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Posted By: kevs Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/21/10 10:02 PM
I'm at NYC hotel. TheoOnly have ethernet in rooms. Does not work, tried two cables and I tried another room.
MUst be settings. I ran through automatic and some of the drop downs in network setting -- don't understand it.
They say it should all work perfectly and they have not a clue what to do.
any ideas? thanks!

(wifi working in lobby)
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/21/10 10:16 PM
First thing I'd try is plug the ethernet cable into your Mac again, launch SysPrefs > Network, and see if Ethernet reports that it is connected.

(I have no idea if this makes any difference, but have you tried turning airport off when you've got the ethernet cable plugged in?)
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/22/10 02:45 PM
Artie, yes airport if off, ethernet wont connect.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/22/10 02:48 PM
The first thing I would check is System Preferences > Network to be sure that ethernet is not only connected, is it enabled in the list of possible connections. If ethernet does not appear on the list of network connections, click on the plus (+) sign at the bottom of the connections list and add ethernet.
Posted By: Virtual1 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/22/10 08:50 PM
are you getting an ip address and router? tried plugging ingto another jack somewhere else like in another room? they may need to reboot their router. I ran into that recently, router would hand out ip addresses but not network any new machines attached. others that were working were fine. weird.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/22/10 09:37 PM
Joe,
not sure understood you, ethernet is clearly one of the choices I've made. I'ts listed in the left hand column.
Virtual, I've tried another room. They claim everyone else is doing ok, yet my Mac if fine, they are either idiots or there is some complex setting I need to know.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/22/10 10:23 PM
I am assuming you are using OS X 10.6. If you are using 10.4 or 10.5 the location of this information will be slightly different.
  1. Go to System Preferences > Network and select Ethernet in the left hand pane.
  2. At that point you should see a Status: If it is anything other than Connected it means your Mac is, for whatever reason, not seeing the ethernet. If it is connected then for Configure IPv4 should be set to Using DHCP.
  3. If all is connected at this point you should have an IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Router address.
If you have those let us know what those addresses are so we can determine if they are actually being received from the hotel's router or are defaults generated within your system.

One other thing to try is opening your browser and see if you get a logon screen from the hotel's network. Sometimes that can take what seems a long time to show up.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/23/10 12:58 PM
Joe, on 10.6
I get nothing for ethernet, zero -- with cable in room.
in Lobby get wifi fine.
Other people are doing fine in hotel with cable.
So I am a boat lost at sea until someone can tell me what setting to change.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/23/10 07:11 PM
Don't confuse the WiFi connection with ethernet. They are mechanically/electrically two entirely different things. If System Preferences > Network is not showing a connection, then you have a hardware problem that will not be solved with a setting in software. Some possibilities are:
  • A "hung" ethernet port. Depending on the model Mac you have you may be able to "reset" the port by
    1. disconnecting from ethernet and any other external USB or firewire devices,
    2. disconnecting the power adaptor,
    3. and removing the battery for severeal minutes to allow the capacitors in the various ports to discharge,
    4. replacing the battery,
    5. plugging in the power adaptor,
    6. plugging in the ethernet,
    7. starting up the Mac.
  • A bad ethernet cable. I know you have tried two cables but have you tried a known good cable that works on someone else's PC or Mac?
  • A bad ethernet port on your Mac. What kind of a Mac do you have? Does it require an ethernet adapter?
  • A bad ethernet adaptor. I have a MacBook Air and they require a USB to ethernet adaptor. I went through a couple before I got one that worked reliably.
  • The ethernet adaptor chip in you Mac is fried. If you have a laptop fixing that will require a new logic board (hope you have Applecare) or purchasing a USB to Ethernet adaptor.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/23/10 10:44 PM
JOe, thanks, new news:
A client came up to my hotel room with same exact laptop and connected to that ethernet cable fine.
The setting looked the same as what I have.
Note: I did not buy apple care, but my laptop is just couple years old and in perfect mint condition. Never even used the ethernet until now. What you think?
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/25/10 01:17 AM
Originally Posted By: kevs
What you think?
What I think is...
  1. You haven't tried resetting the ports as I suggested in my previous post
  2. Your firewire port may well be damaged
  3. I would at least have the Genius desk take a look at it and see what they think and/or offer in the way of repairs.
  4. Since you do not have Applecare a USB to ethernet adaptor is a LOT cheaper than a new logic board. Apple sells a decent one for $29.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/25/10 06:02 AM
Quote:
What I think is...
You haven't tried resetting the ports as I suggested in my previous post

Now why does that sound familiar? wink
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/25/10 12:38 PM
thanks Joe, cool.
I'll continue with this when I get home in two days.
Firewire bad? but this is the ethernet port.
Artie: resetting the ports, that went over my head a bit.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/25/10 05:10 PM
Hmm? I wrote firewire but I meant ethernet. My mistake. shocked
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/26/10 07:23 AM
Originally Posted By: kevs
Artie: resetting the ports, that went over my head a bit.

