WIFI connection Failures?

[realitystops]

Sitting in a Coffee shop today I was unable (not for the first time) to use the internet even though I was apparently connected having joined the free service provided with a full signal strength reading. No browsing or email despite being fully connected.
All other customers (PC) seemed fine and despite several reboots etc. I was the only failed surfer!
This not the first time I have been frustrated this way when out and about. Obviously cannot blame provider as I am being told by my own machine the connection is good - right up until I open Safari and the not connected screen appears??????

Any ideas?

Oh, am in UK and using MBA11 and ML

Thank you

[realitystops]

No matter how obvious to you, I am sure there must be a reason that someone knows?

Any ideas??

[nightlong]

My Air often does that, in an office I use a couple of days a week which has fast Internet .... it can be saying no connection when my iPhone, 2 iPads, and th iMac I use there all working fine. If I plug it into the router with thunderbolt Ethernet adaptor ... No problems.

In this building there are many other wifi systems, and I wonder if the Air has some weakness with wifi in such situations because at home I run it on a mini wifi modem (4g modem, but I only get 3G there) and there's no other systems around and the Air is fine with wifi there.

[realitystops]

Originally Posted by nightlong

My Air often does that, in an office I use a couple of days a week which has fast Internet .... it can be saying no connection when my iPhone, 2 iPads, and th iMac I use there all working fine. If I plug it into the router with thunderbolt Ethernet adaptor ... No problems.

In this building there are many other wifi systems, and I wonder if the Air has some weakness with wifi in such situations because at home I run it on a mini wifi modem (4g modem, but I only get 3G there) and there's no other systems around and the Air is fine with wifi there.

Looks like it might be a dead area or an ares overpopulated with wifi sources.
On my next visit I will position myself at the other end of the cafe?
Maybe that simple, otherwise I am stumped :-(
Thanks for the consolation.

[nightlong]

Anyone else having this problem? Or have any solutions?

Would be helpful to know if this is a generic weakness in MBA, or whether the OP and I have problems in our machines that can be fixed.

[satcomer]

First how do they "authenticate" a customer logging onto their wireless? I ask because a lot of businesses use the web pop-up for 'Authentication' so if you have a pop-up blocker turn on in your browser can cut that out.

Also don't rely on a strangers DNS servers. Use your own (that you can control) with something like OpenDNS.com or Google Public DNS and see if that helps.

Lastly make sure you were connecting to the cafe's wireless rather than a hacker's fraud network.

[quasinormal]

Originally Posted by nightlong

Anyone else having this problem? Or have any solutions?

Would be helpful to know if this is a generic weakness in MBA, or whether the OP and I have problems in our machines that can be fixed.

I get this on a regular basis with a variety of networks, although it seems more common on slightly weaker signals, with error messages saying there is a "connection timeout". The messages pop up almost instantly after I try to connect.

I also have to turn off and on the wifi on a regular basis when to maintain a connection- ie the wifi is connected but downloads become very slow or stop altogether.

I have an early 2011 13" MBP running 10.8.2.

[nightlong]

Originally Posted by satcomer

First how do they "authenticate" a customer logging onto their wireless? I ask because a lot of businesses use the web pop-up for 'Authentication' so if you have a pop-up blocker turn on in your browser can cut that out.

Also don't rely on a strangers DNS servers. Use your own (that you can control) with something like OpenDNS.com or Google Public DNS and see if that helps.

Lastly make sure you were connecting to the cafe's wireless rather than a hacker's fraud network.

Thanks for this ... In my case, I'm connecting to a wifi system I set up in this office, I'm the boss and i maintain the system and so I know it is secure ... There are about 5 other systems in the building or in the vicinity. When I work there i often take my MBA, both iPads and iphone, and when it needs big updates my imac too, as there is fast and unlimited downloading, whereas my home office in a rural area has a limited system ... 3G Mini wifi modem.Only the MBA has a problem remaining connected with wifi at the office .. It is strange because it rarely drops out at home, when I often have just as many things connected on a supposedly more volatile, and much slower, system...

I use the Ethernet cable when updating software as it doesn't drop out then, but it's not convenient to place near the router when I'm using the MBA and staff are using the office iMac and PC laptop (which NEVER drops out, which is embarrassing, as I loathe pcs and didnt want to get it, only my office manager uses that for his ghastly non-mac accounting software,, so my temperamental MBA makes him laugh because the crap PC laptop cost $400 and hasn't so far had any problem, and so ... so much for my theory that macs are worth the money because they just work.

[nightlong]

Originally Posted by quasinormal

I get this on a regular basis with a variety of networks, although it seems more common on slightly weaker signals, with error messages saying there is a "connection timeout". The messages pop up almost instantly after I try to connect.

I also have to turn off and on the wifi on a regular basis when to maintain a connection- ie the wifi is connected but downloads become very slow or stop altogether.

I have an early 2011 13" MBP running 10.8.2.

I wonder how common this is, and if it is an OS or a hardware issue. I will phone Apple next week ... But if it is a hardware issue they probably won't admit that.

[IGregory]

Originally Posted by nightlong

I wonder how common this is, and if it is an OS or a hardware issue. I will phone Apple next week ... But if it is a hardware issue they probably won't admit that.

Read here and here. Also Apple Support Communities have posting. I have Mountain Lion on my machine and I too experience wifi drop offs from time to time. Its not a deal breaker though.