Automatic WiFi hotspot detection and logon?

B

Bubbles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New member
Hi, I have a new Noka E61 (s60v3) and would like to do the following. If anyone can direct me to an appropriate faq, tutorial, thread, app download link or otherwise, I'd greatly appreciate it:

1. I'd like to be able to set my E61 so that it is always scanning in the background for available hotspots, and when it finds an open one, logs onto it automatically with no action or confirmation from me required, and maintains that as an open connection.

2. Also have it configured to use any such auto-detected connection as the default, so that any net applications I open subsequently will automatically just use that open connection by themselves, without my having to select an available connection/access point manually.

So that basically, if I just stroll into a Starbucks I've never been to before, that happens to have an open hotspot, I can just instantly fire up any web browser and start surfing, with zero need for manual configuration. Is such a thing possible, either through the default E61 software or a downloadable third party application? I have tried searching the HoFo forums and found some mention of similar programs, but for other phones than the E61.

Also, can I disable GPRS/EDGE in an easy way so that there is no chance I will accidentally make a data connection via that method and rack up charges? I'd ideally like to be able to do this in an easily reversible "toggle on/off" way that doesn't involve outright deleting access points.. just in case I'm ever in a situation where I suddenly want to turn it back "on".

I'd greatly appreciate any help on the above questions, thanks very much in advance to anyone who replies...
 
I dont think your going to pop into any starbucks and find a useable hotspot unless your signed up with t-mo. Sorry...kind of confused whether you have a tmo account or not....and secondly, I dont know of any app that allows you to scan, and connect unprompted! What you want to do would require a lot of juice from that battery. I'm not sure how fast you really need to connect though. My E61 and N80 would find and connect to an open hotspot 10 times faster than my Nok 770. I would pop into coffee shops and connect while waiting in line to order.
 
I was just using Starbucks as an example, not the main subject. There are plenty of open hotspots in Toronto (where I am) so I am just refering in general to that situation. I deally if I even just walked through such a hotspot while the phone was in my pocket, I'd want it to connect unbeknownst to me, without my having to do anything.

I found a thread about "WLAN Wizard" for s60v3... can anyone who uses that confirm whether it works this way? Or whether any other app exists that does?
 
The WLAN wizard is similar to what you want but it doesnt auto connect. As of now it's only available as an active scanner on the N80ie...afaik there isnt an unprompted auto connect app out there. But again, connecting to various hotspots without needing them would drain your battery to no end so would it really be worth it.
 
I don't particularly mind having to recharge the battery more frequently if I can get the funcationality that I want in exchange. I believe WLAN Wizard works on the E61 as well according to a few posts I read, hopefully as an active/constant scanner.

If I can't get a completely hands-off auto-connect ability, I guess the second best thing would be if it could at least alert me when it successfully detects an open hotspot, so I'd know to stop and try to connect. Do you know if it does this?
 
Okay I guess I have to take a small step backwards. Does anyone know of ANY app for the E61's s60v3 that will run in the background (or "active standby" as I think it's called) and scan constantly for WiFi hotspots, and alert me when it detects one? Either a third party app or a way to make the default connection manager do that?

So far the ones I've seen (Default Connection Manager, Nokia Hotspot Finder, WLAN Wizard) only seem to work when you run them as the active program. When you revert to the home screen they close and go away. Are there any exceptions to this rule?
 
No always-scanning wifi apps at all for s60 Symbian? Wow, surprising.. I'm still hoping someone knows of something remotely similar.

There has to be a way to enable a consant/background wifi scan if one doesn't mind the battery drain.. anyone... anyone... Bueller....?
 
Again, as of this moment the N80ie (and Angelwingos N95) are the only phones that support this feature on the Active Standby. It's been reported in the past that with FW updates all wifi enabled v3's will be able to take advantage of this feature. As for auto connect, your SOL IMO. Just be patient on the other. I must say that when I had an N80ie scanning it would connect to an open network very very quickly. One click and 4-5 seconds and volia...your surfing or doing whatever it is that you do!

EDIT: I'm not sure if the N93i has this active standby feature as well but that does not help your E61 cause either way.
 
The Psiloc Hotspot Finder and WLAN Wizard will both continue running in the background when you switch back to menu or home standby screen. So what is the difference between that and "running in active standby" ?

Hotspot Finder will scan constantly and play an alarm when it successfully detects a hotspot.. WLAN Wizard will scan but does not seem to have any alerting capability.

My next question is... how do I set certain applications (like these ones) to always run automatically whenever I turn on the phone?
 
I found a program that will essentially do what I described:

http://www.smartroaming.com

It is a pay app/service though (30 days free), but does specify being able to seamlessly detect and log onto public wifi hotspots as well as known networks, all in the background without user action, and can move between wifi and gprs/data as well. My tests have shown it to work as advertised.

It creates an access point on your device called "Smartroaming", which you then select as the default preferred access point for various apps. From there it's all automatic.

After the free trial it costs 30 Euro for one year's service, which isn't too bad I suppose. Free would be better though.
 
Yeah, ideally Nokia or some freeware developer will cotton onto the idea and develop something similar. I think it would work fine as a small standalone app.
 
Back
Top