Naaah!

Having read every one of your FTM posts and many of your MFIF posts I'd be willing to bet that your tech savvy far surpasses that necessary for following these instructions:

Quote:
A "hung" ethernet port. Depending on the model Mac you have you may be able to "reset" the port by
  • disconnecting from ethernet and any other external USB or firewire devices,
  • disconnecting the power adaptor, and removing the battery for severeal minutes to allow the capacitors in the various ports to discharge,
  • replacing the battery,
  • plugging in the power adaptor,
  • plugging in the ethernet,
  • starting up the Mac.

And, under any circumstances, even if the instructions are beyond you, the polite thing to do would have been to respond thusly to joemike rather than to ignore his helpful advice in favor of an anecdote.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/26/10 10:17 AM
> Depending on the model Mac you have you may be able to "reset" the port by...

That just jelled in my head. Does it mean that the ports on some Macs are reset by a different procedure or that they cannot be reset, and will you please spell out the criteria that distinguish those Macs?

Thanks.
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/26/10 12:26 PM
Originally Posted By: artie505
>That just jelled in my head. Does it mean that the ports on some Macs are reset by a different procedure or that they cannot be reset, and will you please you spell out the criteria that distinguish those Macs?

The difference is whether or not the Mac in question has a backup battery. If there is one then it has to be removed as well. SInce I have no idea what Mac Keys has I have no way of knowing if there is a backup battery or not or how to go about removing it if there is one. Rather than confuse the issue for someone who is perhaps a bit less technically inclined, I chose the simplest solution in hopes that it might work.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/26/10 03:54 PM
Got it! Thanks.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/29/10 12:42 AM
Joe,
got home, just tried with fresh cable, cannot connect with Ethernet.
Only thing on your list I may try is to -- remove battery, how hard is that? I have no idea where it is.
I wish I had tested the port when I bought it, but had no need/ idea.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/29/10 12:52 AM
> Only thing on your list I may try is to -- remove battery, how hard is that? I have no idea where it is.

That is NOT!!!!!! a list of alternative procedures.

The 6 steps, done in order, are ONE!!! procedure.

Odds are you'll find an alias at the root of your HD... "User Guides And Information." Double-click on it and one of the items you'll see is "MacBook Pro Users Guide" (or some-such); in it you'll find instructions for removing your Mac's battery.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/29/10 09:44 PM
ART,
you think removing battery will do anything. I think it's a huge longshot.

Is this odd that the ethernet is not working? LIke I said, the unit is in mint condition. First time even tried the ethernet.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/29/10 10:20 PM
You just don't get it, kevs...

Removing the battery will do absolutely nothing as relates to your issue!

But, if you go through the entire procedure outlined by joemike, of which removing the battery is only part of one step, you may succeed in resetting your ethernet port and regaining its use.

But, you've got to go through joemike's entire procedure (Looking at it again, I see that he left out a step, between the first two, namely "Shut down your Mac."):
  • disconnecting from ethernet and any other external USB or firewire devices,
  • disconnecting the power adaptor, and removing the battery for severeal minutes to allow the capacitors in the various ports to discharge,
  • replacing the battery,
  • plugging in the power adaptor,
  • plugging in the ethernet,
  • starting up the Mac.
Get it now?

> Is this odd that the ethernet is not working? LIke I said, the unit is in mint condition. First time even tried the ethernet.

Nothing's odd with electronics as complicated as your MacBook Pro. By way of example, my first iBook was an "open-box" purchase that had had a bad modem straight out of the box. Had the original purchaser waited a year or two before using that modem se'd be asking the same question you just asked, and you're not even necessarily looking at a bad component.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/29/10 11:21 PM
Will do and report back Major/Captian ARt!
(I know you are tough -- it's worth the result hopefully!)
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 01:36 AM
Good luck, kevs! smile
Posted By: Rodney Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 06:38 PM
A co-worker had an issue like this. It was the switch that was being used, the MacBook couldn't autoset the proper settings for a connection. He needed to go into Ethernet Advanced and in the Ethernet settings tab change the configure from automatic to manual, then change the speed to one of the other settings (I don't recall which one) to make the port see the connection.

