Originally Posted by Patrick B

What you're looking at doing essentially requires two radios (one to act as client; one to ask as base-station). There are a few devices that can do this, but not usually in the same RF band (ie, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). Items like the Apple Airport Extreme can do it, BUT it's obviously not as portable, and two, they generally don't act as a separate NAT device. IE, they simply would repeat the signal, and not create a private WiFi network for your use only.

Even with the "Extend Wireless Network" option or WDS option in Apple routers (Express or Extreme), I don't believe they allow you to create a separate DHCP pool and assign addresses from it. They're simply acting as layer-2 bridges between two WiFi radios (which appear as one network to the hotel / ISP). So you could be charged for each individual device.

Now, you could do it, but you'd need TWO access points to carry with you (and connect them via Ethernet cable).

Now, another option could be to get a USB WiFi key, plug it into your laptop, and share it that way. So one WiFi interface is connected to your hotel's WiFi network, and one WiFi interface becomes your 'private' WiFi network.

On the Mac, this functionality is built-in (just need the second WiFi interface); on Windows you might need an app like Connectify to do it.

This may be the cheapest way to go, and the most portable, as a small, WiFi usb key is dirt-cheap, and as portable as it gets (also, no need for a separate power supply!)



Patrick