Cable Modem Rental Connectivity Speed?

[Xanne]

Hi,

I need to go to Orlando for work in February 2017, and we are thinking of staying at Ft. Wilderness. My husband wants to work in our camper while I'm at the conference. I know you can rent a cable modem with a deposit, but what is the connectivity like? Does anyone know? He needs to be able to reach a remote desktop, so we need to know if this is a viable option.

Thanks,
Xanne

 

[tiggerdad]

Xanne,

The Fort finally caught up with the rest of the resorts and now has Wi-Fi at all the sites. The speeds vary, but most people are reporting no problems in the trip reports when discussing working from their RV.

 

[bama_ed]

Xanne, I was there a month ago when they did the cutover to wifi FINALLY.

I started my visit on the loaner cable modem (no deposit not for years). On my third morning, they cut immediately to the wifi and the wired cable modem I had no longer worked.

I tested the wifi speed that first morning.



While I was there about 2 days later a Disney cast member cruised by in a Disney pickup truck and I was outside and struck up a conversation with him. He said they had turned up the system and were going to try to tweak it to improve speeds and frequencies. So your uploads/downloads may be better than what I show.

It was pretty solid while I was there.

Of course, I had my cellphone hotspot feature and massive monthly data plan in reserve but didn't have to go to it.

Bama Ed

 

[garneska]

We were there last week and worked from the fort. We had no issues with speed no problem working. We had a hotspot ready to go if needed but it was not.

 

[peg110]

I am ready with my HOOTOO Tripmate Nano Bridge/Router for that extra level of security too. (good price too at $16.00)

 

[2goofycampers]

I am ready with my HOOTOO Tripmate Nano Bridge/Router for that extra level of security too. (good price too at $16.00)

Do I need to have anything else with that?

 

[bama_ed]

Do I need to have anything else with that?

Not sure why you need it since those are wired with an Ethernet connection.

I had a travel router like that at the Fort in March and used it before the cutover to wifi. Here is the picture I posted in the March trip report. This was on the day that I was in site 201 briefly.



Note the blue Ethernet cable that connects from the back of the old Fort cable modem to the travel router (on the travel router, the white cable next to the blue Ethernet was the power cable for the router).

The router had its own password so the people in my group could walk around nearby and use their wifi to hop to the router once they had entered the password.

Once the Fort cut the wifi ON, they cut the Ethernet connection OFF. If there is no Ethernet connection, how can the router work? Paul is the IT Expert but I just don't see it. That's why my backup plan was the hot spot feature on my phone and using the data plan.

Bama Ed

 

[2goofycampers]

I know NOTHING about this stuff. I thought the HOOTOO was a bridge between the wifi and my laptop to act as a security measure.???

 

[bama_ed]

I know NOTHING about this stuff. I thought the HOOTOO was a bridge between the wifi and my laptop to act as a security measure.???

Well, I guess the password to access the HooToo is an extra security measure. People use them often in hotels frequented by business travelers that offer a free Ethernet (wired) connection in the room but charge an extra fee for WIFI. Without the Ethernet cable (it looks like a beefy telephone cable that plugs into the wall [for those that still remember a landline]) or a place to plug the Ethernet cable into (the old loaned cable modem), the HooToo is not needed. In the old cable internet setup at the Fort, something like the HooToo (and what I used) converted the wireline internet into wireless for the last hop to your phone, tablet, or laptop. (technically using it this way just to wirelessly hop that last leg leads these devices to also be known as Wireless Access Points or WAPs).

And I'm talking WAY over my head too.

College students have used these routers/WAPs in dorms for years where the dorms had wired internet service for free in the rooms but no walkaround, wireless connectivity (wifi). So one roommate would plug up a WAP and all four dorm residents would share the password and connection (learned this with my oldest son). But hey, now even the dorms have free wifi.

The Fort finally caught up with the times.

Bama Ed

 

[garneska]

Denise, the HooToo should secure your wireless. I checked it out on the website. Security is not my forte, but am sure peg will join in. I run a VPN service on my iPad and iPhone. For us the subscription is about $10 a month but this covers us to everywhere. I think a tad easier but slightly more expensive. Not sure which is better, again peg110 might have a better answer, but the HooToo will allow you to secure your wifi from public display.

