I thought maybe we could put together a list of common public hotspots (other than TMobile hotspots) that work/don't work for the 8320. If anyone has suggestions for those that don't work feel free to post that too.


Works:
Staples: Works after network scan and use wifi browser to go to authentication page. (UMA)

Hampton Inn: Works after network scan and browse to authentication page and enter code from front desk. (UMA)

Not working
Best Buy: No joy. Finds network successfully and assigns IP but unable to find authentication page with browser.

Hilton Garden Inn (GuestTek and ZeroWire): No joy. Finds network successfully and assigns IP but unable to browse to authentication page. I called the help 800 number and they added me manually to the server but still no go. They said they don't support mobile devices but did try their best.

Borders bookstore worked today for me. I was actually next door to a borders and got service ... then I went into the Borders and it just got better.

... upgrading to .175 now!

According to T-Mobile HotSpot@Home Customer Care, all T-Mobile HotSpot locations should be UMA capable.

All 8400+ TMO HotSpot locations in the US are listed here:

T-Mobile HotSpot Locations

Including some:

Airports
Borders
Hyatts
FedEx Kinkos
Novotel Hotels
Red Roof Inns
Sofitel Hotels
Starbucks
T-Mobile Retail Stores
Universities
Other Hotels

This is not about TMobile Hotspots. It's about other common public wifi areas. If you don't like the topic go post somewhere else.

I agree. This is actually an useful post. There are lots of open wi-fi spots out there and if there's anything special that needs to be done to get it working it would help if its listed here

How about copying this list with every reply .. else we would have to keep scrolling to find one particular one.

Just a thought.

Works:
Staples: Works after network scan and use wifi browser to go to authentication page. (UMA)

Hampton Inn: Works after network scan and browse to authentication page and enter code from front desk. (UMA)

Airports
DFW (TMO hotspot)
SFO (TMO hotspot)

Panera Bread
Borders
Hyatts
FedEx Kinkos
Novotel Hotels
Red Roof Inns
Sofitel Hotels
Starbucks
T-Mobile Retail Stores
Universities
Other Hotels



Not working
Best Buy: No joy. Finds network successfully and assigns IP but unable to find authentication page with browser.

Hilton Garden Inn (GuestTek and ZeroWire): No joy. Finds network successfully and assigns IP but unable to browse to authentication page. I called the help 800 number and they added me manually to the server but still no go. They said they don't support mobile devices but did try their best.

There's no need to list out the TMo Hotspots. We all know those work. .

I added the list and the link because lots of folks don't know where TMO HotSpots are... Most people think they are only at Starbucks. hdawg apparently didn't know that Borders has TMO HotSpots.

Many airports have coverage. DFW & LAX (and many others) have nearly 100% coverage of passenger areas.

Yeah, the list is good, but posting which individual ones work in the list is pointless since they all are known to work.

Tampa International Airport works Great... I was very Pissed to find out that the Denver Airport and everywhere I went in denver had the stupid AT&T Internet Login stuff.....so No luck in Denver for me with UMA or Wifi (for Free that is)

Phoenix Skyharbor Airport worked for me. Free public wifi.

Works after network scan and use wifi browser to go to authentication page. (UMA)

A coworker uses the free wifi at Caribou Coffee (on an 8320), only catch there is some Caribou are moving to the timed model. You need to make a purchase after each hour to have access.

Thats smart of them...sucks for us...but very smart business wise!

How does that work? Do you get a token on the reciept that needs to be entered in an authentication screen???

Thats exactly how it works, then you have another hour of wifi.

I was at the Residence Inn in downtown Toronto this weekend (I hate to see my Roger's roaming bill...I'm on TMO USA normally). Anyhow, I was able to connect to their wifi and surf, but no UMA. UMA works fine on my home wifi. So is that another aspect we should track here? That is, wifi connect versus wifi connect+UMA working? Not sure what would cause UMA to work or not work on a public hotspot. Does it need to have ports open or something?

Yes .. it needs to have IPSec enabled through the firewalls used.

Any King County Public Library (Seattle area) : kcls.org wireless

works like a charm!

I know this will probably get me yelled @ by the moderators since this is not an actual Hotspot....but figured I would post anyways...
For those using the UMA/Wifi capabilities.... you can go in an Add SSID's even if you havent run into them....I reccommend adding "linksys , NETGEAR, belkin54g, & public" because I run into these SSID's all the time...most people who dont know how to change their SSID's also dont know how to set-up a WEP key, so they are almost always Open wifi's.
Just an idea.

