Comments on: Virgin Trains: Free Wi-Fi (except on mobile devices)

By: Chris Knowles

Chris Knowles — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:17:01 +0000

Sorry, I got distracted! My original post is from a Virgin Trains Wifi (london to manchester) and I was able to do the same thing on the way back. Here's how I did it:

1. Go to Safari under settings and turn block pop ups and accept cookies always. I'm not sure if both of these are essential or not. I think pop ups have to work since the login button launches a pop up.
2. Try to log into the wifi as you normally would - you'll get to a login page where the login button does not work
3. Note down the IP address (e.g 10.114.105.129) at the top of the login window and cancel the login
4. Go to Safari and enter that address but don't go to it yet!
5. Go back to the wifi settings
6. You have to do this next stage quickly! Press on tmobile and before the login page has a chance to come up click the home button and open Safari and press the little arrow or refresh to make Safari go to that page
7. Be patient and you'll get to the same login screen but inside full Safari instead of the cut down login screen. The login button actually works in full Safari!
8. On my initial journey this worked on the second attempt. On my way back it took about 10-15 attempts because the login screen kept coming up so quickly.

Hope you can all try it out! It takes some patience it the login screen keep annoying you.

By: Chris Knowles

Chris Knowles — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Sorry, I got distracted! My original post is from a Virgin Trains Wifi (london to manchester) and I was able to do the same thing on the way back. Here's how I did it:1. Go to Safari under settings and turn block pop ups and accept cookies always. I'm not sure if both of these are essential or not. I think pop ups have to work since the login button launches a pop up.2. Try to log into the wifi as you normally would – you'll get to a login page where the login button does not work3. Note down the IP address (e.g 10.114.105.129) at the top of the login window and cancel the login4. Go to Safari and enter that address but don't go to it yet!5. Go back to the wifi settings6. You have to do this next stage quickly! Press on tmobile and before the login page has a chance to come up click the home button and open Safari and press the little arrow or refresh to make Safari go to that page7. Be patient and you'll get to the same login screen but inside full Safari instead of the cut down login screen. The login button actually works in full Safari!8. On my initial journey this worked on the second attempt. On my way back it took about 10-15 attempts because the login screen kept coming up so quickly.Hope you can all try it out! It takes some patience it the login screen keep annoying you.

By: Chris Knowles

Chris Knowles — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:17:00 +0000

Sorry, I got distracted! My original post is from a Virgin Trains Wifi (london to manchester) and I was able to do the same thing on the way back. Here’s how I did it:

1. Go to Safari under settings and turn block pop ups and accept cookies always. I’m not sure if both of these are essential or not. I think pop ups have to work since the login button launches a pop up.
2. Try to log into the wifi as you normally would – you’ll get to a login page where the login button does not work
3. Note down the IP address (e.g 10.114.105.129) at the top of the login window and cancel the login
4. Go to Safari and enter that address but don’t go to it yet!
5. Go back to the wifi settings
6. You have to do this next stage quickly! Press on tmobile and before the login page has a chance to come up click the home button and open Safari and press the little arrow or refresh to make Safari go to that page
7. Be patient and you’ll get to the same login screen but inside full Safari instead of the cut down login screen. The login button actually works in full Safari!
8. On my initial journey this worked on the second attempt. On my way back it took about 10-15 attempts because the login screen kept coming up so quickly.

Hope you can all try it out! It takes some patience it the login screen keep annoying you.

By: Darryl

Darryl — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:51:37 +0000

Could you please share how you did it? I've been trying for days without any luck

By: Darryl

Darryl — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:51:00 +0000

Could you please share how you did it? I've been trying for days without any luck

By: Darryl

Darryl — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Could you please share how you did it? I’ve been trying for days without any luck

By: Mike42

Mike42 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:28:04 +0000

Southwest trains' electric stock (the longer-distance ones that go to Southampton etc) appear to have RF screened windows, whereas the diesel stock (Salisbury etc) are fine.

One does wonder if this is a deliberate ploy to either a) shut people up (which is No Bad Thing) or b) line up customers for impending WiFi sales, as 3G modems won't work.

Hmmm....

By: Mike42

Mike42 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:28:00 +0000

Southwest trains' electric stock (the longer-distance ones that go to Southampton etc) appear to have RF screened windows, whereas the diesel stock (Salisbury etc) are fine.One does wonder if this is a deliberate ploy to either a) shut people up (which is No Bad Thing) or b) line up customers for impending WiFi sales, as 3G modems won't work.Hmmm….

By: Mike42

Mike42 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:28:00 +0000

Southwest trains’ electric stock (the longer-distance ones that go to Southampton etc) appear to have RF screened windows, whereas the diesel stock (Salisbury etc) are fine.

One does wonder if this is a deliberate ploy to either a) shut people up (which is No Bad Thing) or b) line up customers for impending WiFi sales, as 3G modems won’t work.

Hmmm….

By: Chris Knowles

Chris Knowles — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:43:46 +0000

I've just figured out how to access the virgin wifi on the iPhone 3gs. Speaking of non mobile friendly sites! This site won't let me post the instructions! Not sure why. I'll try again when home.