BT Openzone - Can't connect

[davefeeder]

Hey all,

I'm aware that this is a reccurring issue for a lot of people, but I've yet to find a definitive answer. Certain things seem to have worked for some people, but not all.

I've got a Samsung Galaxy S3 on PAYM, including 3Gb of Wifi.

So, to sum up:

• My phone notifies me that BT Openzone network is available.
• I connect to it.
• No apps can use the connection.
• I open a browser, and am presented with the BT Openzone login screen.
• I try every conceivable option, but I'm either told this is a business BT zone, or that my Vodafone username and password is incorrect (despite being able to log in with them on my PC).
• I also have the My Vodafone app which claims to connect me automatically, but seems to do nothing. 

So. What do I need to do?

Dave

[Retired-James]

Hi davefeeder,

Can you confirm the postcode of where you are trying to connect to the hotspot so that we can double check that this is a compatible hotspot on the directory.

James

[davefeeder]

Hi James,

I've tried from a number of places, here are a few of them:

Near my home - TF9 4BW

Loddon, Norfolk - NR14 6LX 

National Cycling Centre - M11 4DQ

The Olympic park in Stratford

Does this mean that our assumption (that there are different types of BT Openzone) is correct?

Dave

[Northern-dj]

A BT Openzone hotspot are cafes and Libarys that are shown in the My vodafone app 

Now see the BT coverage map 

http://www.bt.com/static/wa/wifi/pages/findhotspots.html

This shows How BT run there service now there is a Key at the Bottom the one you want is 

BT Openzone Hotspot NOT BT openzone Roaming

BT do a Range of WIFI Hotspot now the one Vodafone are useing is also changing From BT openzone Hotspot to BT WiFI 

See 

http://www.btwifi.co.uk/

This is because of all the confussion 

so to summerise

BT Wifi (New Name for BT openzone hotspot) Vodafone customer can use (Liberys,service stations, cafes)

BT Openzone Roaming  Bt customers only       Vodafone customers can not Use unless your a BT Internet users

BT Fone                          Bt Customers only       Vodafone Customers can not use unless your a BT internet Users

The old BT openzone Hospot (Now Bt Wifi) was the only service Non Bt customers could use and the only separate wifi service cafes and liberys could sign up to.

Now  to use this you had to pay a fee via your device or to the shop or Libery 

Now this is what is included in your Vodafone price plan

The sites shown on the My vodafone app are not Transmiters but are shops that have a BT openzone hotsopt router and will only work in there cafes or service staitons 

Now Vodafone have worded this correctly as BT Openzone Hotspots this is what BT have told them at the time it was called.

Now the confussion comes as the fone can not dissplay the "Hotspot" bit at the end 

My phone show if i'm in my local cafe BTfon, BT openzone twice 

Now on my laptop it will show BTfon, BTopenzone Roaming , Btopenzone Hotspot 

This is why BT are changing the Name over  so it will show BT WiFI

then Vodafone can change what they say and advertise to BT wifi and this is what Vodafone customers will be alble to use 

[davefeeder]

---

@James wrote:

Hi davefeeder,

Can you confirm the postcode of where you are trying to connect to the hotspot so that we can double check that this is a compatible hotspot on the directory.

James

---

Hi James,

Don't suppose you have an answer for me yet?

Dave

[phantomlynx]

It would appear, from my experience and experiments, that NotherDJ is right, there are a very limited number of these sites and no one clarifies what we can expect.  We all think we are getting the full BT Openzone, 2m sites system and what is delivered is the odd Starbucks!  Hell... I can get free wifi at MacDonalds!  This is a pig in a pock...  Genuine, if largely unwitting misrepresentation.

[hrym]

Assuming it's correct, the My Vodafone app shows Openzone sites on a map so, if there isn't one listed where you are, then it's safe to assume you can't connect.

It's not helpful that there are several different flavours of Openzone and that most of them are only available to BT customers (and/or O2??)

[phantomlynx]

Nor that My Vodafone doesn't deliver much to business customers!

[Northern-dj]

Yep if there is no site then near you then you carn't use them 

and i agree even as a BT user its a pain 

This is what i no 

BT Openzone Hotspot ( Now BT WiFI) Is what we can use as Vodafone users 

BT Openzone Roaming is there Hotspots that are all over These are ending soon and subcontracted out to sutch as SKY TV

BT Fon this is what all BT customers will be using and there every were

This is BT Only unless you pay for it

Now the one Vodafone are using is just like other Retalers are able to use such as starbucks, BT have rebranded this to try and sell more of them i agree its not the Best , But BT will not sign up with a Mobile Network with there other system

I use the BT Fon and it is worth the Money and is getting better no Data capping and coverage is well spot on you may only get one bar signal but that is due to improve but you can video chat with out any problems  

[hrym]

Ah, well if they're calling it BT wifi, at least there's a differentiation.

I've recently used O2 wifi (not the same, I know) and, once I'd registered once, it just welcomed me back.  That's how it should be implemented!