iPad won't connect to open public network

kah22

Can anyone help me here. I've a Apple iPad mini and today I was visiting a friend in hospital. The hospital had free wifi available. There was also a free BT hotspot, or whatever it is called. However when I attempted to excess these networks I got the following message 'unable to join network.'

When I checked the IP address and the DNS they were completely blank

I wouldn't have passed that much remarks on it except that when I checked my Galaxy S4 the hospital one logged in automatically. I might add that earlier on in the day I had no difficulty logging into open network in a nearby shopping mall with the iPad.

Any ideas why I couldn't log into the hospital network?

Strider590

A lot of places have "free wifi", but free is not really free...... They usually require you to fill out a login web page, with a whole host of personal details, before the connection allows full access.
The BT wifi for example, is for BT customers and requires the users BT internet password at the login web page.

I suspect your device is not bringing up the required webpage and as such you cannot connect.

forgotmyname

Local shopping centre offer free WIFI, but as above the terms are that you need to register giving them your phone number and home address.

I declined that one.

paddyrg

Strider is on it - if the device will connect at all, you need to open a browser and attempt to visit a non-secured (http, not HTTPS) webpage to 'force' connection to the proxy in between.

BBC news is not secured, so is a good option.