setup username and password for accessing a protected internet
infin8loop:
If the OP is using Windows, would this post from RonR suggesting ICS Internet Connection Sharing work?
http://www.obitalk.com/forum/index.php?topic=2430.msg15718#msg15718
As far as unplugging the PC and plugging in the OBi, for some reason I think MAC address plays a part in an Internet connection (at some layer) in addition to just IP address handed out by DHCP. Unplugging the PC and plugging in the OBi would introduce a different MAC address (the OBi's) instead of the MAC address for the PC that established the connection. Not so sure the unplugging/plugging would go so well. In the case of hotels with wi-fi only, what do you unplug and plug into? Wouldn't the ICS work for both wi-fi and ethernet? Haven't used it myself.. so it's all theoretical to me.
RonR:
omin,
Simply treat the hotel's Ethernet jack the same way you would the Ethernet jack on a cable or DSL modem which uses DHCP. You plug your router into it and you now have four Ethernet connections to use instead of one. The only difference is you have to login using your web browser on the server that your web browser is initially forced to. After you login, everything works as you'd expect it to.
omin:
Hi, RonR
Thank you for your time and efforts. As suggested, I now confirm that the OBi unit works with a router and a pc when there is an DNS challenge with username and password. I believe it will also work in a hotel but one just needs to bring a notebook and a router (or AP).
Stewart:
I used to travel with an ATA (long before OBi), but don't anymore -- the hassles have become worse, while the alternatives are now much better.
Don't depend on repurposing the room phone; hotels often have proprietary digital sets or IP phones. Worse, between infected machines, video-hungry guests, and the huge number of smartphones and tablets (carried by guests who would never bring their computer), many hotel systems are hopelessly overloaded and the connection is unsuitable for VoIP.
If you do have a solid Internet connection, you can call from your computer using Gmail or any softphone. Present Gmail behavior is that US/Canada calls are free (from a US-based GV account), even if you connect from a foreign IP address. For cordless, pair a Bluetooth headset to your PC's built-in Bluetooth, or to a USB Bluetooth dongle. Using a VoIP app on your smartphone or tablet, connect to hotel Wi-Fi. If it's weak or non-existent, use your laptop or travel router as a local hotspot.
When the hotel Internet sucks, the room phone may be a good choice. Many hotels offer free local calls -- you could use any calling card service. Or, call for free into your home OBi via a Localphone, Rebtel, iNum or SIPBroker gateway, then use the AA to call out on any of its services. If outbound is costly, a callback service (commercial or provided by your OBi) is often a good choice. Click-to-call is another option. This is easiest if your room has a dedicated DID. If not, but it can be reached through an IVR, use a PBXes account to dial the DTMF, or click-to-call from e.g. Anveo. If incoming calls must be routed through a human operator, try replacing the AA main menu prompt on your OBi with e.g. "Please connect me to John Doe in room 123". The OBi will say that three times before giving up, so you should have enough time to receive the call and press 2 to call out.
If neither of the above are suitable, there's always your cell phone. In many countries, you can get a cheap prepaid SIM; calling rates are outrageous, but incoming is free. This is a perfect match for callback from your OBi at home, or use a commercial service such as CallWithUs, Future-Nine or Fonworld. If traveling to several countries, consider Maxroam. Combined with a a US DID from them and OBi or GV callback, you get US inbound and outbound calling from much of the world for $0.12/min.
Rookie:
Quote from: RonR on February 06, 2012, 06:56:39 pm
In a typical hotel where you have to login to use the Internet connection, the PC instantly gets an IP address via DHCP. If it didn't, you could never use your web browser to login to get full Internet access. Until you successfully login, the hotel's DNS server returns the same IP address for any hostname lookup -- that of the hotel's login server. Once you successfully login, the DNS server starts returning the correct IP addresses for hostname lookups.
I tried this. My laptop works fine after the login. The OBi Device status says Offline even though it got an IP address from the router. I am able tp ping the OBi IP address from the laptop.
Config is as follows:
Hotel wall jack to router. From router, one cable to laptop (working) and another cable to OBi.
I got this working one time but don't recall what I did. Any clues?
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