Good luck!
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 09:20 PM
Thanks for posting that; it's something to keep in mind.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 09:40 PM
thanks Rodney.
Yes, find that out!
That's what I was hoping someone could come up for me.

I'm testing Joes thing later today.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 11:07 PM
Ok, did the Joe method fully, no go. sad.
I think Rodney is onto something, some setting change.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 11:36 PM
Too bad resetting the ports didn't turn the trick.

I looked into Rodney's suggestion, but the settings are beyond me; you may have to try them one at a time to see if you can find one that works, because the one that worked for Rodney's co-worker is not necessarily the one that will work for you,

I hope you get lucky.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 06/30/10 11:52 PM
thanks, I experimented a bit at the hotel, but gave up quickly.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/01/10 04:24 AM
Originally Posted By: kevs
thanks, I experimented a bit at the hotel, but gave up quickly.


What about since you got home and discovered that your port doesn't work there either?
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/01/10 05:39 PM
Artie, I did the whole Joe thing. Out of ideas
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/01/10 09:11 PM
What about the suggestion to take your Mac to the Genius Desk at the nearest Apple Store? If it is an esoteric setting you overlooked or cannot find they can walk you through the setup. If you are under AppleCare and it is actually a hardware failure you could end up with a new logic board or even a new Mac depending on what they find. At the very least you would be at a convenient place to purchase a USB ethernet adaptor for the next time you travel to that hotel. (FWIW I generally prefer the hotel to use ethernet as it is invariably faster and more reliable than the average hotel WiFi network.)
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/01/10 11:50 PM
Originally Posted By: kevs
Artie, I did the whole Joe thing. Out of ideas

Have you tried playing with the SysPrefs settings since you got back and discovered that your ethernet port doesn't work in your studio, same as in the hotel?
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/02/10 01:20 AM
Joe, thanks.
Wifi has been 100% perfect at all hotels i"ve been too.
Genius bar: always torture line, never even tried.
But I live a few block from an Apple Store, so maybe I'll give it a shot.
It's out of warranty by a year or so though
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/02/10 01:29 AM
Before you go to the Apple store, go online and make an appointment with the Genius Bar. It will save you all kinds of time and aggravation. At my local Apple Store if you go in without a reservation they may not be able to see you for a day or two.

If you have an iPhone, download the Apple Store app (not the App Store app) and it will make getting a Genius Desk reservation a LOT easier than the web site. It finds the closest Apple Store using the GPS and routes you there.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/02/10 06:40 PM
Thanks Joe!
No iphone yet.
1) will the genius bar help if my laptop is out of warranty?
2) easiest way to make that appointment from website? from convoluted site, you'll save me 1/2 hour looking around.
Posted By: artie505 Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/02/10 10:53 PM
I had no trouble making a reservation on-line at Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/02/10 11:58 PM
Artie,
thanks, worked like a charm.
thanks Joe!
Man if this genius bar is this easy and you can go in with product that is not under Apple Care, I'll be very impressed. I'm only a 5 min walk from an Apple Store. And how many stores they have! This company is become a real behemouth.
(I got on board when the G4 was new)
Posted By: joemikeb Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/04/10 02:47 PM
Originally Posted By: kevs

No iphone yet.
1) will the genius bar help if my laptop is out of warranty?

I love my iPhone! cool

The Genius bar will help with any Mac that is still listed as "supported" (generally less than seven [7] years old). If it is in warranty or under Applecare the support and repairs are free. If it is out of warranty and NOT under Applecare the support is generally free, but the repairs are not free. IMHO Applecare is a good investment, especially for laptops, iPhones, and iPads. I also have those items covered for theft on my homeowners policy.
Posted By: kevs Re: Cannot connect with internet at hotel - 07/04/10 05:38 PM
thanks Joe, great tip!
Would not have thought of it.
Just went in and the genius solved issue under 60 seconds. It was an corrput network setting. That's kind of what I thought all along. I wish the hotel had an IT guy on site.
The genius bar just puts any other computer shop to shame.
I loved Apple care a while back, just for phone support alone. Now, it's just like any other extended warranty for me - not worth it, generally speaking.
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