French Hotels Wifi Problems

wavering

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This is a cautionary tale that may help somebody

I have just bought a new laptop with win 8.1 and Outlook 2013 installed.

We set off from London on a grand continental tour and in Paris I logged onto the hotel internet and for a few minutes Outlook worked OK then it refused to send any emails and costantly demanded my name and password. Also my browser was reluctant to let me access Google - all of which suggested malware and possibly some sort of DNS problem. So, I gave up

In our next hotel in Vichy, 270 miles away, I logged on and exactly the same problem. So, I did a system restore to an earlier date that I knew was OK but the same thing happened - constant demands for name and password.

My girlfriend also had problems with her PC. So, this, allied with a host of other problems (not computer related) meant that we gave up and returned to London

In London, on my own wifi setup everything worked perfectly.

So, it would appear that we were either extremely unlucky or most hotels in France are a serious hazard.

So, be warned!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Oh those French people! :p

Wish I could make the trip and check it out for myself.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
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    Acer V3 771G-6443
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    i5-3230m
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    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Oh those French people! :p

Wish I could make the trip and check it out for myself.

Wish you good luck, :D :thumbup:
:)
I too wish to have a trip there, though not with laptop - but would definitely would love to test their WiFi with my Lumia or Moto :p
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
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    KIS 2014
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    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller
Hi there

It's NOT the French (and I've had problems with this before) -- If you have say a home IP (email say doggy@virgin.com or doggy@virgin.co.uk or similar types of ISP supplied email addresses) you usually won't be able to SEND email from email clients like outlook when away from your home ISP and not logged on via your router / cable box but will have to use a WEBMAIL service or subscribe to something like AUTHSMTP. Receiving email is no problem BTW.

It depends on the arrangements with the service provider whether they will allow other logons on to their email servers for SENDING mail when you are logged on not at home on your own router.

France has IMO a far better and faster Wifi service than the UK and it also doesn't block nearly as many sites either - UK is worlds nr 1 - even overtaking CHINA for the number of websites it blocks - although of course relatively easy to bypass.

People must realise that a lot of email servers take precautions against SPAM and bulk email sending / relaying / forwarding which is why things like OUTLOOK only work from your HOME ISP for mail sending except in a few cases where the new service provider has an arrangement with your home ISP.

It's horrible I know but webmail will always work for SENDING email - and you could always try and use a UK Proxy to gain access to other services like SKY GO.

I wouldn't (this time) blame the French. !!!

I found taking out a monthly pass to something like ORANGE WIFI in France actually worked OK - Orange I believe does have an arrangement so you can use things like OUTLOOK. Normal hotel WIFI won't have.

(Orange might have been taken over by now but the new company will work just the same - I'm usually working in Belgium (PROXIMUS / BELGACOM works OK too) rather than France these days).

Am I actually DEFENDING the French here !!! must be a rare occurrence - but seriously it's not the fault of FRANCE but your own ISP.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
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    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
@jimbo

Didn't know that , that's quite informational :thumbup:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
    Antivirus
    KIS 2014
    Other Info
    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
$32 annually with 100MB limit is pretty decent pricing , it'll be useful to the travelers a lot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Update x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 15
    CPU
    Haswell Core i5 4200U
    Memory
    8GB Dual-Channel DDR3L @1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD 4400 Integrated; 2GB Dedicated NVIDIA GT 740M
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 840 EVO Internal SSD ;
    2TB WD MyPassport Ultra EHDD ;
    1TB TOSHIBA HDD
    Cooling
    Deepcool X6
    Mouse
    Logitech B175 Wireless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    10 Mbps
    Browser
    Opera v25.0
    Antivirus
    KIS 2014
    Other Info
    Microsoft Wired Xbox 360 Controller
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