Blackberry question...

cashflyer · 10-12-2009, 09:53 AM

With much reluctance, I finally resigned my plain old cell phone and had to get a blackberry on the AT&T network.

I am having a wifi issue, and it is likely that the issue is just because the device is new to me. Hopefully some of you blackberry users here can help out.

Once I enabled the wifi function, the berry instantly detected the wifi here at work. I set it up, named it, etc. I can now turn off the cellular function, and still email, browse, etc.

At home, it detects the wifi. I set it up, named it, etc. However if I turn off the cellular function, it will not use my wifi.

Same at the airport.

There is one thing I noted, that may be the problem: The wifi at work is on AT&T internet. The other two are not.

Does AT&T have the device set to ONLY use their wifi?

If so, Will unlocking the phone solve this?

And since somebody will ask, the reason wifi is important to me is because I travel overseas from time to time. I want to be able to access email without roaming charges.

And if Skype would make a blackberry version, I could even make calls over the wifi. (Maybe I should exchange it for an iPhone.)

Vipergrün · 10-12-2009, 10:44 AM

Are the wifi networks you are joining requiring security? Either WEP, WPA, mac authentication, etc?

Hugh R · 10-12-2009, 11:18 AM

I guess I don't know what you're talking about on the WiFi, I just get email over the network and browse by clicking the browser. I don't log into a WIFI here or at work. I have a Verizon BB so it may be different, but click on "manage connections" and see if its turned on to "global". Also, when traveling and roaming, turn off the data services when roaming is a button you should click. Otherwise big $ in roaming fees. Just turn it on once or twice a day for a minute and collect email. I find sometimes I have to take my battery out when traveling and reinsert for it to work properly. getting an IPhone in a month when my verizon contract expires.

cashflyer · 10-12-2009, 12:34 PM

brad... I have already tried turning off the security on my home router. Still no connect. That's why I wondered if it was an AT&T thing.

At the airport, they have browser based authentication. Basically, just agreeing to their TOS prior to using their network.

After work I am going to try some ideas that I found on the crackberry forums.

onewhippedpuppy · 10-12-2009, 01:30 PM

Shouldn't matter. My Bold works fine on my home network, airports, hotels, etc. Did you go through the setup for each new network? Why are you shutting off your cellular signal? Your BB should automatically switch to WiFi when its available.

cashflyer · 10-13-2009, 07:00 AM

I did go through the setup for each new network. The phone would show the network SSID but instead of a green checkmark, I just had the white dash.

I used some advice I found on the crackberry forum and it seems to be working fine now. Green checkmarks for all.

I was shutting off the cellular signal to be sure that it would work properly on wifi-only. When I go out of the country, I will turn off my cell portion and run UMA / wifi only so that I don't return to a bill that I can't pay.