BlackBerry

[Ruddiger]

This problem started today at around 8 am today.

I have BIS and if I am on the mobile network itself (2G & 3G) then messages pour through as normal.

If I turn the mobile network off I have cannot access any BIS services:

• I have an Error connecting to Blackberry Infrastructure
• the wifi logo on the home screen is grey and not highlighted white
• the name of the network displays on the homescreen as normal
• in the manage connections screen, it gives me the name of the network and shows the name in green. Then the place where a green tick should be on the right, there is a white hyphen (-)
• Browsing internet works fine (Browser is (and always has been) in 'Internet Browser' rather then 'Hotspot Browser' mode)
• BBM and emails do not work

I have been using my BB for BIS on wireless without any trouble for months. This has started today and nothing at my end has changed. I am on firmware 5.0.0.862 and have been for a while without trouble.

I have posted my Wi-Fi Diagnostics Report. Blackberry Infrastructure jumps between 'Error' and 'Connecting' but never connects.

Wi-Fi
Current Profile: RuddigerNet
SSID: RuddigerNet
AP MAC Address: 00:25:9C:E97:85
Security Type: Pre-Shared Key (PSK)
Local IP Address: 192.168.1.100
Signal Level: -57 dBm
Connection Data Rate: 54 Mbps
Status: Network acquired

VPN
Current Profile:
Concentrator Address:
Contact: N/A
Authentication: N/A
Secure Device IP:
Status: VPN profile is not found.

BlackBerry Infrastructure
Connecting: Error
Authenticating router: N/A
Authenticating server: N/A

There are plenty of posts about this on other forums - predominantly about Vodafone Spain. No one seemed to have an answer then. Perhaps Vodafone UK can do better?

http://supportforums...ifi/td-p/521103

http://supportforums...Wifi/m-p/523316

http://supportforums...work/m-p/614815

[darkone338]

just want to check, when you say "turn the mobile network off" do you actually turn the whole GSM service off so youre unable to receive calls and texts too, or are you going into the mobile network options and turning "Data Services" off ?

[Ruddiger]

just want to check, when you say "turn the mobile network off" do you actually turn the whole GSM service off so youre unable to receive calls and texts too, or are you going into the mobile network options and turning "Data Services" off ?

I have turned off the whole GSM service and cannot recieve voice calls or texts.

My data services are on.

[Martin]

Hi Ruddiger

I have just double checked this information, just to make sure I was correct.

What you need to do is to turn of the data connection only, you will still then be able to connect via WiFi

By turning off all connections, this will stop all connections to the phone.

If you can try the above, I am sure you will see the difference.

Martin
eForum Team

[Ruddiger]

Hi Ruddiger

I have just double checked this information, just to make sure I was correct.

What you need to do is to turn of the data connection only, you will still then be able to connect via WiFi

By turning off all connections, this will stop all connections to the phone.

If you can try the above, I am sure you will see the difference.

Martin
eForum Team

As I thought I had just clarified above -

My data Services are ON
While roaming ON

This has always been the case. This is a problem that has just developed. My Blackberry will not connect to Blackberry Infrastructure over wifi.

[madhatter2426]

Had this myself last week. Try turning your router off for 30 seconds then back on again. On my network the wifes 9700 has bis on wifi but mine didn't very strange. So power cycled the router and it started working again.

[Ruddiger]

Had this myself last week. Try turning your router off for 30 seconds then back on again. On my network the wifes 9700 has bis on wifi but mine didn't very strange. So power cycled the router and it started working again.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have tried that and even tried a different router but still get the same result. No luck.

Does anyone else have this issue - turn GSM off (leave data 'on') and see if you can access BIS over wifi?

Thanks!

[darkone338]

have you deleted the wifi profile, rebooted the phone then readd the profile ?

Have you tried a (drastic i know) reload of the OS ? (try connecting before you restore a backup and after)

I tried it on my torch and it worked exactly as expected... BIS connected fine.

[Ruddiger]

have you deleted the wifi profile, rebooted the phone then readd the profile ?