 

[peg110]

The HooToo can bridge a "Wired" network or a "Wireless" network.
Without getting too technical (I hope anyway) computers on the SAME network are generally considered "Trusted" and as such the security is lower. So a computer on the Wireless Network at a location, can generally see another computer on the same network easily and makes it a much easier target for hacking. (Think of a vault at the ban with the safe deposit boxes. If you can get into the vault, you can see ALL the boxes. You are half way to the prize, if you are a hacker)

Adding another "Network" through the HooToo, gives you a virtual "Separate" network (Kind of like a vault in a vault).

Communications going out of YOUR network would still have to go out to the Public WiFi and can be seen, but if you use Secure sites (those that start with https:// ) then you have encryption. Just like if you go out of the Vault (in a vault) you can be seen, but encryption is like a disguise.

Have you ever used a Public Wifi that makes you "Agree" to the terms or has a login page? (Hotels, Hospitals, etc...) the HooToo can be set up to do that ONCE for you and then all your Wireless devices (laptops, phones, tablets, etc...) don't have to do it. They just connect to the HooToo and the HooToo connects to the public WiFi. Another advantage is that you don't have to keep changing the WiFi Access key on all your devices. You set them up to Automatically connect to the HooToo and when it's available, your devices can use it.

The HooToo will also bridge a WIRED network too, like Ed has described. There can also be a cost savings too if you get one "Free" connection and have to pay for others, or even if you have to pay for "EACH" connection. WIth the HooToo, you pay for ONE connection and share it with all your mobile devices. In the "Wired" mode (Wire in but only wireless out) it acts as a routers (slightly more secure). I have read though, that a firmware upgrade (or software on the USB) can allow it to be a Router in Wireless in Wireless out mode too but I don't need to go to that level so I haven't explored it.

Finally another nice thing is I can hook up a usb flash drive with things like movies on it. The kids in the back can then stream their own favorite movies directly from the HooToo and USB drive to their devices. With a 32GB Flash Drive, I can get several hours of movies for them to watch hopefully keeping it quiet for the drive. (well with headphones for them)

 

[2goofycampers]

So do I need any cables or anything else for it to work?

 

[peg110]

So do I need any cables or anything else for it to work?

Only cable you might need is an Ethernet cable. That's only if you are connecting it to an Ethernet (Wired) port (like in a hotel or to a cable modem). The one I have is NOT self (battery) powered, but can be powered with a Micro USB cable by either a computer, a rechargeable portable battery pack/bank or by a usb power supply (like that come with phones), it does, however, come with the Micro USB cable. If you are using it to bridge a wireless to wireless connection, then you only need to add power and configure it.

 

[bama_ed]

Denise, what Paul is saying is you only need to use this if you want an EXTRA level of internet security while you are on the Net.

If you don't need one, you don't need to bring anything extra. He's basically creating his own wifi network to connect to the Disney wifi network which provides him some extra security. His identity is hidden by adding the extra level to the network.

When I use my phone for online banking (logging in, paying bills, etc.) I always use my cellular data connection and dont use wifi even at home. Same philosophy - an extra level of protection (assuming 4G is tougher to crack than a public wifi).

For me, using the Disney wifi for posting on the DIS, uploading pictures to Photobucket, checking on Alabama and SEC football topics, or responding to email, I don't require that extra level of security. Just my opinion for myself.

Bama Ed

 

[peg110]

What Ed. Said. Yes..... Completely.

If you aren't doing much where you need super security (Banking, or other "Private" transactions) and your computer or other device are relatively completely patched/protected, chances are you don't need that extra level of protection.

Me, however, since I work in I.T. Security have a healthier level of paranoia about these things. You do NOT need to do these things at the fort and chances are you will be just fine. Just a little common sense will go a long way. If however, you are a frequent traveler to those places that have a "Log In" page to use their free wifi or worse yet they charge you for every connection this is a way to make it easier and cheaper, but by no means required.