User:HubHikari/Misc/NDSCapPortWorkAround

I was messing around with my DS Lite in a hotel, and found that I couldn't connect to the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, as most hotels' wireless networks use something called a captive portal system, which basically means that the network intercepts all HTTP requests and redirects them to a single page until the user accepts certain terms and conditions. Because the DS lacks a Web browser, the user cannot accept the terms and conditions, so the network denies it access.


 * So anyway, listen up. To run around the captive portal system entirely, use the ipconfig utility with the "/all" switch on a computer that's already accepted the terms and conditions to pull up its IP address, gateway, subnet mask, and DNS server(s).  Go into the WiFi Connection Setup utility to substitute these values into the NDS after detecting the hotel's network.  This will temporarily allow the DS to connect to NWFC, as the hotel's network will "see" the NDS as the computer whose values you substituted.  Note, however, that doing this will kick the computer off the network.

To reset the computer, I used the ipconfig utility again four times: once with the "/flushdns" switch, once with the "/release *" tag (to blank the computer's IP address, subnet mask and gateway), once with the "/renew *" switch (to re-register the computer's IP address), and finally with the "/registerdns" tag. After doing this, the computer was able to get back on the network. The NDS was able to connect for a limited time after re-setting the computer before being kicked off with miscellaneous error code 85020.


 * Please note that this workaround is currently NOT SUPPORTED by Nintendo of America. Calling the WiFi hotline at 1-800-895-1672 results in you being told that captive portals are not currently directly compatible with the NDS system.  However, I had no problems with this workaround except for those noted above.  Have fun, everyone.

PS: If you wish to discuss this with me (i.e. additions, problems, questions, etc.), drop me a line on my talk page.

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