Strong connection but no ping

[M.L.]

I've been trying to connect my WinXP Pro SP2 laptop to one of the free
wireless public hotspots offered by the Chicago Public Library but
cannot get to the point where I can surf on the Internet. I get
connected with a strong signal and excellent to very good link quality
but all my pings (except to localhost) are unsuccessful. The library's
system is completely open and does not require passwords or WEP, just
an SSID (CPLWiFi). I've tried two different libraries and have been
Googling for a solution all week and have tried many recommendations,
but still, no success.

My Dlink 650 PCMCIA card connects and allows me to surf the Internet
just fine with my brother's wireless Actiontec router (he uses WinXP
Home SP2).

I updated my Dlink 650 driver software, no difference.

I disabled the WinXP firewall and completely turned off my regular
firewall (freeware Agnitum Outpost) before trying to connect. I also
turned off my antivirus and antispyware sentries.

I've tried turning on/off just about every network-related service,
but no relevant difference in results.

I tried connecting with Wireless Zero Config service, and with the
Dlink connection software (entering the SSID manually), no difference.
(For some reason the Dlink connection software won't change the
channel number after I set it to different values before rescanning.
It always selects channel 1.)

When I "ipconfig /all" I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address, MAC
address, and the DHCP and DNS servers give me expected values
(however, Node Type = "unknown,' I can't get it to = 'broadcast').

I tried setting the TCP/IP DNS properties manually, but it made no
difference.

Turned off autoconfiguration options and proxy settings in the
Internet Options->Connections setup (as recommended by the library's
wireless FAQ), no difference.

I reinstalled WinXP Pro with SP2, and used LSPfix and WinsockxpFix but
still can't ping successfully although I continue to get a strong
connection.

I ran antivirus and antispyware (Adaware, Spybot S&D, MS AntiSpyware)
scans on my system.

I haven't a clue what to try next. Any help will be gratefully
appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[dold]

I've been trying to connect my WinXP Pro SP2 laptop to one of the free
wireless public hotspots offered by the Chicago Public Library but
cannot get to the point where I can surf on the Internet. I get

Have you asked the librarian?
Have you tried opening a web browser?
<http://www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/003cpl/computer/wifi/wifi.html>
"You must click the I AGREE button to connect to the Library's wireless
network."

I disabled the WinXP firewall and completely turned off my regular
firewall (freeware Agnitum Outpost) before trying to connect. I also
turned off my antivirus and antispyware sentries.

I'd rather do without the internet than connect my laptop to a public place
without a firewall. The number of attacks that I see in the firewall log
within moments of connecting is remarkable. Maybe the library has a
firewall, where I was knowingly connected without one, but I still wouldn't
do it.

When I "ipconfig /all" I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address, MAC
address, and the DHCP and DNS servers give me expected values
(however, Node Type = "unknown,' I can't get it to = 'broadcast').

<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310570>
set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Netbt\Parameters\EnableProxy to 0
(I don't have the Enable Proxy key in my registry. Maybe because
ipconfig/all == "NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled"
<http://www.pctechnicians.ca/help/workgroup.html>
<http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=160177>
set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Netbt\Parameters\NodeType to 8
(I have DhcpNodeType in my registry, set to 8.)

Turned off autoconfiguration options and proxy settings in the
Internet Options->Connections setup (as recommended by the library's
wireless FAQ), no difference.

Ahh, that's sort of like asking the librarian ;-)
<http://www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/003cpl/computer/wifi/wififaqs.html>
"I can't get XP to connect with your wireless.
Two very common problems are:
On some XP laptops with both wireless and wired (Ethernet) connectivity,
vendors ship with the "Network Bridge" turned on. You may need to Delete
this (under Control Panel, Network Connections).

Numerous problems have been reported with Windows XP Service Pack 1 that
are resolved by Service Pack 2."

"Chicago Public Library system's 79 locations"
Have you tried a different library?

