Opera fails to connect on free-wifi redirect gateways

Hey, so my problem is that Opera refuses to connect when I use a public wifi network that requires a "gateway login." Everywhere from the public library to Starbucks to Panera has a HTTP redirect to their local router that serves a page with the terms of service for accessing the Internet. They force you to agree to click-thru TOS, via a web form.

However, I can't ever get to the page. I assume because Opera is trying to reach it's Opera proxy but can't because everything is getting redirected until you do.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Other than maintaining a separate browser that will properly handle the redirect (it's *usually* but not always a local-network IP address which Opera is clearly not handling properly. 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)

Anyone have an ideas? I've fiddled with settings but have yet to find any success (other than using another browser to handle the redirect, then Opera can contact Norway and use the proxy... but I don't have enough phone memory to keep a spare browser).

Yum
P.S. I should note that this public network configuration is extremely common in the United States, so this isn't something unique to me (in terms of the network issue).

Originally posted by WillYum:

Hey, so my problem is that Opera refuses to connect when I use a public wifi network that requires a "gateway login." Everywhere from the public library to Starbucks to Panera has a HTTP redirect to their local router that serves a page with the terms of service for accessing the Internet. They force you to agree to click-thru TOS, via a web form.

However, I can't ever get to the page. I assume because Opera is trying to reach it's Opera proxy but can't because everything is getting redirected until you do.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem? Other than maintaining a separate browser that will properly handle the redirect (it's *usually* but not always a local-network IP address which Opera is clearly not handling properly. 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x)

Anyone have an ideas? I've fiddled with settings but have yet to find any success (other than using another browser to handle the redirect, then Opera can contact Norway and use the proxy... but I don't have enough phone memory to keep a spare browser).

Yum
P.S. I should note that this public network configuration is extremely common in the United States, so this isn't something unique to me (in terms of the network issue).

Opera Mini can't see local addresses because the "browser" is in the cloud. It's a limitation of all proxy browsers. Opera Mobile can.
You have to log into the WiFi network using Opera Mobile or the Android browser.

Which browser are we talking about? Opera Mobile should be able to see local addresses. Do you have Turbo turned on?

Ah, I have Opera Mini -- so there's no way it can actually get on the Internet.

That really sucks because there's no way to workaround, I just have to use a separate browser.

Yum

Originally posted by WillYum:

Ah, I have Opera Mini -- so there's no way it can actually get on the Internet.

That really sucks because there's no way to workaround, I just have to use a separate browser.

Yum

Yes, once you connect you are fine to use Opera Mini. Initially you have to use another browser to accept the conditions of the network.

Yes, unfortunately, due to phone memory constraints, that means I can have either Opera Mini or another browser but I don't get to have both :-\

So for me, it's a serious bug/error/design issue -- however you want to categorize it -- that I can't access the Local Network Splash/Agreement Page. It means I can't use Opera Mini at all.

Yum

You can't have an android device then. You would have two browsers.

I think WillYum means there isn't enough memory to run both that and Opera Mini simultaneously, though I'm confused since my feature-phone can run quite a variety of programs simultaneously without issue.

No, I'm just not rich enough to have the latest and greatest -- I uninstalled the native browser after rooting the phone because of extreme limited internal phone memory.

So, Starbucks and McDonalds and Denny's and the public Library and etc are all off-limits to Opera Mini.

$10 will buy an upgrade for your sdcard (assuming you even need a bigger one) and the app needed to move other apps to it is free (assuming you even understand what I mean by that). Uninstalled the stock browser? Smh, if you are having trouble with this you had no business rooting your phone. Aside from the fact there was probably countless other unless system apps or user apps, for that matter, you could of deleted (or bloat) you essentially deleted a better browser. I use mobile over the stock browser but that's totally different. If your problem is internal storage I'd suggest learning to use your device before bothering to upgrade. I've had all types.

But a better suggestion would be, drink your coffee or whatever... shoot a few sms if it'll make you feel better and worry about connecting to wifi when you're gonna be somewhere longer than 20 -30 mins. Connecting to every hotspot you can isn't wise... but then again...

Originally posted by WillYum:

No, I'm just not rich enough to have the latest and greatest

My phone is from 2007. Chances are your smartphone is later and greater. But I've got a 2GB memory card in it (which was around €30 back then; it would be less than €10 now, possibly lower than €5 brand new) so as far as apps/games, pictures, music, videos and whatever else I might want to store on it goes, I've got plenty of space. I actually thought you were talking about RAM rather than about storage, seeing how the latter should pretty much be a non-issue.

