From the creepiest $20 per night skid-row flophouse to the presidential suite at Hong Kong’s InterContinental, Wi-Fi is now as standard as a toilet in the hotels and motels around the world. If only that connection to the internet worked as well as your trusty porcelain throne.
Instead of dealing with spotty connections and speeds that resemble early ’90s dialup, use the hotel’s ethernet connection. Regardless of which room you spring for, there’s a good chance yours will have ethernet. With this wired connection you can create your own wireless network that actually gets you online. You basically have two options: Use your computer or a travel Wi-Fi router.
The Asus WL-330NUL N150 is a tiny wireless access point that can also can be used as USB ethernet adapter for ultrabooks and Macbook Airs without ethernet ports. Just plug it into that unused networking cable, create a Wi-Fi network with a password, and enjoy speedy wireless internet that’s not being shared with the entire hotel.
If you don’t travel enough to justify buying a pocket router, you can turn your own computer into a wireless access point. All you need is a live ethernet cable, a visit to the the System Preferences panel (for OS X), or a quick third-party app download (for Windows).
OS X: Launch System Preferences and click on Share. Select Internet Sharing from the list on the left. Set the “Share your connection from” ethernet or in the case of a MacBook Air, USB ethernet. Set the type of shared networking to wireless under “To computers using” by checking Wi-Fi. Click on the Wi-Fi Options button and a window will appear to set your network’s name and password. Once those are set, hit ok.
Now turn on Internet Sharing and you’ll be able to log into your newly created Wi-Fi network from all your tablets, smartphones, and media streamers.
Windows: Download and install the $13 Thinix WiFi Hotspot app. Launch it and click on the Configure tab. Set the name of your wireless hotspot in the SSID field. Add a password in the Wireless Key field and hit save. Hit the large Start Hotspot button at the top of the app’s window and get ready to share your internet connection.
Of course if your hotel has removed the ethernet cable, you’re stuck with the shoddy Wi-Fi connection. At that point you’re probably better off at the local coffee shop. If you travel regularly, you might want to invest in a Mi-Fi hotspot or add hotspot support to your smartphone. If your travel is work related, your employer will probably pay for it. Especially when you tell them you can’t upload an important report because you’re trapped in a wireless black hole.
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