mhbell Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 First time I have had wireless problems with Linux Mint. We are at a rv park with free WiFi and I cannot connect with Linux I can see the network and connect but cannot get the website to be able to login so I can pick up my email. Using Windows 8.1 (My laptop is Dual Boot). I have no problem Logging in to the RV Parks Net work and picking up my mail. I login using Internet Explorer in Windows 8.1. Firefox and Chrome in Linux will not connect to this unsecured network using Linux. But they work fine in Windows 8.1 I have not figured out what the problem is. The signal is strong 5 bars most of the time. In linux they try to connect to the web page to login, but time out after awhile. Any suggestions. Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimg Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 First thing I would try is to compare the network settings (ip address, netmask, gateway, dns) between the windows session and the mint session. Typically, a router hands out an IP address based on the mac address and is the same whether you are logged in from windows or linux. Assuming that checks out, see if you can ping something on the internet. Pinging google.com should show you that dns is working and that you are connected. The times that I've had trouble logging into public wifi I found that my adblock or popup blocker was preventing me from seeing the login page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I think the problem is that the log in page is set to require Windows or Mac OS only. You need to use the old browser user agent switcher trick. I have not done this in years, maybe someone else here with recent experience. As I recall, there is a browser plugin for Firefox and Chrome called a user-agent switcher that you install and then you can configure it to tell the web server that you are running Firefox on Windows OS and that solves the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LilBambi Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 I had a similar problem with the new setup at Starbucks in Williamsburg, VA. Really annoying. It used to work fine with Linux, Mac or Windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Here is the issue in More detail. To log into the WiFi Network at the RV park I first have to connect to the network. This will not allow me to access the Internet even when connected. There is a login page that is supposed to come up when I click on the browser. on this page is a place that I have to put a check mark in a box agreeing to the terms of the network and then press connect once connected I can then access the network. I can connect using windows but not linux. With windows I get a strong sugnal and can connect everytime. I have never been able to connect with linux. I was able to get the wireless network but could not get the web page to login. It would time out before I could get the web page to connect. With linux the signal is weaker 3 to 5 bars. with windows it is a steady 5 bars. and several other wireless networks in the area. with linux only 2 networks. Firefox and Chrome both work fine in Windows. I believe the problem to be linux Mint connecting to a unseured network. Using another Linux, Ubuntu I can connect in the first stage but will time out befor getting the web page to login to the internet. Hope I have explained this so everyone can understand. Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Sure sounds like a case for user-agent switcher to me. Not sure about the signal strength part, but the lack of the login page is typical of Windows only supported. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Not sure about the signal strength part, but the lack of the login page is typical of Windows only supported. Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarryB Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Sometimes whe I'm on travel I hit hotels that have a similar setup. Omce in while I can get to the login page if I open a browser (usually firefox) and refresh the page, or sometimes I have to open another tab...other times..It just doesnt matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 (edited) I had this problem in a hotel a few months ago - and this was with Windows 7. Ended up phoning the tech support line for the hotel's ISP and after I gave them my MAC address for the laptop they set it up for a few days and I didn't have to login via the browser again. Oh yeah and sometimes clearing the browser cache works wonders. Edited October 13, 2014 by raymac46 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 (edited) Well I will install the user agent add on when I get home where I have a cable connection. There has to be another problem because I can't even connect now with Linux Mint. no problem with Windows. I have cleared the cache on chrome and firefox, but if I can't even connect then whats the use something else is blocking linux from connecting to the network so I can logon. This is one of the sad facts of using Linux. I have come to the conclusion that Linux has not configured my Wireless card with the best of settings for maximun performance. Could be a safety factor, or something else. Linux says the signal is to weak to connect but windows connects flawlessly and has 5 bars most of the time. Even though it can't connect to the website it should still be able to connect with the network. I do not believe that frontier Mobile net blocks connection with linux. I will find out when I get home and can do research with my main linux computer. I had Frontier as my ISP when I lived here and never had a problem using linux, but it was not a wireless connection. We will be leaving the RV Park and heading home this morning. Problems like this when on the road are why it is a good Idea and another reason to dual boot. Mel Edited October 14, 2014 by mhbell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymac46 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Odd.. I have taken a Linux netbook all over the place, including on cruise ships. It's always worked. The only time I had problems was with Windows 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 Odd.. I have taken a Linux netbook all over the place, including on cruise ships. It's always worked. The only time I had problems was with Windows 7. Yes it is very odd. Like I said at the start of this post This is the first time I have had a problem with Wireless and Linux Mint. I have downloaded and installed the User agent but have not needed it here at home with my home network. I can connect wirelessly here with no problem. The thing that gets me is the fact that windows *.1 could connect with no problem. This is a new laptop 2 months old that I am using. I would think that Linux would at least connect and have the same signal strenth as windows, but that was not the case. Firefox and Chrome both worked in Windows with no problem. as far as the User agent goes it would not have done me any good if I could not connect to the Frontier Mobile network, Yet windows could. Mint kept showing signal to weak or not readable. Linux could only recognize 2 wireless networks. Windows could recognize 8 from the area around the rv park. Since the wireless is working fine here at home it has to be something blocking or configured wrong. I will check to see if I can pickup wireless networks in the neighborhood. still scratching my head. Odd is right.Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluttermagnet Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 (edited) I ran into this problem one time at a local hospital, back in winter 2011. Had to switch the (loaner) laptop over to windows to use their network. Absolutley refused to let Linux log on. I suspect it must have been using active x in some way? Anyway, my wifi experience is very, very limited- and this did not endear it to me, believe me! One day soon I may buy one of the many cheapie refurb type lappies that occasionally tempt me- notably at NewEgg. My preferred MO would be to run a live DVD session of Linux on any public wifi... Some danger from hacker lounge lizard types out there, I imagine... P.S. I do not, to the best of my knowledge, have a single instance of an operating wifi at either of my locations. It's Ethernet cables everywhere- and I even have a second cable internet modem running in Betty's basement. That's a little tricky so far as a political/provisioning Comcast relations sort of thing, but it's doable and way less onerous to me than having to deal with (choke!) wifi... Edited October 20, 2014 by Cluttermagnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Well if they wouldn't allow Linux, I would simply connect via my android phone and setup a hotspot to connect my linux machine to. There is always a work around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cluttermagnet Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Uh- yes- provided you have such a device. Clutter is a slow adopter. Sloooowwww. I consider it amazing I even carry a cell phone. Got my first only about 2 years ago. I never text with it. Just phone calls. A clunky old Motorola WX345, got it free from Consumer Cellular. Probably worth ten bucks at most. Fully 2/3 of an inch thick. Clunky. Makes for a rather lumpy pants pocket... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Uh- yes- provided you have such a device. Clutter is a slow adopter. Sloooowwww. I consider it amazing I even carry a cell phone. Got my first only about 2 years ago. I never text with it. Just phone calls. A clunky old Motorola WX345, got it free from Consumer Cellular. Probably worth ten bucks at most. Fully 2/3 of an inch thick. Clunky. Makes for a rather lumpy pants pocket... I have a consumer Cell Phone and only use it for voice no text and no smart phone. Screens are to small and my fingers are to big. Don't need one and don't want one. From the old school. LoL! I still have not figured out why my Wireless with Linux would not work, but would work with Windows. It is working fine here at home and It is picking up all access points and routers in the neighborhood. I still think it has something to do with the signal strenth and linux not being as able to pick it up with my wireless card. maybe something to do with the way linux configured the card.Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Can you post the output from lspci and lsusb. It sounds as if the adapter does not have the correct drivers or something similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Can you post the output from lspci and lsusb. It sounds as if the adapter does not have the correct drivers or something similar. That doesn't sound likely.OP says it works fine on WiFi at home, picking up all local APs. If the driver/config was incorrect it would not work at one location and totally fail at another location. The problem has to be the configuration of the AP at the RV park or interference from some other source. I still favor a misconfigured access point because if it was radio interference, the Windows wifi would also be affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Ah ok, I misunderstood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 That doesn't sound likely. OP says it works fine on WiFi at home, picking up all local APs. If the driver/config was incorrect it would not work at one location and totally fail at another location. The problem has to be the configuration of the AP at the RV park or interference from some other source. I still favor a misconfigured access point because if it was radio interference, the Windows wifi would also be affected. If it is a misconfigured AP how come windows can pick it up as well as several truck stop ap's in the vicenity and Linux can't. I tried Ubuntu while I was there and could connect to the ap but could not get the web page to login because I did not have the user client installed. Linux mint would not connect at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 If it is a misconfigured AP how come windows can pick it up as well as several truck stop ap's in the vicenity and Linux can't. I tried Ubuntu while I was there and could connect to the ap but could not get the web page to login because I did not have the user client installed. Linux mint would not connect at all. I guess this because you state that everything works perfectly in Linux Mint while at a different location. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 Here is the relavent part of lspci 01:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8188EE Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01) 02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8101E/RTL8102E PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 07) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 I guess this because you state that everything works perfectly in Linux Mint while at a different location. I still think it is linux mint, something not configured right because Ubuntu could connect to the net work and so could windows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 I still think it is linux mint, something not configured right because Ubuntu could connect to the net work and so could windows. Ah ok, I was under the assumption that wouldn't work because you had to login to the hotspot and it only accepted window's connections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Ah ok, I was under the assumption that wouldn't work because you had to login to the hotspot and it only accepted window's connections. A definite possibility.We have seen that many times. However, in this case it does not seem to be. If it was, the laptop's wireless would see the AP and be able to connect, but you would have no internet access because you could not get to the login screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 A definite possibility. We have seen that many times. However, in this case it does not seem to be. If it was, the laptop's wireless would see the AP and be able to connect, but you would have no internet access because you could not get to the login screen. That is very true because I did not have The user client installed on Ubuntu or Mint. However Ubuntu would connect to the network Hot spot but could not get the Screen to login because no User Client. Mint could not even connect to the network. The signal was 5 bars for windows and Ubuntu, but only 1 to 3 bars for mint and sometimes nothing. Perhaps there was something in the RV park that was interfearing with Mint and not Windows or Ubuntu. I felt that because it was a insecure network that Mint would not connect. I don't know it is beyond my expertiese. This is the first time I have run into this with Linux Mint.Mel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Linux MInt does not have any issues connecting to insecure networks as that is what my cousin uses so it is not that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
securitybreach Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Also, I just tested it via livecd and turned off my router's encryption. I had no problems connecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amenditman Posted October 20, 2014 Share Posted October 20, 2014 Perhaps there was something in the RV park that was interfearing with Mint and not Windows or Ubuntu. Probably not interference. If there was interference it would interfere with all the OSes on the laptop. They all use the same hardware to transmit/receive. If the interference bothered one, it should bother the other two. Unless it was intermittant and only, coincidentally, when you were trying Mint (unlikely). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhbell Posted October 20, 2014 Author Share Posted October 20, 2014 That is the only place I have ever had a problem with Linux Mint and wireless and we have traveled all over in our RV's and stayed at a lot of Camp Grounds and RV parks. Oh well Hopefully it won't happen again. Mel 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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