To put it another way, if you can't afford $10 to obtain a 1, 2 or 4GB mini-SD card, which should last you for years, I'm not sure how you can afford a subscription either (although admittedly my own subscription fee is uncommonly high if there's a month where I have to pay €3).

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Originally posted by WillYum:

No, I'm just not rich enough to have the latest and greatest

My phone is from 2007. Chances are your smartphone is later and greater. But I've got a 2GB memory card in it (which was around €30 back then; it would be less than €10 now, possibly lower than €5 brand new) so as far as apps/games, pictures, music, videos and whatever else I might want to store on it goes, I've got plenty of space. I actually thought you were talking about RAM rather than about storage, seeing how the latter should pretty much be a non-issue.

To put it another way, if you can't afford $10 to obtain a 1, 2 or 4GB mini-SD card, which should last you for years, I'm not sure how you can afford a subscription either (although admittedly my own subscription fee is uncommonly high if there's a month where I have to pay €3).

Only €3 a month?! That's awesome.

RAM would of made more sense... but only if there were multiple tabs running in multiple browsers. For a simple server login "terms page"... no, not really.

Internal memory comes in two parts in any android device I've ever seen. There's 'internal storage' and 'sdcard' (in the stupidity of my phones manufacturer it's 'sdcard' & 'sdcard ext'). Any installed app is generally put in 'internal storage', which is the built in memory, while pictures and downloads usually (not always) goto the sdcard. The thing is many of the user installed apps can be moved to the sdcard with a multitude of free apps available in the market and will free up internal memory. Opera mobile and mini both I know can be moved... I've had to struggle with memory issues on another phone before, even so bad I deleted system apps. Never have I only had one browser tho... and a mini at that.

Originally posted by ensbb3:

Only €3 a month?! That's awesome.

Usually less, as we have a 0 post-paid subscription. This means it's pretty much like pre-paid, except you don't have to bother topping it up and the rates are slightly better. Most of my away-from-home communication with my wife goes through Plurk and e-mail, which is actually a fair bit cheaper than texting (SMS messages are horrendously overpriced at €0.08 or €0.10 or so compared to other data usage, which is actually still fairly expensive at €1/2MB or so*). Neither of us calls much. Most of my calls are actually international, which for some reason is ridiculously expensive on any cellphone subscription model, and besides Skype has higher sound quality and video to boot. On landline subscriptions you can usually make free international calls to Europe and the US at night (this has got to be due to competition from the likes of Skype, as even 2 years ago you had to pay for this kind of stuff), but the added subscription cost just isn't worth it to me at present.

* Data costs drop at subscription models with a higher monthly fee, but since
a) Higher subscription models tend to be calls and texting oriented
b) They pretty much start at €5/month, so until monthly costs start exceeding that it'd be a complete waste of money.

Originally posted by ensbb3:

Any installed app is generally put in 'internal storage', which is the built in memory, while pictures and downloads usually (not always) goto the sdcard. The thing is many of the user installed apps can be moved to the sdcard with a multitude of free apps available in the market and will free up internal memory.

On my feature phone it asks me where I want to install an app (choice between internal memory and removable memory) before it does any actual installing. It's a pity "smart" phones can be so stupid.

One of the big problems with "smart phones" are users more than anything else. I use apps that let me decide where to cache or place data. But for the laymen options are set to prevent errors by users. The problem with android having so many 3rd party devs is not all are good ones regardless of market ranking. After rooting your phone and installing busybox there's literally nothing you can't do from the terminal so trivial little move this or change that apps are pointless. The point of installing apps to internal storage has made more sense on other devices where you can remove the sdcard while the phone is on. Makes it so you don't lose functionality and the only apps you can't move to the sdcard usually sync so really no immediate functions are lost anyway. Back to the stupidity of my phone, not only is internal storage labeled 'sdcard' and the sd is 'sdcard ext' (stock not now) but you have to remove the battery to even get to the card. I hate that.

Originally posted by ensbb3:

but you have to remove the battery to even get to the card. I hate that.

I can imagine.

Originally posted by ensbb3:

$10 will buy an upgrade for your sdcard (assuming you even need a bigger one) and the app needed to move other apps to it is free (assuming you even understand what I mean by that). Uninstalled the stock browser? Smh, if you are having trouble with this you had no business rooting your phone. Aside from the fact there was probably countless other unless system apps or user apps, for that matter, you could of deleted (or bloat) you essentially deleted a better browser. I use mobile over the stock browser but that's totally different. If your problem is internal storage I'd suggest learning to use your device before bothering to upgrade. I've had all types.

