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A question for people who travel with their laptops
开云体育My daily routine frequently includes spending time at a medical care facility where the “guest” network is “open” (no encryption) but uses a common software device to provide internet access after my laptop connects to its SSID: pasting a dialog on the screen that requires a specific input before the user actually obtains internet access through the open network. The macOS uses a “captive agent” process to deal with this dialog box. It’s a common mechanism for providing access to a non-secured “guest” network at hotels, coffee shops, retail outlets, etc.Each time I encounter one of these networks I must reboot my Mac in order for my Mac to be able to post that dialog box to my display. That works every time, but having to reboot is a nuisance. Once I do what’s required in the “captive agent” dialog, my Mac has no trouble logging back in to the open network so long as I’ve not taken the computer to another location where I connect to a secured network (for example, if I turn off WiFi, or allow the Mac to go to sleep, etc.). The input into the “captive agent” dialog box is created by the IT staff managing the open network. It may require just clicking a button in a dialog box, or it may require text or numeric input. In some cases, it’s called a password, but typically the establishment pastes that password in a prominent location available to all its customers My iOS and iPadOS devices have no difficulty connecting to any of the open networks where my Mac cannot do so without a reboot, but the connection does require the input into the captive agent dialog. The difference seems to be that iOS has no trouble providing the dialog box to the user. I’ve been working with Apple Support on this issue. It’s a well known problem that’s been discussed in the Apple Support Communities fora and on Tidbits. Apparently, there’s no universally effective solution. What I don’t know is how common the problem is. So, I’d like to ask a question: are there people here who don’t need to reboot their Macs to obtain internet access via the non-secured guest network provided by a hotel, retail or health care establishment? Are there others reading this who DO have the problem? I’ve not checked the list rules, but if there’s a rule that forbids taking polls, I’d be happy to compile data from off-list replies. I think that if users see others replying to my question, I’d welcome subsequent replies addressed directly to me rather than to the list. Apple support tell me that they’re aware of the issue, and that configuring a specific network location may help, but that some login items may confound attempts to connect to such networks, so the support person had me disable automatic login to Dropbox. I’ll find out later today if that really has helped. I’ve also reset non-volatile RAM and the SMC on my MacBook Pro. The problem existed under Mojave on my previous MacBook Pro and persists under Catalina on my new 16” MacBook Pro. The support person has suggested running MalwareBytes if what we’ve done so far doesn’t help. One problem is that my two usual test environments (my home LAN with an 802.11ac Apple router and the medical care facility ?are 50 miles apart, and I know that when I arrive at the medical care facility I can obtain durable internet access just by rebooting. However, my curiosity is whetted by being told I shouldn’t have to do this. I can probably shuttle between my home and a coffee shop in my rural community to test/retest. So, does everybody need to reboot their Macs to get internet access on open networks? Does NO ONE else need to do this? Has anyone who HAD this problem resolved it? Thanks so much,
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Jim Robertson |
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I don't have that problem, either mac or iOS.
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Sent from JT's Ipad - maybe using voice dictation! On Feb 23, 2020, at 09:23, jimrobertson via Groups.Io <jimrobertson@...> wrote: |
On Feb 23, 2020, at 8:23 AM, jimrobertson via Groups.Io <jimrobertson@...> wrote:Jim, 2-3 years ago we were houseless for 6-1/2 months. During that time, we traveled all over Texas, staying in a wide variety of hotels. I never had to reboot my 2010 MBP to connect to one of their “password protected” networks. I was using macOS 10.12 Sierra at that time. There were a couple times that they had to correct something on their network for me to use my MBP or my iPad. We also frequented libraries to use their networks when we were out of one hotel, but not yet into the next one. Again, I did not have to reboot my MBP to use their “password protected” networks. Have you attempted to duplicate the problem at your local library? That could possibly make it easier for you to find a solution. -- Bev in TX |
开云体育
Any reason you think the library IT mavens would be any more skilled than those who do the job for Starbucks or hotels? I’ve not found a single open network where I CAN get access without rebooting once. I don’t know what happens if I try to go from one open network to another during the same boot cycle, but that’s not a common occurrence. Thanks for the replies so far. Looks like it is something about my environment. Ouch.
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Jim Robertson |
开云体育Sorry I mistook your statement, "One problem is that my two usual test environments (my home LAN with an 802.11ac Apple router and the medical care facility ?are 50 miles apart,” to mean that you might need other closer testing options. -- Bev in TX |
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