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?

Travel router for iPad?
 

I've been using a refurbed Airport Express for a couple years without much trouble.

+1

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 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.

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.

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).

I'll have to look. I get free wifi with Hilton and haven't scrutinized as much as I should have.

Does anyone use the small TP-Link one:

http://www.tp-link.sg/products/detai...odel=TL-WR702N

What I've run into is properties that have wired internet in the rooms, but wifi only in the lobby.

A title search on "Travel Router" will net 20 threads with discussion/recommendations.

+2 ;)
Now that there are AirPort Utility app, it's even better than in the past.

+1 to that too!

I've got one of the TL-MR3020. Previous post with my earlier comments is http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17719558-post15.html

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.

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.

How does the Airport work when the wired connection requires a webpage login to be activated?

You can set it up as a bridge, so that it will take that page and just send it wirelessly to your browser so you can log in or give your credit card, or click on the terms, whatever you need to do.

From one post on the apple boards

The AirPort Express needs to be configured in Bridge Mode to work on most hotel networks. If you already have the Express setup to create a wireless network, you can check the Connection Sharing setting quickly as follows:

AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Internet icon
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)

When you get to the hotel, connect the ethernet cable to wall jack, power up the AirPort Express and open the browser on your computer. The hotel's log in page will appear to so you can agree to terms and pay the fees, etc.

As others have said, there are several threads on various options for this; an excellent choice is the Asus WL-330N3G, it's very versatile as a travel router. I've had great results with it.

I picked up a Zyxel MWR102 for about $30. What I like about it:

1) Inexpensive
2) very small
3) USB (mini) powered so I don't need a separate power supply
4) since it doesn't need to be directly plugged into the wall, easier to position near RJ45 plug

For me it's a backup device as I have a mifi hotspot. I carry it for when I don't have mifi coverage and there is no wireless internet or when my wife and I are traveling so we both need to connect (and I take my mifi to the meeting...)

I'm looking to get a small size travel router that gives me WiFi. It will make the i Pad more useful in hotels that don't offer WiFi. Is this my only solution?

You have lots of options:

The one used to use (before selling it, since I used it so little) was the Linksys Travel router which would re-distribute either wired or wireless signals.

Thanks for the replies. Since I'm not a business traveler, most of the hotels I've stayed at don't cater to them and it's wired free, wifi free in lobby only (must pay in rooms). I've used the wired in the past with my laptop, but I'd like to lighten up by bringing the iPad only and be comfortable, not facing the wall. Is it possible to use the Airport Express without having a computer along by sending the login page to the iPad?

+1

There are still hotels that charge for in-room Internet (wired or wireless) but offer free access in the lobby, common areas, business center or conference rooms. Sheraton Burlington, VT comes to mind immediately but there are others.

In this case, and if I don't have status to get free Internet, I'll ask for a room near the lobby or over the lobby on floor 2 and use my Linksys travel router to grab the free signal and re-distribute it in my room for all devices that I use.

Likewise, there are still hotels, especially in Europe that offer one free connection via a promo code or charge per device connected...again, in which case a travel router is a huge help!

I'd like to know which travel router would work well in Europe to allow internet access to multiple devices where the hotel sells a paid wireless code that only allows one device at a time. I carry an Ipad and a laptop.

The Asus WL-330N3G I mentioned above would work great to share a paid wireless connection with multiple devices. I like that it is powered by micro-usb, so I can hook it up to a portable battery and use it to share a GoGo wireless connection inflight.

Not to be a wet blanket but re-broadcasting a gogo signal in-flight is a no-no on a number of levels. I am sure it would violate their terms of service and I am sure that the airline/FAA would frown on creating a hotspot mid-air.

Please don't. :(

+1 I learned the hard way. I got an Airport Express, which does what the OP wants very well, but will not extend or share a wifi network with other devices unless the wifi is from an Apple Router. Make sure you know what you need before buying. For the OP's needs it will work perfectly.

Many routers have built in browsers, so you connect to the router, open it's browser, accept the terms or pay for the wifi connection, and you are all set. For example in the datasheet for the Asus mentioned it says

In Hotspot (Wi-Fi Account sharing) mode, the WL-330N3G connects to a wireless hotspot that requires authorization/payment (e.g. Hotel, Airport, and Coffee shop Wi-Fi service). With only one payment, you can share a wireless signal to all other Wi-Fi

So look for something like that in the literature (or just get the asus)

If they offer it they will usually put it up front in their datasheets.

Fair enough; I've in the past signed up on my laptop and then disconnected to switch to my iPhone, which GoGo made easy to do on the same paid for connection; thought this would alleviate the hassle of switching the two. No plans do use the Asus for this then.

They exist. The other advantage is security. Instead of being on the hotel's wifi network, you're on a wired network to which only you have WiFi access. True, someone could still intercept data on the wired network, but it's less likely. Probably more of a concern overseas.

+1 to airport express.

+1

I always go for a wired connection over wireless. And it's definitely better to use your own wifi where you can set up WPA-PSK2 encryption as opposed to something simple that the hotel uses (if any).

I have this one as well and love it.

It was easy to set up, and in a hotel with only wired access, worked flawlessly for all our devices - a laptop, an iPad, and 2 iPod Touches, though it did get a bit slow when a few of them were going :) We only got 1 daily charge, and the hotel has now gone to free internet access for all, though it is still wired in some locations.

Someone asked about the login when using wired only. We still had to log in every 24 hours, and the hotel splash screen popped up on whichever device was being used.

It is harder to a man in the middle attack, but wouldn't Firesheep still work?

Yes, I own one and have used it occasionally. I prefer the small Fujitsu one as it is smaller and easier to change between modes.

I think Cradlepoint is the best! I've used Cradlepoint products for 5 years now.

http://www.cradlepoint.com/products/...ortable-router

I have a CNet CQR 980 router. It is very small (it's about the size of a deck of cards) and cheap (it sells for $21 on Amazon).

Is the Fujitsu one still sold or is it an old model that will be hard to find?

If your laptop has an ethernet port you can just turn on internet sharing over wifi (on a mac that is). I normally do this. Although recently I've been carrying around an old airport express preconfigured for bridge mode, saves me a ton of configuration hassle (plus I switched to a macbook air)

Do any of the travel routers support connecting to an external antenna?