 

[NuTCrAcKeR]

When I "ipconfig /all" I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address, MAC
address, and the DHCP and DNS servers give me expected values
(however, Node Type = "unknown,' I can't get it to = 'broadcast').

Actually, the 169.254.x.x IP address is the range that a nic under XP will
assume if it is set to DHCP and cannot get an address from a server. You
didnt mention what type of NIC you are using ... does the driver allow for
the configuration of a preamble mode? Typical choices are Long, Short, None,
Auto. Try it out with None. I have tried using my wireless card with friends
networks who have newer equipment than I do, and thier stuff does not
support the preamble. I disabled it on my NIC, and bingo ! I was fully
connected to thier networks.

give it a try ...

- NuTs

 

[daytripper]

Actually, the 169.254.x.x IP address is the range that a nic under XP will
assume if it is set to DHCP and cannot get an address from a server. You
didnt mention what type of NIC you are using ... does the driver allow for
the configuration of a preamble mode? Typical choices are Long, Short, None,
Auto. Try it out with None. I have tried using my wireless card with friends
networks who have newer equipment than I do, and thier stuff does not
support the preamble. I disabled it on my NIC, and bingo ! I was fully
connected to thier networks.

give it a try ...

- NuTs

fwiw, the op actually said "I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address"

 

[NuTCrAcKeR]

fwiw, the op actually said "I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address"

oops .. my bad. i misread that.

 

[NuTCrAcKeR]

fwiw, the op actually said "I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address"

Also, fwiw, he wont get a node type unless he is getting DHCP from a windows
server that is configured to assign a netbios node type, which typically
involves WINS servers.

It is likely that he has to tell his browser to go via a proxy server of
some kind. I am sure there are some instructions laying around that explain
how to configure your system before you can use thier service, along with
thier acceptable usage policy.

- NuTs

 

[M.L.]

Have you asked the librarian?
Have you tried opening a web browser?
<http://www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/003cpl/computer/wifi/wifi.html>
"You must click the I AGREE button to connect to the Library's wireless
network."

Where is that button or link located? It's not on the above-mentioned
page. I asked a clerk at the downtown library today if there was
anything I needed to set online beforehand, but she didn't know of
any.

I'd rather do without the internet than connect my laptop to a public place
without a firewall. The number of attacks that I see in the firewall log
within moments of connecting is remarkable. Maybe the library has a
firewall, where I was knowingly connected without one, but I still wouldn't
do it.

<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310570>
set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Netbt\Parameters\EnableProxy to 0
(I don't have the Enable Proxy key in my registry. Maybe because
ipconfig/all == "NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled"
<http://www.pctechnicians.ca/help/workgroup.html>
<http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=160177>
set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\
Netbt\Parameters\NodeType to 8
(I have DhcpNodeType in my registry, set to 8.)

I don't understand what the above settings are doing for me. The
directions I've read don't require me to modify the registry settings.

Ahh, that's sort of like asking the librarian ;-)
<http://www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/003cpl/computer/wifi/wififaqs.html>
"I can't get XP to connect with your wireless.
Two very common problems are:
On some XP laptops with both wireless and wired (Ethernet) connectivity,
vendors ship with the "Network Bridge" turned on. You may need to Delete
this (under Control Panel, Network Connections).

I can't find any network bridge setting.

Numerous problems have been reported with Windows XP Service Pack 1 that
are resolved by Service Pack 2."

As mentioned above, I have already installed XP2.

"Chicago Public Library system's 79 locations"
Have you tried a different library?

I've now visited 4 libraries, including the main one downtown.

Thanks for your reply. Sorry I couldn't reply earlier.

 

[M.L.]

Also, fwiw, he wont get a node type unless he is getting DHCP from a windows
server that is configured to assign a netbios node type, which typically
involves WINS servers.

It is likely that he has to tell his browser to go via a proxy server of
some kind. I am sure there are some instructions laying around that explain
how to configure your system before you can use thier service, along with
thier acceptable usage policy.