That was posted before; my only issue with it is that I want to be under control of what AP/network the WiFi attaches to. I get some bleed over from my neighbor's "Linksys" AP (dummy) but I don't want to grab it.

Just my .02...

Once of these saved me when I was in Tampa visiting the in-laws and all they had was dialup (and I couldn't get more than simple 1X on VZW). Pulled from across the street; it was magical. granted that was for my laptop ... but same premise.

I do believe it you set the priority for the SSID's they will try to connect in that order, so it will connect to your house before it will connect to your neighbors AP's.
I put those that I listed at the bottom...I am in the same boat as you...I want it to connect to my SSID first because mine is optimized for UMA...compared to thier general open wifi.

How do I ADD these SSID's to my phone? I still have not figured out how to set up UMA/WIFI on my devise yet.

I was successful with a UMA connection at our local Apple retail store (SSID: APPLE STORE). Locations at:
Apple Retail Store

Netstumbler has aggregated quite a bit of data on hotspots: HotSpots | NetStumbler.com

Just put in your zip, and it will list out any hotspots, and who the provider is (i.e. free, T-mobile, Boingo, SBC, etc)

You can also hit another button to only return free hotspots.

There is also a free offline app, SpotShadow, linked on their site, with which you can look up hotspots on your laptop/desktop.

HotspotList also has a good list/lookup function, allowing you to search for specific providers.

I created a plugin (wifi) for Beyond411 for easier lookup on BBs.

Denver Public Library works well.

Thanks for the clever suggestion here. Does this approach introduce the potential for connectivity issues that would not otherwise be an issue?

More specifically, since the phone is my wife's, if I add these common default SSIDs, is there a chance she'll be somewhere and the 8320 will try to connect to one of thes SSIDs, but a router configuration setting will not let her connect/make calls? If I have the issue, I'd be savvy enough to pick an alternate connection, but she's not inclined to deal with an issue like this.

Yes, that's very possible. These can be open networks but have mac address filtering enabled. There are other settings that could be entered (or not entered) and prevent wifi/uma from connecting. However, adding these common networks will work most of the time but if one of them requires a password/key and you enter it then you won't connect to any of the open ones later. I usually delete the networks I don't use most of the time.

Thanks John Clark. A very clever approach/suggestion none the less.

Indeed.

I've had luck in ABQ Sunport and PHX Sky Harbor. If I remember right, ABQ had no auth page even. PHX required accepting the agreement.

Buffalo Wild Wings in Gilbert AZ -- and almost everywhere across the country I've been told -- seems to have a free, open connection. I tried to connect and their site did show as open -- even in their parking lot -- and I got three bars of signal strength on my 8320. But I got stuck on an authorization failed message. Maybe it's just my being a new 8320 user? Did I need to request some sort of pass or code, or change settings on my phone? I have been able to seamlessly connect to the Internet via my Netgear router at home and naively assumed it would be equally easy via BWW's free, open wi-fi router.

all Harrah's hotels and casinos on the Las Vegas strip via LodgeNet. you just have to open your browser once you connect to accept their T&C for BIS to connect. just dont expect it to work on the casino floor. all are gratis. McCarran Airport also has free wifi.

Harrah's LodgeNet Las Vegas
- Rio
- Harrahs
- Caesar's Palace
- Imperial Palace
- Paris
- Flamingo
- Bally's

McCarran Int'l Airport, Las Vegas/Paradise (LAS)
- McCarran Free Public Wi-Fi


I'll list more as i wander around occasionally downtown... gonna stop by the fashion show mall for a few things for the gf, so i'll probably test it there. i DO know that NONE of the Station casinos have free wifi... (Green Valley Ranch, Fiesta Henderson, Texas, Palace, Santa Fe, Aliante, and Red Rock). they all charge $10/day for access.

Office Depot - All locations nationwide
- SSID (hidden): odwifi

Try this (works for me) manually put in an entry (case sensitive)
SSID: (hidden) BestBuy
No encryption

In Myrtle Beach SC just about all the restraunts and bars have wifi, just got to scan, all the hotels, etc. not many places that don't have. My gym has wifi, just needed to get password, which worked out great because you cannot get a signal on phone in there. so the wifi/uma worked great. the manager asked how I was able to get a signal in there, had to explain it. : )