WiFi - Why can't I browse?

Question

In the building that I live in (or the immediate surrounding area) there are a few people who have their wireless internet setup in the "OPEN" mode, in other words, they have no security enabled on their networks and they show up in my "available network lists" when I browse the list with my network cards properties. (FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY), I have tried connecting to the unsecured networks just to see if it would actually work. The connection is made yet I'm NOT online! I can't browse with my web browswer or do anything else online, it's like I dont have a connection at all. The signal strength indicators for these unsecured networks are all in the good to excellent range so I know it's not because I'm to far away from these peoples routers. When I check out the properties for the connections when I make them, it shows packets being sent AND received. I just don't understand why Im not able to do anything online if the connection is there. When I reconnect back to my network (which IS secured) once again I have complete access to the net. I know that unsecured means the wireless network is wide open, there is no 'key' or anything needed to connect, so whats the problem?

I'm really stumped by this because when I take my notebook to friends houses who don't have their networks secured (I know dumb) not only does it show that the connection is made, but I can actually get online! Yet when I'm back home and I try to connect to other peoples unsecured networks, it shows I'm connected but I can't do anything online, with IE I get "cant find server" and if I try to open any other program that works online, it won't sign me in.

Can anyone give me some advice on whats going on because I totally don't get it.

Thanks.

Peter Pan · Answer

Not all wireless networks have an internet connection. That sounds like exactly what you are seeing. I use a program called Winc from cirond corporation

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free for 30 days, about $30 one time after that) that not only sniffs out networks, but unlike free progs like netstumbler, gives all sorts of info about it (mac address/protected/locked or not etc), including saying whether it has an internet connection or not.

While there are other sniffers out there, I really like this one, cuz it shows the connections, and also actually start the browser and lets you select it AND CONNECT

If nothing else, check it out, it's free to try for 30 days. I highly recommend it. What do you have to lose?

PS. For those with PDA's that have WiFi (like my iPAQ 4551), they also have a product called MiniWinc

Don't be put off by the website, it's actually a security testing company, but they have really neat programs (not affiliated with the company, just a very happy user)

Peter Pan · Answer

And just to confuse things even more, I have a wireless network, but use dial-up networking from the devices with modems on the network during the day/early Eve, and at night and on weekends, when I have free cell time, it always connected and available over the network

Robert Jacobs wrote:

Jerry Park · Answer

Couple of ideas:1) You could be connecting to a network which does not have Internet access.2) The router/AP may be allowing Internet access to only the devices the owner specifies.Even though you are receiving a signal, that doesn't mean that you are connected to the network. Do you know if you are being assigned a valid address? Does your wireless device know what the gateway address is?

Sseadoubleyou · Answer

In the building that I live in (or the immediate surrounding area) there are a few people who have their wireless internet setup in the "OPEN" mode, in other words, they have no security enabled on their networks and they show up in my "available network lists" when I browse the list with my network cards properties.  (FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY), I have tried connecting to the unsecured networks just to see if it would actually work.  The connection is made yet I'm NOT online!  I can't browse with my web browswer or do anything else online, it's like I dont have a connection at all.  The signal strength indicators for these unsecured networks are all in the good to excellent range so I know it's not because I'm to far away from these peoples routers.  When I check out the properties for the connections when I make them, it shows packets being sent AND received.  I just don't understand why Im not able to do anything online if the connection is there. When I reconnect back to my network...

Sseadoubleyou · Answer

Ah, I figured if Windows was picking up the network, then that meant both the cable or dsl line and router were all connected.  Are you saying that one can physically have their router on, but cable or dsl modem off and the networks would still be visible even though the actual internet modem was off?  If so I didn't think about that one.

Peter Pan · Answer

In this case yes, since I am in a place with no cable internet, and can't get dsl in a motel/temp suite/furnished apartment/whatever it is. However in one of the previous places (a motel room in Couer D'Alene ID!), I had an always on cable thing, and that was plugged into the wap/router. Even here I can do the always on sat internet thing via the wap/router, but don't want to leave the dish/tripod outside where the kids hang out. I was trying to add on to the statement "Internet by itself *or* network by itself." The use of And/Or instead of just *or* would have made it more accurate and less of an absolute one or the other, not to mention driving someone trying to wardrive and steal access crazy (sometimes it's connected, and sometimes it isn't :)(in case you are wondering/give a... umm rodents behind.. I guess you could say I am technically homeless, and have been traveling 100% of the time for 10 years, 6 of them in an RV, Isn't the internet/Usenet a great thing.. even a...

Sseadoubleyou · Answer

Yeah I see what you mean now.  I tried it out and sure enough, every single wireless network in range of me does NOT have internet access:(

Robert Jacobs · Answer

Yes, that is true. A router will connect your computers together and enable broadband internet access if you have it. You can have network and internet, Internet by itself or network by itself.

Robert Jacobs · Answer

thats kool, but your using shared internet via a host, not via the router. I know you know that, im just clarifing for others reading the thread...

Peter Pan · Answer

Yup, there are many that show AP's, but the real cirond stuff (not the old version one((several versions ago from the current one)) that pc modified and put out as free), allows you to click on the listed ap and start a browser.. The freebies (netstumbler and boingo) usually don't do that.

Just a general hint, if something is given away as free, it's usually an older version, look for a newer version on the manufacturer site.. usually a newer version with more features is available there.

W> I have Circond WiNc from PC Magazine - branded freeware. 2 AP here

WiFi - Why can't I browse?

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