- NuTs

Thanks for your reply. The configurations specifically required the
user to disable all proxies.

 

[M.L.]

Also, fwiw, he wont get a node type unless he is getting DHCP from a windows
server that is configured to assign a netbios node type, which typically
involves WINS servers.

It is likely that he has to tell his browser to go via a proxy server of
some kind. I am sure there are some instructions laying around that explain
how to configure your system before you can use thier service, along with
thier acceptable usage policy.

The instructions simply say that I am to turn off any proxy service.

After comparing the library's ipconfig /all results with that at my
brother's house, I noticed that the DHCP at the library = 1.1.1.1
while that at my brother's house is set to the value of the Default
Gateway IP. Is there anything unusual about that?

DHCP Enabled = Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled = Yes
IP Address = 172.30.2.123
Subnet Mask = 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway = 172.30.2.1
DHCP Server = 1.1.1.1

I finally got online by launching the gateway IP into my browser
window. I got a blank page but noticed that the page title contained
the word "redirect," so I looked at the View/Source and noticed that
it redirected to http//1.1.1.1/login.html?<gateway address>.

I entered only http://1.1.1.1/login.html into the window and got a
login page, which eventually allowed me to surf the net. A previous
poster gave a URL for the login page but I got a "page not found"
error from that link when launching it from my newsreader. When I went
to the library's FAQ on another computer I found a login page link,
but it had been inactivated. I also noted that none of the library's
WiFi brochure info indicated that a login page was necessary before
surfing.

Thanks again to all for responding. I really appreciate all the
problem-solving ideas.

 

[Kenneth]

I've been trying to connect my WinXP Pro SP2 laptop to one of the free
wireless public hotspots offered by the Chicago Public Library but
cannot get to the point where I can surf on the Internet. I get
connected with a strong signal and excellent to very good link quality
but all my pings (except to localhost) are unsuccessful. The library's
system is completely open and does not require passwords or WEP, just
an SSID (CPLWiFi). I've tried two different libraries and have been
Googling for a solution all week and have tried many recommendations,
but still, no success.

My Dlink 650 PCMCIA card connects and allows me to surf the Internet
just fine with my brother's wireless Actiontec router (he uses WinXP
Home SP2).

I updated my Dlink 650 driver software, no difference.

I disabled the WinXP firewall and completely turned off my regular
firewall (freeware Agnitum Outpost) before trying to connect. I also
turned off my antivirus and antispyware sentries.

I've tried turning on/off just about every network-related service,
but no relevant difference in results.

I tried connecting with Wireless Zero Config service, and with the
Dlink connection software (entering the SSID manually), no difference.
(For some reason the Dlink connection software won't change the
channel number after I set it to different values before rescanning.
It always selects channel 1.)

When I "ipconfig /all" I get a valid (non 169.x.x.x) IP address, MAC
address, and the DHCP and DNS servers give me expected values
(however, Node Type = "unknown,' I can't get it to = 'broadcast').

I tried setting the TCP/IP DNS properties manually, but it made no
difference.

Turned off autoconfiguration options and proxy settings in the
Internet Options->Connections setup (as recommended by the library's
wireless FAQ), no difference.

I reinstalled WinXP Pro with SP2, and used LSPfix and WinsockxpFix but
still can't ping successfully although I continue to get a strong
connection.

I ran antivirus and antispyware (Adaware, Spybot S&D, MS AntiSpyware)
scans on my system.

I haven't a clue what to try next. Any help will be gratefully
appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Howdy,

There are very few people who know less about this than I,
but...

Just yesterday, I had virtually the same problem on my
office net.

The solution was in modifying the D-Link (my PCMCIA wireless
card's) configuration with regard "Authentication Mode."

I don't have that system at hand right now, but IIRC, the
setting I needed was "Open" Authentication. (That is not to
suggest that your required setting will be the same, but as
I understand it, the system Authentication Mode and the
Wireless net's must match.)

Once I stumbled on that, all was golden...

Good luck with it,