Have you tried a (drastic i know) reload of the OS ? (try connecting before you restore a backup and after)

I tried it on my torch and it worked exactly as expected... BIS connected fine.

Thanks Darkone,

I tried removing and adding the wifi profile again.

I have tried a full downgrade to software 5.1.0.153 - over wifi I could still not connect to Blackberry Infrastructure.

I then upgraded back to 5.0.0.862 and still I cannot connect to Blackberry Infrastructure via wifi

[Ruddiger]

On this post DaveN_Vodafone states this behaviour is a problem which was specifically affecting cellular network connections

http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/topic/73766-blackberry-9700-loss-of-internet-access/page__view__findpost...

Is there any more info about that problem? Could that problem possibly have sprung up again?

I have attempted everything you suggested on that post but my Blackberry Infrastructure will still not connect over wifi.

[Lee]

Hey Ruddiger,

Thanks for updating the thread, it allows me to see what might be going wrong here.

Ok, I've run a search on the BlackBerry Support Site and have come across this page that explains what's going wrong, and how to rectify the issue.

Can you take a look at the link for me, try the suggestions and let me know how you get on?

It might also be worth bookmarking the Support site in future

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team

If you have a spare minute, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on how I'm doing and would welcome any comments you have on the service I've offered today, just click the link in my signature

[Ruddiger]

Hey Ruddiger,

Thanks for updating the thread, it allows me to see what might be going wrong here.

Ok, I've run a search on the BlackBerry Support Site and have come across this page that explains what's going wrong, and how to rectify the issue.

Can you take a look at the link for me, try the suggestions and let me know how you get on?

It might also be worth bookmarking the Support site in future

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team

If you have a spare minute, I'd really appreciate your thoughts on how I'm doing and would welcome any comments you have on the service I've offered today, just click the link in my signature

Thanks for the suggestion. I have once again allowed it to connect to the GSM service and then to see whether it will connect to the wifi and it doesn't.

I have been overseas for a month and perhaps if there was some permission in the host tables previously that has expired then I could see how it was working and now is not. Being overseas I cannot connect to Vodafone themselves; I am connecting via Etisalat in Dubai. (By the way; when I am connected to Etisalat my BIS service works perfectly but this is costing me a fortune as every time I reconnect the GSM network I end up with a torrent of emails flying through at my cost on roaming charges of £3 per MB)

[darkone338]

ahhhh so now we get an important point... youre in Dubai.

When i was there 18 months ago, I could not connect through my apartment wifi as the provider blocked access to the rim servers (they also blocked mysapce, facebook, skype, etc etc etc), When I called and asked, it was due to the potential to use the connection for VoIP which in Dubai, is illegal, however in my friends appartment, where she had Du provide her broadband, I had no problems connecting over her wifi, she also can connect to FB, myspazz, skype etc....


Who is your broadband provider there and have you checked with them to ascertain if they are the ones causing this issue ? The providers that are state owned, such as etisalat (broadband, not cellular) and some others are heavilly restricted.

[Ruddiger]

ahhhh so now we get an important point... youre in Dubai.

When i was there 18 months ago, I could not connect through my apartment wifi as the provider blocked access to the rim servers (they also blocked mysapce, facebook, skype, etc etc etc), When I called and asked, it was due to the potential to use the connection for VoIP which in Dubai, is illegal, however in my friends appartment, where she had Du provide her broadband, I had no problems connecting over her wifi, she also can connect to FB, myspazz, skype etc....


Who is your broadband provider there and have you checked with them to ascertain if they are the ones causing this issue ? The providers that are state owned, such as etisalat (broadband, not cellular) and some others are heavilly restricted.

I know there is a perception that BB will not work here. You also have 'the knowledge' about the local providers! I am with Etisalat e-life broadband. There are some country-wide blocks on websites but I regularly use Skype and Facebook without trouble.

I don't it to detract from the issue:

• BIS over wifi has worked for the last month over Etisalat broadband
• Currently BIS is working over Etisalat GSM

[darkone338]

My question about calling Etisalat remains too. Have you raised the issue with them ?

