Setting static IP address for wi-fi connection on HTC Hero

I have a slightly unusual wifi setup at home where I have a wireless access point that doesn’t give out IP addresses via DHCP, so any devices that attach to my wireless network need to be have static IP addressing set. Because of this, one of the first things I had to work out on my HTC Hero was how to specify static IP settings. After very little digging through the settings, I found the answer. These are the steps you need to take to specify a static IP:-

  • Hit the hard menu button on your phone and then choose Settings
  • From there, browse to the Wireless controls section and then choose Wi-Fi Settings
  • Whilst in the Wi-Fi Settings section, push the hard menu button again and select Advanced
  • Press Use static IP to put a check in the box and then enter the network settings as per your own network (if you’re not sure what your settings are, (and assuming you’re using Windows) open a command prompt by clicking Start, then Run and typing in cmd and hitting enter and then typing the line ipconfig -all and hitting enter, the relevant details should be listed there. -Just make sure you use a different number for IP address on your phone than is shown on your PC!)

Now, one thing to bear in mind here is; you won’t be able to connect to public wireless hotspots with a Static IP set as they will all use DHCP, and the chances of you specifying static IP settings that work for both your home network and any given public hotspot are pretty slim. There doesn’t seem to be any way of using one IP profile for one wireless network and a different IP profile for another, but if you uncheck the Static IP section, you’ll be able to pick up an IP from DHCP and, happily, your previously set Static IP settings will stick for when you revert back. This is a bit kludgy for regular use, so I’m hunting around for an app that will manage wi-fi profiles. If and when I find one, I’ll let you know. Watch this space…

**UPDATE- I found a great app called WiFi Static that automatically switches between static and dynamic addressing dependent on the wireless network you connect to. It works perfectly for me.

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24 Responses to Setting static IP address for wi-fi connection on HTC Hero

  1. toastedbagel says:

    Thanks! Can't wait for your app recommendation!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Any luck with that app?

  3. mrussell77 says:

    No luck so far. The only thing I can think of would be for a custom add-on for the app called Locale. Locale can turn on and off phone settings based on specific conditions, such as the current time or your current location, and you can create custom actions to be taken on your phone, but it's a bit beyond my meagre coding skills for the moment!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Anyone found a plugin for Locale?

  5. mrussell77 says:

    I've still not come across one unfortunately. I've gotten used to switching from static to non-static IP addressing to be honest.

  6. Anonymous says:

    At least it remembers the IP address etc. Seems only to be at work I have a proble, connecting to mainly Linksys Wireless Access Points.

  7. Anonymous says:

    try wifi static

  8. mrussell77 says:

    WiFi Static? This looks like it'll do the job! Thanks for letting us know about that. I'll check it out today and let everyone know how it works.

  9. Anonymous says:

    I use it now on my htc hero in combination with "wifi scanner" and it does a great job.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Works great for me, thanks a lot guys
    Ronald

  11. Monk says:

    Hi,

    I have wirtten an app that does exactly this. It simply enables you to create and manage wifi profiles withthe touch of a button. its on the market place and called IP Manager and its free.

  12. Fjappe says:

    Hi. Thx for this article – it solved my connection problems on my home WiFi :)

  13. SamTan2988 says:

    I had to say this is 100% useful.
    I just got my first Andriod phone (HTC Desire) 2 days ago, and still in progress explore the features and setting.
    This is very useful to me as during home, I am connecting to internet via my WiFi network using a static IP.

    Thank you so much

  14. Kyle says:

    i have the same issue. but im not very good at techy stuff… so when i go to enter in the IP Address on my phone…. what do i put in? do i make it up? thanks

  15. Jonathan says:

    Excellent, couldn’t find the static IP address settings so that helped, plus the wifi static program on top…double bonus…thanks very much.

  16. Peter says:

    I have WiFi Static but have not figured out how to make it work when I want to access a public hotspot. Like you, I use a static IP at home, and that configuration appears in WiFi Static.
    Do I need to add a ‘generic’ config to access public hotspots?

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Thanks.

  17. steve says:

    Thank you so much. I actually have a Desire and I tried it on it and it fixed my day.

  18. proj-and says:

    Hello
    I have an emulator 2.2. I can change the values of ip address, default gateway, …..
    But I can’t activate the Wifi. The button of add Wifi isn’ t activated.

    I ask if it is possible to activate this button .

    Any suggestions?
    Thank you in advance

  19. proj_and says:

    Hello

    I have an emulator 2.2 installed in my PC. I can change the IP address and default gateway thanks to your explications. But, the button add Wifi is disactivated. I ask if it is possible to activate this button and How to activate it.

    thank you in advance

  20. michael says:

    Thanks, this was exactly what I was looking for. It was explained well and worked like a charm!

  21. jules says:

    Thank you this has been enormously helpful! :)

  22. Arun says:

    tnku vry much

  23. Jill says:

    Brlliant!! I kept geetting the querty keyboard when pressing the hard menu key but found (by accident) when you press it quickly you get the advanced menu. I set it up but then the Desire stopped looking for networks at all, I switched it off andn hen on and hey presto.. youre a marvel, thanks youve just saved me days more wasted time!

  24. saamah says:

    how could i use the wifi static please help me

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