Using hotel internet

[the86d]

The biggest benefit is using all of your devices from the same MAC/IP is that you only have to agree once per 24 hour period, and only on the device connected to the WiFi. During multi-day stays, one has to agree to the TOS/conditions once per-day, per-device, if using multiple devices. Many times I was always unable to agree to the TOS with an older Roku, even though there is a browser, and have to do the Roku pass-through-browse trickery, which didn't always work.

I was using an application called Virtual Router Plus to share to a second WiFi NIC, which worked kind of well, but this was before I had any 5GHz N devices, and had no N NICs to share from. Whenever possible I bring and use a full-size (I don't have a mini, and the OT paid for the router in a cheap-wash) wired N router I always bring to hotels so I can use 5GHz, as there is WAY less bandwidth saturation/congestion.

If I ever have to stay at the Hilton Garden in Fontana again (drive, so no 2-bag airport limitation), I am bringing a Xirrus, and use the WiFi analyzer to see how bad it really is, to get a screenscrape. Worst hotel WiFi I have ever used, during even non-peak hours, so I commonly tethered to my phones instead, especially using 5GHz 802.11N.

[diveRN]

Regarding your laptop, does it have a USB port and will your IT folks allow you to install software? If yes to both, consider a USB wifi adapter.

I put one of these on an old HP desktop PC out in my shop where I have no wired access. Works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-1200Mbps-TECHKEY-Wireless-Network-300Mbps/dp/B07J65G9DD/ref=sr_1_10?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1549537788&sr=1-10&keywords=usb+wifi+adapter

[nick]

You can always get a travel router. They're tiny, but decent. I have a travel router and switch, and connect the router to hotel's wifi or wired connection, and then connect my devices through it.

[sigstroker]

Internet in hotels these days is usually wifi. It's a lot cheaper to set up than hardwired ethernet. My problem is I have some devices I'd like to travel with that are only ethernet-enabled, like work laptop, etc.

I understand I can get a gadget called a bridge that would allow me to connect my ethernet cabled devices to wifi? The descriptions I read make it sound like they are intended for other purposes, but would one work for what I need?

The next issue would be security on the wifi. Since I don't have control over the router like I would with a home network, am I just out of luck wrt security? Are the various encryptions I can set just completely inadequate?