# Tapatalk doesn't like Wi-Fi spots? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 14, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733 "2012-09-14T21:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/1 "2012-09-14T21:51:48Z")
I find that Tapatalk often doesn’t like locks Wi- Fi spots. If I’m on a coffeeshop or some other place with free Wi-Fi, I can’t log on the SDMB with Tapatalk - get a message that the server won’t let me. Anyone else run into this? ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/2 "2012-09-14T22:16:59Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > I find that Tapatalk often doesn’t like locks Wi- Fi spots. If I’m on a coffeeshop or some other place with free Wi-Fi, I can’t log on the SDMB with Tapatalk - get a message that the server won’t let me. > > Anyone else run into this? I’ve had that happen in some hospitals and other locations, with Tapatalk and a 3rd party sms app I use. I figure it’s the the routers dropping certain (all non-http/s) traffic on the public side. (That’s what I would do.) They may have all but standard web ports closed as well.They do work fine on my local WiFi network, but my router config is pretty vanilla. I just switch over to the phone network in those non-working places. Idk what protocol Tapatalk uses ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/3 "2012-09-15T01:22:32Z")
So is it Tapatalk or the local wi-do server that’s the issue? ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/4 "2012-09-15T03:48:30Z")
It’s the local wi-do. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/5 "2012-09-15T04:21:57Z")
Don’t you just have to log on tho the hotspot using a regular browser before your other apps can use the connection? I don’t have tapatalk, but I find that to be the case with other apps. For example, if I’m in Starbucks, I can’t sync the Kindle app until I first go in to Safari and accept the Starbucks terms of service. Then all my internet enabled apps can use the connection. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/6 "2012-09-15T07:59:40Z")
Tapatalk uses the XML-RPC protocol. (XML-encoded Remote Procedure Call.) It’s communicated through HTTP and HTTPS channels, like normal web traffic and should thus be available on any network that support normal browsing. (Ports 80-83 and 443, IIRC.) However, WiFi hotspots are usually browser-login based instead of the normal WPA handshake we do with our home networks. That means they’ll assign you an IP when you connect to their network, but won’t permit traffic in or out until you “confirm” your IP by logging in. If there’s no prompt to do so, try to open a browser and open a webpage - if the guy who wrote it is even halfway competent it should redirect you to the login screen you need. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/7 "2012-09-15T08:10:49Z")
That is to say, Tapatalk isn’t impervious to wonky code or some server-side screwup on our end, but without a more specific error I can’t go into any detail. If you’re seeing a bog-standard 401 error, your traffic is probably being intercepted by their (the hotspot’s) server which throwing a Basic Authentication error. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/8 "2012-09-15T11:44:33Z")
Very good points. Authentication never occurred to me. :smack: I should be in a hospital today, I’ll test this and report back. ---
**Author:** ![Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Marconi\_N.Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marconi_N.Cheese)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tapatalk-doesnt-like-wi-fi-spots/634733/9 "2012-09-15T15:48:42Z")
Yep, authentication is the key. Took some time to get the TOS browser screen. I’ve always bailed early I guess.