Is there a device that will turn a Hotel ethernet broadband cable internet feed to a wifi hotspot?

Is there a device that will turn a Hotel Ethernet Broandband Cable internet feed to a wifi hotspot from my laptop for my other portable devices?

A small travel router will do this though some hotels may block their use.

Most laptops sold in the last few years will have a wireless card that has such functionality built-in. Check the add-on software that comes with your wifi card.

Alternatively, do a search for Connectify. If you are technically savvy you can do what Connectify does at the Windows 7 command line. It’s all relatively straightforward.

Hi Ben -- apologies, I've had to trim the length of your question so it fits on our homepage! Your laptop should be able to do what you're after if it has an Ethernet port though... if you let us know what sort you use (Mac? Windows XP/Vista/7? Linux?) we can help you figure out how.

Hi Ben, absolutely -- and in fact we wrote an article about this recently. 

I personally use an Apple Airport Express, which works great -- you just have to remember to install the software on your computer before you set off on your trip, because you need it to set the router up when you get to the destination (and obviously, you can't download it if you're not yet connected to the net!)

The nice thing about the Airport Express is that it also wirelessly connects your computer's iTunes music playback to the hotel stereo, as long as you bring along a 3.5mm cable to connect the Airport Express's headphone socket to the microphone/auxiliary input found on most mini hi-fi systems in hotels.

Thanks John,

I have Dell XPS M1330 Laptop with an Apple sticker on the cover to remind me what to buy next time!  Anyway...

I have the issue in the hotel I stay at while in the Middle East .  I am hoping to use the room's ethernet conection to provide wifi to the devices I carry that can not take the cable - namely my iPhone and iPad.

I fear however, that if there is an ability for a hotel to restrict travel routers, this hotel will no doubt do it in light of the multitude of restrictions that exist in the UAE with internet in general.

Thanks in advance!

Ben

I've never encountered a hotel that has been able to block travel routers. It'd require considerable effort on their part to do so without accidentally blocking other devices.

The only info they get from the device connected to their Ethernet is a short string of numbers called a MAC ID -- it allows them to easily tell if different devices are being plugged into the one connection (which is why they love to say you can only use one device, and pay another fee for each additional one).

However with a travel router plugged, in, the only thing they see is the MAC ID of the travel router itself. The other devices connecting via the router don't expose their MAC IDs.

Ben, if you try it and still have problems, you might want to ask for some help at http://www.emiratesmac.com -- looks like the UAE Apple Users Group. They should be able to give you some UAE-specific suggestions.

Thanks to everyone for the replies!

Great article Dan.  Exactley what i was looking for.

The built-in wireless card, the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, will certainly allow you to set-up your own wireless hotspot – nothing extra required – so long as you’re running Windows 7.

See http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3849841/How-to-Create-Wireless-Hosted-Networks-in-Windows-7.htm and http://www.ishanarora.com/2009/07/29/windows-7-as-a-wireless-access-point/

Downside of that, of course, is that your laptop does have to be connected to the Ethernet the whole time... I think the $149 investment in an Airport Express is pretty worth it for the everlasting convenience of having perfect reception Wi-Fi throughout the hotel room/suite :-)

Hi Ben,

  I have been travelling with a TrendNet Travel Router for about 2-3 years now.  Works great.  I set up a local secured WI-FI network using this and all my devices are configured to access that network.  For work I normally travel with 2 laptops, 2 phones and a iPad so this has come in very handy.  Best of all it can be powered by USB which means I can use the same power adaptor to power this and then charge my devices overnight.  

I think Zoom, 3Com and Netgear makes something very similar but I can't tell you too much about them as I have not used them.

I also find this very handy for meeting rooms when there is only one Ethernet drop available for the whole room.

Chandi 

I use a D-Link DWL-G730AP and have been using it for the last few years, great device http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=346 picked it up for under $100

I believe ASUS also have one quite similar

i have a DELL G233 and it does was apple airexpress does for an apple.