Just trying to eliminate lines of enquiry. I know there is the perception about Dubai and that reality is slightly different, I also know that right now, they are undergoing some architectural changes to the way BB users access the BB system in the Emirates.
RIM are being forced to install their own servers into the Emirate and allow access to them from the government, this was agreed upon, about a month to 6 weeks ago, by both parties. So, its entirely possible that Eti and Du have been forced to stop access to the US/EU servers over their broadband systems... not saying its the case, but i am saying its possible.
It would be great if RIM produced an app you can run on a PC/mac to test BIS connectivity.. *sigh*

[Ruddiger]

My question about calling Etisalat remains too. Have you raised the issue with them ?

Just trying to eliminate lines of enquiry. I know there is the perception about Dubai and that reality is slightly different, I also know that right now, they are undergoing some architectural changes to the way BB users access the BB system in the Emirates.
RIM are being forced to install their own servers into the Emirate and allow access to them from the government, this was agreed upon, about a month to 6 weeks ago, by both parties. So, its entirely possible that Eti and Du have been forced to stop access to the US/EU servers over their broadband systems... not saying its the case, but i am saying its possible.
It would be great if RIM produced an app you can run on a PC/mac to test BIS connectivity.. *sigh*

That's 'hands down' the most intelligent analysis posted in this thread!!

It is possible that both providers have blocked (temporarily, or on a more permenant basis) any 'other' BIS services from connecting over wifi. It could even just be a policy they've implemented off the back of recent changes - after all they have released bad profit figures (http://www.thenation...ts-fall-steeply) and would surely rather bill Vodafone (who in turn bill me) for profitable mobile data!

If this is the case then I suppose we'll hear more about it as it develops...

(Of course I wouldn't be having this problem if roaming data was sensibly priced. I'm always so close to signing up for an International Blackberry plan with Etisalat - Unlimited worldwide data included in a plan that's about £50 a month - http://www.etisalat.ae/index.jsp?lang=en&type=service&contentid=5a9c2f3264190110VgnVCM1000000c24a8c0...No more £3 per 1MB. But then before I know it Etisalat will be monitoring all my communications - http://na.blackberry...gappremover.jsp!

[darkone338]

it might pay to find one of the Ex-pats forums and make a post on there about BIS service over wifi from roaming handsets. Specifically mention BIS as I know a lot of companies in the UAE have turned to BES services of their own in order to avoid the government proposed interference.
Again, not saying this is your problem, but its a route of investigation to go down.

[stankis]

have you tried resend service books?

I had this issue also for some while and after I resend service books everything is working ok.

ON the phone go to Setup- E-mail Settings- Login if u must and after that hit the menu key and select- Service Books.

Hop that will help

[Ruddiger]

have you tried resend service books?

I had this issue also for some while and after I resend service books everything is working ok.

ON the phone go to Setup- E-mail Settings- Login if u must and after that hit the menu key and select- Service Books.

Hop that will help

Thanks stankis - I did try; even trying to add another new email to the BIS account entirely but still nothing works.

I'm currently trying to see if any other expats are having the same problem with other countrys' BIS services over Dubai internet providers.

[Ruddiger]

Etisalat (the main provider of telecomunications in the UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai)) ARE BLOCKING ACCESS TO BLACKBERRY INTERNET SERVICES OVER THEIR INTERNET NETWORK. Any other providers BIS service does appear to work perfectly well over their 3G network (when you are of course roaming at your expense)

I still have no luck authenticating my connection to Blackberry Infrastructure over an internet connection provided by Etisalat.

I am currently sat in Muscat International Airport and can confirm that my Blackberry Internet Serivce (BIS) is working as normal and completely as expected over their wifi ONLY. I connected as normal and (unlike currently in the UAE) Blackberry Infrastructure was able to authenticate over their internet.

This can only be a move by Etisalat to force people who are using BIS services with 'other' international providers to use them over their own 3G (roaming) network. It is no longer possible to use your BIS services from Vodafone on a wirless internet connection in Dubai, UAE ('for free' (in effect)).

Vodafone should update any information they hold about Etisalat and roaming services possible in the UAE.