Help WiFi and Phone bars inextricably linked??

[musick]

Heres my problem:

I recently moved to a new building for work where I get zero bars when inside. Previous place of employment I got at least three.

So I turn on wifi and have an excellent signal rating. Streaming apps dont work (Pandora, specifically) and I cant connect to Market. No emails come in either. No browser. I walk outside and get 3 bars and everything works as it should. emails come in after 10 sec. or so. Back inside, no Pandora.

I walk to my old building, go inside and can stream Pandora. Emails and messages arrive just fine.

The only difference is 0 bars compared to 3. I though when connected via wifi I was online.

Only conclusion I can make is if you have no phone service the phone overrides 3G and wifi in a desperate search for a signal (???)

This is consistent for the past 3 weeks. The new building must have something to do with it. Can I stop my Optimus from seeking a phone connecting so I can simply enjoy some streaming music while I work?

Na Zdrowie!

 

[musick]

Side Note:

Not sure it matters but...

Everyone else in the lab has an iphone and there are 2 AT&T "signal boosters" (not sure of the proper name) and Pandora/email/phone works fine for them.

 

[MacFett]

If you are connected to wifi it doesn't matter what your cell signal is (except for SMS and calls). If you are connected to wifi and unable to stream or get email, the wifi may not be receiving internet, or just isn't configured correctly.

 

[benslgdroid]

When connected to wifi open you're browser it may redirect you to a page where you have to agree to terms before it allows you to connect to internet. Once you've done it it will run you're apps til you disconnect. Next time you connect you will have to do the same thing if that'sthe issue.

 

[musick]

If you are connected to wifi it doesn't matter what your cell signal is (except for SMS and calls). If you are connected to wifi and unable to stream or get email, the wifi may not be receiving internet, or just isn't configured correctly.

No, Wifi is correctly configured as it is usable when outside the lab.

 

[musick]

When connected to wifi open you're browser it may redirect you to a page where you have to agree to terms before it allows you to connect to internet. Once you've done it it will run you're apps til you disconnect. Next time you connect you will have to do the same thing if that'sthe issue.

Tried that today but it is not the case.

Wifi works fine outside, but not inside my lab.

Odd fact: I went to my old building today and went deep into the growth chambers to get 0 bars ('X' on the icon), turned on wifi and tried to connect to the net. No problems, Pandora worked as well.

Seems like the new building has something to do with the problem.

Any other suggestions?

 

[benslgdroid]

Go into your settings turn data roaming on you may be able to use those Att boosters over 3g. Also if your in a science facility the walls may have lead in them preventing a signal which would be the reason for the Att signal boosters. Sprint also can set those up which is what virgin uses.

 

[agianne]

Go into your settings turn data roaming on you may be able to use those Att boosters over 3g

That could be helpful for some wireless customers but that will not improve this situation. Virgin Mobile does not offer roaming. If VM did offer roaming VM customers would not benefit from AT&T boosters because AT&T is a GSM carrier, not a CDMA carrier.

 

[agianne]

No, Wifi is correctly configured as it is usable when outside the lab.

Sorry to hear you're having problems, that kind of stuff is annoying.

Some things to consider:

The WiFi network (or network node) you are connecting to when outside the lab may not be the same WiFi network or network node that your phone is trying to connect to inside the lab. Checking the network name is easy using your phone via the connect to WiFi set up screens. I do not know of a way to check which node you are connecting to in a multi antenna, campus wide WiFi system using your phone. The fact that you can connect outside simply indicates that your phone is correctly configured to connect to the WiFi network, in general, and suggests that there is an issue with the network equipment in the lab specifically rather than a problem with your phone or your phone's configuration.

The WiFi node in the lab may be configured to only accept traffic from known MAC addresses or have some other access security scheme or traffic management settings that are blocking your device. If the node is administered by someone in the lab, ask them if there is something that needs to be changed by you or by the admin so you can access the network.

If all your data access nodes are centrally managed (if your company has an IT helpdesk or whatever they probably are), call in a trouble ticket. Don't give them a big song and dance about old building vs. new building, just report that you can't access the WiFi network in lab X in building Y. That node could be screwed up/broken/one week outside of a managed care contract (which is when everything is designed/programmed to "break").

Can anyone else in the lab get on the public Internet via WiFi using their phone? (particularly non-AT&T, non-iPhone users?) Can the AT&T users even get on the public Internet via WiFi?

Even if you can connect to the WiFi node, that node could be running through a proxy server or some other type of content management system that is configured to block certain things, for whatever reason. (Pandora is a classic example of things admins like to block because it's not necessary for running the business and burns up the bandwidth.) Maybe there's a reason for this? Again, find out who the admin is for the WiFi network and ask what's up.

One last thought - Can you connect to any internal company websites (ones inside the firewall that can't be accessed from outside the company)? If you can, then that would suggest that the node works just fine, but is configured to block access to the pubic Internet or is connected to a device that does the blocking. Report that finding when you open your trouble ticket. ("I can't access the internal company network or the public Internet via WiFi from Lab X in Building Y.")

Good luck.