But a better suggestion would be, drink your coffee or whatever... shoot a few sms if it'll make you feel better and worry about connecting to wifi when you're gonna be somewhere longer than 20 -30 mins. Connecting to every hotspot you can isn't wise... but then again...

Wow! I think you forgot the super-smarmy tags.

The problem is internal phone storage memory which I have very little control over, I can move apps to the SD card and remove unnecessary apps but I can't control where they choose to store their internal data and cache. I only have a few megs of free internal phone storage, so perhaps I'm missing an obvious solution? (I see the 'memory full' message more often than I see 'new text' message)

Deleting the Android Browser made sense when I could use Opera Mini. Opera Mini can't use splash-page restricted wifi but was, for me, clearly the better browser.

I can't always use my phone carrier's connection and would like to keep my data-usage low, in any case.

Simply put, my request is entirely reasonable from a user-perspective -- allow me to use wifi hotspots that have been restricted.

The reality in the USA is that there are millions of locations like this -- so it's a significant portion -- but unimportant to Opera Mini because it's typically used on devices that have access to mobile-carrier-Internet connections. Nevertheless, I am an example of a use case that Opera could and should address.

That was my request, whether or not I know how to use my phone doesn't really seem relevant to that request.

Yum

Originally posted by WillYum:

Nevertheless, I am an example of a use case that Opera could and should address.

They already did. They call it 'opera mobile'. That's the forum you're in, Opera Mobile for android. Perhaps reading skills are to blame here?

good luck.

Originally posted by WillYum:

I only have a few megs of free internal phone storage, so perhaps I'm missing an obvious solution? (I see the 'memory full' message more often than I see 'new text' message)

Android is Linux-based, isn't it? I imagine you should be able to offload some strain through clever use of symlinks (a contraction of symbolic links). Note that your SD card is probably formatted in FAT or FAT32 for maximum compatibility, so you'll only be able to create symlinks to it, not on it.

I do apologize for being so 'smarmy'. I suppose one of my pet peeves revolves around people who root their phone without any inclination of how altering the root structure might effect it's use.

Originally posted by Frenzie:

Originally posted by WillYum:

I only have a few megs of free internal phone storage, so perhaps I'm missing an obvious solution? (I see the 'memory full' message more often than I see 'new text' message)

Android is Linux-based, isn't it? I imagine you should be able to offload some strain through clever use of symlinks (a contraction of symbolic links). Note that your SD card is probably formatted in FAT or FAT32 for maximum compatibility, so you'll only be able to create symlinks to it, not on it.

Essentially this is what I was referring to when I said you can move apps to the sdcard. Perhaps I was a little curt too. Since his phone is rooted already this isn't a problem. Applications like 'apps2sd' or 'link2sd' can move an app to the sdcard and link to it in the phones memory. There are plenty of apps avalible in the market to do this.

At this point every attempt by anyone to explain his problem has fell on deaf ears tho. Opera mini isn't a full browser, it requires services from the internet to run so not being able to connect before the splash page, server login, gateway, whatever isn't opera's fault. Opera mobile doesn't have this problem but does require more storage space. However you need at least one full brower on your phone (I'd suggest Opera mobile over stock). especially if you're going to wanna be surfing while eatin' your big mac.

Without knowing exactly what apps are placing data were it can't be moved I can offer no definitive solution other than there's more than one app for any task, find a better one.

Your problem, yum, is not unique. My old LG Optimus had the same problem and the 'low storage space available' error became a great adversary of mine. With careful selection of apps with the capabilities I needed, cache clearing, data relocation and removing the "would be nice" apps I kept ,I finially overcame it tho. Maybe didn't have all the games and stuff but keeping the apk's on my sdcard made it were I could just unistall a game when I needed to free up space for something else and reinstall it later without having to download it everytime but there are backup utilities that will do that for ya... only they take up space.

Since you wanna experiment with deleting apps and root perhaps the solution lies in a new ROM. I can't stress enough to fully study up on the pros and cons but a custom ROM can require less space and add more functions, relieving the need for some of the trivial widgets and apps that get added to the stock ROM. If you don't use some of the provider apps that sync facebook, twitter or other accounts delete those or if you run a launcher from the market, delete the stock one. Also replace system apps like the gallery,wallpapers, music apps, ect. with smaller or more capable user apps and delete the old.

* I ended up replacing kernel and all after I figured out what I was doing. You can do what you want after that including mess it up really bad, lol. Again, good luck. I wish you no bricks.