FOAK: WiFi Hotspots

Has anyone tried getting Vodafone or Orange working over WiFi's like McD's
or similar, or could share same problems?

I get close with Voda but even with proxy off, the authentication bit leads
to a page not found. I have tried checking my dns etc, its autodetected and
specific to the WAN provisioned settings.
I tried going direct to sites like vodafone.co.uk or btopenzone.co.uk as
well but with no dns....waste of time.
This is 2nd try of a McD the first was even less successful, at least this
goes through the stages of offering the hotspot, and then authentication via
the web.

http://www.btopenzone.com/using/how_to_log_in.jsp

It could be because the company standard laptops are completely custom
deployed, fucking up all manor of things beyond repair by standard including
proxy, activex, etc.
I wonder if its a case of having to go into the "restaurant" as opposed to
grabbing the connection from the carpark ?

I've subscribed vodafone wlan and even got an orange access details waiting,
but no joy - perhaps next is bt itself but I guess the impression is that
the browser is mean to throw and access page.

 

This baffles me completely. WiFi = 8011b,g or whatever. The only use for
Orange or Vodaphone would be to receive the login codes, if you chose to pay
for them by using your mobile account.
Am I misunderstanding what you are attempting to do?

 

Possibly. Do you understand I meant roaming WiFi access?

 

That's what I /thought/ you meant, but I do not understand the reference to
Orange & Voda. they are irrelevant to the process.

 

Erm, I think you're mis-understanding WiFi access.

It has nothing to do with Orange or Vodafone, and quite a lot to do with
British Telecom.

 

Yeah essentially that is the case. Its like buying a cheap flight hotel or
flight from whoever.com, its not like you really care whose involved though
as the point of contact for the customer is whoever.com, savvy?

I appreciate that BT openzone etc supply most of the hotspots, however it's
not always transparent on the standard schpeel. For instance, none of the
guides say "look at the BT openzone guides because we don't give a shit and
don't even pretend you will get it working". They have some simple guidance,
suggesting very easy ability to get online but none of them seem to work
where I have tried it.

Its not covered in the IT managers guide either.
Having said that my experience is that with Vodafone it seems to at least
get 95% along the way but just fails to show the authentication browser
screen. Orange doesn't even seem to try with its s/w whereas at least I
navigate through several positive steps with VCM.
I do tend to believe it may be best to cut out the middle man and purely
evaluate the BT side, but it defeats the point slightly and is a mark
against the evaluation of both although 3G seems capable enough on both.

I also prefer the fact Vodafone takes the direction of internal h/w
supporting the WiFi, whereas its bundled in the card with Orange which may
expand compatibility, but doesn't overlap well for the specific requirements
I am seeing which is that we want it supported internally not on a card.