Why won't the Aero connect to hotel or public Wi-Fi?
Most hotel, campsite, and other public Wi-Fi networks need a browser-based login (a “captive portal”) before they let you online. The Manhattan Aero has a web browser (the www app), but it needs an internet connection to open, so it can’t be used to get past the login page. Signing in on your phone or laptop first won’t unlock it for the Aero either – these networks tie the login to each individual device.
The simplest workaround is your phone’s mobile hotspot: the Aero joins it like any other Wi-Fi network, with no login page in front of it. Keep an eye on your data allowance, as streaming TV can use a few gigabytes per hour.
For longer stays, a mobile broadband router with its own SIM card works the same way, without tying up your phone.
If you’re abroad, note that Freely and most UK catch-up apps are geo-blocked outside the UK, so even with a working internet connection, they won’t play.