Travel router for iPad?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: BWI/PHL/LNS
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 39
Travel router for iPad?
Sorry if this has been asked before. I'm not much of a traveler, especially compared to everyone here.
I'm looking for a small, compact wireless router that I can use with my iPad. Most of the hotels I stay at when traveling offer free internet- wired only. Rather than pay upwards of $20 for wifi, I'd like to make my own wifi with the free wired connection. Any recommendations?
I'm looking for a small, compact wireless router that I can use with my iPad. Most of the hotels I stay at when traveling offer free internet- wired only. Rather than pay upwards of $20 for wifi, I'd like to make my own wifi with the free wired connection. Any recommendations?
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
It has. Search for travel router and you'll find numerous answers to this questions. However...
I think you'll go a long way to find a hotel that has free wired internet, but charges for Wifi. It's either both free, or neither free. Travel routers definitely have their place, but this isn't it...
I think you'll go a long way to find a hotel that has free wired internet, but charges for Wifi. It's either both free, or neither free. Travel routers definitely have their place, but this isn't it...
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I agree with you about the wired/unwired issue. They are both free or pay. A travel router, however, may be more important for a different reason -- the wifi on an iPad isn't as strong as on my notebook. I've had a harder time latching on to hotel wifi with my iPad. When I take a laptop, I use Connectify. When I don't have it, I'll use a travel router.
#6
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Funny, if you head over to the Hilton forum you can find people who insist there are many Hiltons that charge for wireless but wired is free.
Just about any travel router would work for you, though the Airport Express makes it real easy.
Just about any travel router would work for you, though the Airport Express makes it real easy.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 960
the d-link di-505 just started shipping. it has 802.11n and a usb port to share a usb stick or charge your ipad (although not at the full 2 amps).
#8
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I'll have to look. I get free wifi with Hilton and haven't scrutinized as much as I should have.
#9
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Singapore, Warsaw, Surfers Paradise
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold>>>Silver>>>Blue, Finnair Silver, Royal Caribbean Diamond
Posts: 5,171
#10
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 238
It has. Search for travel router and you'll find numerous answers to this questions. However...
I think you'll go a long way to find a hotel that has free wired internet, but charges for Wifi. It's either both free, or neither free. Travel routers definitely have their place, but this isn't it...
I think you'll go a long way to find a hotel that has free wired internet, but charges for Wifi. It's either both free, or neither free. Travel routers definitely have their place, but this isn't it...
#11
Moderator Hilton Honors, Travel News, West, The Suggestion Box, Smoking Lounge & DiningBuzz
Join Date: Jun 2000
Programs: Honors Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle, National Exec Elite
Posts: 36,026
A title search on "Travel Router" will net 20 threads with discussion/recommendations.
#14
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,156
Since then I haven't used it much as a gateway/router/AP/etc, but I have installed a custom OpenWRT build on it to use as a wireless sniffer and a few other things.
Seems like a reasonable device for the price, and the physical mode-change switch is nice if you use it for different purposes, but I'd still prefer my WL-330gE for general use.
#15
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
While not what you were asking for, the one thing I would really think about in buying a travel router is what will you be using it for.
Most all of them, if not all of them will take a wired connection and rebroadcast it.
Not all of them will do the same with a wireless connection should you want to connect multiple devices in a hotel room to one wireless signal from the hotel. It may or may never be an issue, and may never be a needed feature for you, but I think that is the one thing that differentiates some of the products out there.
Most all of them, if not all of them will take a wired connection and rebroadcast it.
Not all of them will do the same with a wireless connection should you want to connect multiple devices in a hotel room to one wireless signal from the hotel. It may or may never be an issue, and may never be a needed feature for you, but I think that is the one thing that differentiates some of the products out there.