Macbook Pro and Hotspots

[Nik_Endeavour]

I have recently noticed that my Macbook is not playing ball with connecting to hotspots (BT Openzone, The Cloud, the college I teach evenings) and is really annoying me now.

I have searched the web everywhere but still stuck. I basically fails to get an IP address from the DHCP server and I am not presented with the login page to put my username and password.

I have tried all suggested solutions on the web (using google's DNS) but I have had no joy. I have stumbled accross something to do with a security feaure recently included with the Montain Lion update that prevents any attempt to log in that has no certificate installed but this sounds really like going after a fly with a bazooka.

Anybody has had any issues and found a solution for it:

MacBook Pro (Intel)
Mountain Lion 10.8.2

 

[Sp!ke]

Have you tried different browsers?

 

[Nik_Endeavour]

Yup I use Chrome normally and neither Safari or Firefox work. Its not a browser issue though as from Network Preferences I see it gets an APIPA type address 169.254 (even though I though APIPA was a Microsoft invention)

 

[Gkinghorn]

Seen similar behaviour on my IMac when resuming from sleep mode. It fails to access anything even though nothing has changed. I found myself having to just get it to register on a different wifi hotspot ..which usually resolved it ....

It probably looks like its connected to a network , the signal strength icon will be showing as connected , but it isn't ..you should see it looking for wireless networks even thou in theory it is connected ...

You can try disabling the wifi and re enabling or you can try connecting to another network..even a lower strength one to see if my situation works for you in yours. .. Other option is take it to the Apple boys and have them look at it ..

You may also want to search the Mac forums for "network dropout " ..there are some useful things there.. I changed packet size and it helped for a while...

 

[bolide]

Use TCPDump to record the failed attempt to pick up an address and ask an expert to interpret it

Have you tested with a new user account? Does it pick up an IP via Ethernet?

Nick Froome

 

[brucemillar]

I have the exact same issue and spec as you. It is seriously irritating. My MacBook often cannot see my iPhone personal hotspot. Yet the iPhone shows it has a hotspot connection.

Rebooting sometimes works. I think it is an issue with 10.8.2.

 

[kamalpatel12448]

Search for mtu fixes for network settings. As an experiment set mtu manually to 1500 in network prefs and see if that make a difference.
Kamal