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Topic: 3DS and University wifi (WPA2)

Posts 1 to 20 of 24

StarDust4Ever

Okay, my university has two wifi networks available to students.

There is an unencrypted network which redirects me to a webpage where I have to input my university username and password. This is fine for using the 3DS web browser, but any time I try to switch apps, the wifi connection is disconnected, which requires me to input my username and password again to reconnect. This makes it impossible to play games or update my system or use any other online 3DS app.

The University also has a secure wireless connection available which uses our university username/password as logon credentials. When I try to connect to the secure wireless with my 3DS, it detects the security settings as WPA2 AES ecryption and prompts me for a network security key. But I do not use a security key to log on; I use my university username and password. On my laptop, I have to manually change the encryption type, only then I am prompted to input my university username AND password. My wireless card on my PC remembers the settings so I only have to do this once. When I try to connect to the secure network with my 3DS, it takes me strait to the network key prompt, and there is no option to switch the security scheme.

How can I configure my 3DS to log onto a secure WPA2 network which requires BOTH A USERNAME AND PASSWORD? Help would be appreciated, thanks.

StarDust4Ever

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theblackdragon

Unfortunately, i'm pretty sure you can't. You're lucky you can even get the 3DS Browser to do it — iirc the DSi didn't allow you to use wifi hotspots that required a login page like that.

Edited on by theblackdragon

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LzWinky

You can't unfortunately

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skywake

Strange, I can use the free WiFi at the shops. It's like your first example, unencrypted but you are redirected to a webpage in the browser. Works for the browser and I can also go into the eShop and it stays connected for long periods of time.

..... I can't solve the "this 'nets is only 0.2/0.5Mbps" problem with that free WiFis though

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Navius

I found this out today as well; first time I brought my 3DS in public, hoping to play some MK7 while I wait for class, and nothing. If you figure a way to do it, please share!

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Kid_A

I was wondering about this. My uni wifi is the same way. I'll bet there's a sneaky way to get around it, but I'm thinking this is simply an oversight on Nintendo's part. I wonder if they can update the system to fix this?

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StarDust4Ever

Well, like I said, I can't use the secure wireless at all, and I can only get the browser to work with the unsecured connection (web login required). I think it's called WPA2 Enterprise or something.

Here's a tutorial for setting up secure wireless for Windows 7:
http://helpdesk.latech.edu/index.php?option=com_content&t...

You have to manually change the security type to WPA2 Enterprize. I can't find any options to change the default security on 3DS.

Quote LaTech:

=================

Secure your wireless connection! Print E-mail

If you connected via the LaTech OpenAir wireless portal, you should take the time to configure your system to use the more secure LaTechWPA2 or LaTech instead.

OpenAir provides no protection for your communications. Instructions for connecting to the LaTech wireless network are provided for various systems. Using WPA2 is the same except you should select WPA2 with AES instead of WEP as described in the instructions. WPA2 will provide you with the highest security. You should use the LaTechWPA2 wireless unless your system does not suport WPA2, then you should fall back to LaTech. LaTech OpenAir should be your last resort. Not only are they more secure, most systems will automatically reconnect on LaTechWPA2 and LaTech, eliminating the need to login everytime. In addition, they are given a higher priority in the wireless network than LaTech OpenAir.

=====================

It clearly states on Nintendo's website that the Nintendo 3DS supports WPA2. My university uses WPA2, but I can't get to the screen where I enter my university login. Like I said, Open Air only works with the web browser. If anyone can figure out a way to use a web login to authenticate the 3DS, and then switch to the eshop, game, or some other app without disconnecting the wireless connection (which happens every time), please let me know. Looks like I'm back to using coffee shops again.

Quote Nintendo:

======================

2.4 GHz. Enabling local wireless communication among multiple Nintendo 3DS systems for game play and StreetPass. Enabling access to the Internet through wireless LAN access points (supports IEEE802.11 b/g with the WPA™/WPA2™ security feature). Recommended distance of wireless communication is within 98.4 feet. This can be shorter depending on the enviromental situation. WPA and WPA2 are marks of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

===========================

Edited on by StarDust4Ever

StarDust4Ever

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theblackdragon

No need to quote guide books and instruction manuals, StarDust — WPA2 doesn't normally require any kind of login other than the key to set it up. your university uses WPA2, but if it requires a special login process other than a key alone, that's on them, not Nintendo. It sounds like your 3DS is working to specifications. have you tried getting in touch with your school to see if they can offer you a key for gaming use?

Edited on by theblackdragon

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nick_gc

it's actually Nintendo's lack of support for this service. It's a common connection type with very large corporations that is support by 90% of smartphones, probably 100% if they were manufactured after 2010. I work at a university with the exact same setup. When I connected to the hotspot for the first time on both iPhone and Android phones, it downloaded some sort of certificate and prompted me for a username and password rather than the security key. Nintendo could probably update the firmware to support this, but I doubt they'll see it as necessary.

