How to work-around hotel "log-in" page

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 16

My Hilton hotel supplies ethernet internet in the rooms, for free.

The front desk supplies a daily access code. When I bring up internet explorer, I must "log-in" each time with the access code. I can leave Internet explorer up all day, with no problems. Once I close the browser and re-launch it, I must re-log-in again.

I have been unable to get my Voip to work in the room yet. This is likely due to the "log-in" page that exists.

If anyone knows how to solve this issue please let me know.

Posts: 1715 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:07 am Post subject:

hmm.. just closing IE forces you to re-login? If so, you might not have any success. Which Vonage adapter are you using? Some have had good luck by connecting their Vonage adapter to the hotel's internet connection, then connecting their PC to their Vonage adapter and authenticating through the adapter... once it's authenticated, it tends to work. BUT, if it's cookie based and only good for a single browser session, they might be doing it totally differently.

This thread has a few examples of what other people have tried:
http://www.vonage-forum.com/ftopic6704.html

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:40 am Post subject:

One person on the forum was able to contact the IT company that administered the hotel's network and have them disable authentication.

I would try to do that.

Posts: 192 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 7:59 am Post subject:

Contacting the hotel IT staff is one option, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Hotels make good money by overcharging for phone calls. Why would they help you bypass that? There are even reports of some hotels using cell-phone blocking equipment to force you to use the phone in the room. Sad

Posts: 1424 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:47 am Post subject:

The IT departments for in room Internet are typically outsourced to third parties who have no connection to the phone systems. Their motivation would be to assist the user because that increases the use of and demand for their services.

Posts: 605 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:59 am Post subject:

I wonder if they had an IT department at the hotel I was at the other day. I just seen hookers and crackheads everywhere. Wonder if one of them were the IT person. Phone was free though, if you receive a phone call the iraqi that ran the place brought a cordless to you.

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 12:48 pm Post subject:

Most likely not then.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Sep 21, 2005 Posts: 1

Most hotels use the MAC address for authentication. When you log in using your laptops browser it remembers your laptops MAC and will not ask to log in during the same billing cycle. There are two ways of getting Voip to work:

- log in in with your laptop and then configuring your Voip adapter to have the same MAC address
- changing temporarily your laptop to the Voip MAC (simple task, google it) when logging in
- connecting the Voip to the ethernet and connecting your laptop to the Voip adapter (use of NAT). The network will see your laptop and Voip MAC as the same

The last solution should be the easiest as it lets you use both devices at the same time.

BTW the same works for Xbox live or any other network device you want to use in the hotel........ Wink