Hotel Internet Issues

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Jan 23, 2007 | 8:16 am

#16

ScottC

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Sep 2000

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Quote:

Originally Posted by cpx

Most hilton's (Embassy suites usually) have the wireless one.. and not
a good one to be honest.

You are better off calling them directly to find out.

Embassy suites have had some of the worst wireless I've ever encountered. It's almost like it has been setup to kick you off the network every 30 minutes. I spent a few weeks at one, and it was so bad that I had to get a Verizon evdo card just to connect to my VPN.

Jan 23, 2007 | 8:54 am

#17

jcresq

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Join Date: Sep 2003

Location: Washington, DC

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I often call, but what's the point of the internet if you have to call anyway? lol.

I have had bad wireless experiences at Embassy Suites, which is a shame as I otherwise like them a lot. I was at Homewood Suites recently that had both, the wireless was awful, the wired was good. I would think some enterprising chain would use this as a marketing opportunity...get the geek clientele!

Jan 23, 2007 | 9:43 am

#18

muddy

Join Date: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,481

Most hotel wireless problems are due to not being able to support peak use, IME. I think this is why smaller hotels have better wireless ... not too many people surfing the internet from their room at a small "mom and pop" hotel ... plus the receptionist is often surfing in these smaller hotels which makes a good monitor to call the ISP when it goes down.

Its nice to have a roaming dialup as backup, though this doesn help for quick large file transfer needs .. at least you can check your email.

www.bamnet.com has a pay as you go (no monthly fees) roaming dialup.

Jan 23, 2007 | 3:22 pm

#19

Jet'Dillo

Join Date: Jul 2000

Location: San Francisco

Programs: UA Mileage Plus Premier Gold 1MM, Marriott Gold

Posts: 1,467

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcresq

I am in the booking process now, and tearing my hair out trying to figure out which hotels have wired and which have wireless. The Marriott web site identifies which it has in which parts of the hotels. Hilton is silent on the subject. Any other ideas or experiences?

Drop the $70-100 on a travel AP and call it a day. Linksys and Apple(among others) each make one. You plug the hotel ethernet into the RJ45 jack on the travel AP, and usually plug the AP into the wall electric socket and have at it.
You will of course need to do a little more work if you want to get WEP/WPA, MAC restriction, etc. working on it.

I've had an Airport Express as part of my regular travel kit for a couple years now and it's one of the first things that goes into the wall when I get into my room.

Jan 24, 2007 | 7:44 am

#20

ShopAround

Join Date: Jun 2006

Location: NYC

Programs: DL PM MM; GE; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Diamond

Posts: 2,389

I've never had a problem connecting anywhere - hotels, streets, cafes - but am extremely frustrated right now. I'm spending two weeks in Florence and booked a small guest house specifically because it's wired for (complimentary!) wifi. I schlepped my IBM Thinkpad here and can't get online. The signal is strong, but it's password protected and my system keeps asking for the network key. The owner tried entering the password, but I think it requires something else and whatever it is, it won't connect. Anyone know what exactly a network key is?

It's killing me to be here for two weeks with my laptop in front of me and not able to use it... especially since that was the point of booking this place!

Jan 24, 2007 | 8:33 am

#21

cpx

Join Date: Feb 2006

Location: 99654

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Posts: 6,450

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShopAround

If its encrypted, try to find out the encryption type.
then enter the key. Make sure you enter the key in the right format.
its either in a pass-phrase (text) or hex format and use the
right one.

Jan 25, 2007 | 6:43 am

#22

jcresq

Original Poster

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Location: Washington, DC

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Jet'Dillo

I"m not sure I follow. I see how this would give you a wireless connection in rooms where there's ethernet, which gives you more flexibility as to where you sit; but I'm not sure I understand how it improves the connection? My experience is that if the hotel has ethernet, the connection is usually pretty good; it's when it only has wireless that creates the problems.