Jionet - 2019 Review

I was in Ooty few days back, and surprisingly I found that my hotel, Sterling Elk Hill Resort (https://www.sterlingholidays.com/) has Jionet and JioPrivateNet hotspots. As I have a Jio SIM I first tried with JioPrivateNet via AKA authentication method by selecting SIM - it did ended up in authentication failure.

AKA (Authenication and Key Agreement) SIM Authentication

In Jio's website, it is written that you have to use AKA method to access JioPrivateNet. If your device does not support this one, you can't use it. (Reference to Jionet FAQ here) 

Read more - Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) on wikipedia. 

There are some other methods of authentication, as I saw on OnePlus 6 as trying to connect to JioPrivateNet. 

AKA prime authentication

PEAP (Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol)

EAP PWD (Password)

EAP - SIM Method

EAP - TLS (Transport Layer Security) Method

EAP - TTLS (Tunneled Transport Layer Security)

Difference between Jionet and JioPrivateNet

Though I am not sure about the difference between Jionet and JioPrivateNet - many says that JioPrivateNet deducts from your main data balance. Only advantage you will have is better and stable data speed on WiFi as compared to LTE network of that place. It's a good idea for data offload as well as better customer experience.

Now as JioPrivateNet did not help much, I had to use Jionet. I am using Jio's free WiFi - Jionet since 2016, from their launch in Kolkata's Park Street area. But later as Jio's 4G came, WiFi usage cut down drastically. 

Jionet now has a new login page. Earlier it was https//jionet2.jio.in ,  but now it has became https://jionetportal jio.in/ however this url when putted on browser, ended up in no result. There might be something beyond that '/'.

Even the Jionet app did not help to connect automatically. Interesting finding is that Jio's all app list is now under Reliance Corporate IT Park Limited, and there is no app called JioNet listed there. However from Jio.com you can get the Play Store link of the app.

The Play Store link of JioNet (beta) : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jio.mhood.jionet

Error in JioNet app while auto connecting to Jio: 

The Jionet app fails to connect to Jionet and JioPrivateNet. However Android system returns with traditional log in method via notification - 'Sign in to WiFi network'. By clicking on the notification there will be a page opened, and asking for your mobile number and OTP. 

This page comes in a brief period of time and goes away after successful log in.

Interestingly though JioNet fails to connect to JioNet WiFi, it detects the OTP log in and shows successful connectivity established. 

Now let's talk about the issue. As JioNet now offers 1GB high speed data (FUP) and then you can get 128-256kbps downlink speed, you sometimes need more data. That could be done by logging out and logging in with another mobile number. As I don't know the log in URL, I could not log out. What I have to do is to forget this JioNet SSID and then again log in. It sometimes works and sometimes does not, you may need to restart phone and etc. 

So I need the Log in URL of Jionet. 

The story will be updated as soon as I find out the exact URL of log in page of JioNet. 

Note down 

log in URL of Tata Tele WiFi - https://hs.tatatelewifi.com/ttsl/
log in URL of BSNL 4G Plus (WiFi) - https://welcome2.bsnlfi.bsnl.co.in/portal/home.do
Log in URL of Jio MiFi / JioFi  -  jiofi.local.html  or 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.225.1 

Airtel WiFi details and locations - https://www.airtel.in/wifi/