have to see how the next one goes.

Druchii · 16-05-2006, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

Thanks for that, much clearer now. So basically there is nothing I can do on my laptop to gain access even if the network registers as unsecured.

Nothing legal...

Stuartbe · 17-05-2006, 08:30

Section 3 of this http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...69&postcount=1 may help.

---------- Post added at 08:29 ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 ----------

pssst. Linux auditor boot rom

iadom · 17-05-2006, 08:59

Thanks Stu, did have a very quick scan through that article when I first set up and secured my home wifi network. Need to find a few spare hours in the day to really get into it.

What a really need to get is 'a round tuit'

Aragorn · 17-05-2006, 09:38

If MAC filtering had been in place, I don't think you would have 'connected'. (also if they have a wireless network with no encryption, I would be surprised if they had MAC filtering.

I would have looked at the 'Support' tab on the wireless connection status screen. This shows whether a valid DHCP address has been assigned. You could then try pinging the default gateway (wireless router) and possibly tracert to a well known address (www.bbc.co.uk).

altis · 17-05-2006, 11:09

Another option that I've set up on a Netgear router is to disable HTTP access from a certain MAC address. It could be that, by default, all web access is disabled and only specific MACs are allowed out onto the web.

To tell for certain you'd need to log into the router and have a look at it's configuration.

I'm not sure if this is possible but it could be that they have a WAP instead of a router. Then, only the MAC registered with the modem will be allowed out.