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NX01Trekkie1992

I have the exact same problem actually, my University's wifi will let me connect for brief periods (barely even long enough to dload the NES ambassador games when they hit), however no matter how often I reconnect it keeps booting me off, I'd try contacting them, but very few people here have had good experiences with our OIT

NX01Trekkie1992

theblackdragon

nick_gc wrote:

it's actually Nintendo's lack of support for this service. It's a common connection type with very large corporations that is support by 90% of smartphones, probably 100% if they were manufactured after 2010. I work at a university with the exact same setup. When I connected to the hotspot for the first time on both iPhone and Android phones, it downloaded some sort of certificate and prompted me for a username and password rather than the security key. Nintendo could probably update the firmware to support this, but I doubt they'll see it as necessary.

it may be common, but requiring a special username/password is still on the corporation (or university), not Nintendo. the 3DS does what it says it does, and nothing more.

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StarDust4Ever

theblackdragon wrote:

nick_gc wrote:

it's actually Nintendo's lack of support for this service. It's a common connection type with very large corporations that is support by 90% of smartphones, probably 100% if they were manufactured after 2010. I work at a university with the exact same setup. When I connected to the hotspot for the first time on both iPhone and Android phones, it downloaded some sort of certificate and prompted me for a username and password rather than the security key. Nintendo could probably update the firmware to support this, but I doubt they'll see it as necessary.

it may be common, but requiring a special username/password is still on the corporation (or university), not Nintendo. the 3DS does what it says it does, and nothing more.

Actually, it's quite important and necessary for businesses and corporations to know who's been using their networks. If everyone used the same key, it would be impossible to know who's using the network at any given time, which would essentially make individual users anonymous. Like if user "X" is swapping illegal software or copyrighted media using the University servers, and the court issues a subpena, a system administrator can immediately look up the user-id and records of the offender, and identify the culprit to authorities. Otherwise, the university is liable for any legal infractions. They can also track down bandwidth hogs and throttle their connection. Because each person using the network has separate separate logon info, it's easy to track data usage. A private network key does not offer the same level of security, and I don't think it would be feasible or secure to issue 1000s of keys.

StarDust4Ever

Nintendo Network ID: StarDust4Ever

theblackdragon

@StarDust: Why are you quoting me? I never said it wasn't 'important' or 'necessary'. My point was that you were trying to claim the 3DS does not work with WPA2, when in fact it does — my home network is WPA2.

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skywake

Mine is also WPA2, it works.

and yeah, I knew what you guys are talking about. My UNI has the same setup which they use for the same reasons stated in StarDust's last epic rant. Works with pretty much every device that does WPA2. Does it work with the 3DS? Apparently not! I never tested it though.

I just thought it was strange that it you can't get it to work with the unsecured login + webpage option either. I've logged into LOTS of those sort of networks on my 3DS and haven't had any problems. :S

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StarDust4Ever

Only the 3DS web browser works with web logon. My university network does not track devices by their MAC addresses, so if you disconnect and immediately reconnect, you have to reenter logon. The 3DS disconnects from the network when you try to switch apps, as far as I'm aware.

StarDust4Ever

Nintendo Network ID: StarDust4Ever

nick_gc

theblackdragon wrote:

it may be common, but requiring a special username/password is still on the corporation (or university), not Nintendo. the 3DS does what it says it does, and nothing more.

Of course it's up to the University to choose how an individual logs on to their network via whatever device they are using. But it's up to Nintendo to support the a particular service. While the 3DS does support WPA2 via security key, it doesn't support it via this method which is common amongst all other hardware. Therefore, the 3DS does not fully support all WPA2 security methods, and therefore does not support WPA2 100%.

This is neither here nor there for me as I have a home network to connect to but for students living in a campus residence, for example, it's quite an issue.

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theblackdragon

it does support WPA2. it apparently does not fully support extra security methods appended to networks using WPA2. for the third and final time, I'm not saying it's not an issue or that Nintendo shouldn't look into it, i'm saying that the problem is not on Nintendo's side at the moment — they haven't lied (as StarDust suggested by c/p-ing manual text and bolding the relevant parts) when they printed in their manuals that the 3DS works with WPA2, because it does. it's the extra stuff the universities/big corporations are apparently using that is not (yet) supported.

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SLiM

The access point that the university is using probably needs a firmware update. Also note that some universities restrict access by requiring you to submit the MAC address of the devices you are using.

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John-John

I connected mine to my university's internet connection. I believe I just had to go to the browser and enter my username and password. It did take a lot of different tries though, I couldn't get it to work. Also, I'm not sure if it was WPA2 or not. I didn't need to then reenter any information.

John-John

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