Had trouble with home wireless router in WDW. Why?

[Tiger926]

We took our home wireless router with us to OKW last week - of course it worked at home, as it had our settings on it, but when we got to OKW, it didn't work.

We were able to use the Internet, but couldn't receive any wireless setting in our villa. I want to buy an Apple Airport Express, but hubby isn't so sure, as it costs $100.00, so if it doesn't work, we are out that money.

Hubby is very good with computer hardware issues, yet he had a heck of a time with our router in our villa.

Anyone have any ideas or tips about what may have happened? Also, anyone have an Apple Express for their computers - we will be bringing our new Acer Netbook with us.

Tiger

 

[dbs1228]

I do not know but we bought a 38.00 travel router on Amazon (very small and comes in a zipper pouch the size of a wallet) and it worked great at BLT in our 2 bedroom until. We set it up at home with security settings and just plugged it in and was able to use all 3 lap tops (2 DD's in college and they both had work to do, 1 lap top was an Mac). I think there are several post out there on this subject. Good luck

 

[quirty30]

Our relatively inexpensive ($35) Netgear router worked fine at VWL last week until the last evening....then nothing. We tried to reset it but couldn't get it to work again. I have to admit, that it is a little tricky to set up in the first place and for that reason, I have also considered the Apple Airport Express. Seems like it is very user friendly from the reports I have read. But I agree it's pricy.

 

[palaemon]

Our relatively inexpensive ($35) Netgear router worked fine at VWL last week until the last evening....then nothing. We tried to reset it but couldn't get it to work again. I have to admit, that it is a little tricky to set up in the first place and for that reason, I have also considered the Apple Airport Express. Seems like it is very user friendly from the reports I have read. But I agree it's pricy.

I agree, Apple stuff is pricy. However, We have always been happy with them. Even if we get a lemon, Apple takes good care of you.

Here's what I'd do and what I'd suggest:

Go to the "Sale" section of the Apple Store Online, and buy a refurbished Airport Express. It's $69 and carries the same warranty as new. This is how we buy most of our Apple stuff (besides iPhones & iPads that *must* be bought asap )

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have had issues at times with the airport express also. At AKV in Jan I only got it to work 1 out of 3 days. I also used a less expensive router one trip and while it worked perfectly at BWV I never did get it to work at VWL.

 

[squitty]

I agree, Apple stuff is pricy. However, We have always been happy with them. Even if we get a lemon, Apple takes good care of you.

Here's what I'd do and what I'd suggest:

Go to the "Sale" section of the Apple Store Online, and buy a refurbished Airport Express. It's $69 and carries the same warranty as new. This is how we buy most of our Apple stuff (besides iPhones & iPads that *must* be bought asap )

Thank you for this information, I have just got a Airport Express from the UK refurbished section for a very good price.

 

[Tiger926]

I agree, Apple stuff is pricy. However, We have always been happy with them. Even if we get a lemon, Apple takes good care of you.

Here's what I'd do and what I'd suggest:

Go to the "Sale" section of the Apple Store Online, and buy a refurbished Airport Express. It's $69 and carries the same warranty as new. This is how we buy most of our Apple stuff (besides iPhones & iPads that *must* be bought asap )

Thank you for this information, I have just got a Airport Express from the UK refurbished section for a very good price.

Thanks for the suggestion, but Apple Canada wants $89.00 for a reburbished one, or $99.00 for a new one. Not a great deal at all...

Hmmm...I would hate to purchase it, and then not have it work at WDW, as that is the only reason we would be buying it, but based on other responses above, it seems that this may be a common problem, so our issue was not unique at all.

I'll talk about it with hubby. Thanks, Tiger

 

[TisBit]

If the internet was working without the router, most likely it was something in the router settings. Depending on what type of high speed you have at home, the settings could end up being a little different, preventing it from working (example, some networks require a log in, which is stored in the router, which could have caused an issue at Disney). There are so many variables it can be mind numbing, it also could have just been an issue with the network and the router was having issues, but the laptop was able to connect.

 

[kikiq]

And let me warn you that the Disney resort Tech group will not help you if you even mention Apple. It took us 2 calls to get them to realize that we had checked all settings and couldn't even get internet directly from the drop with their ethernet cord and our own ethernet cord. All because once we told them we were using Apple Express and macs, they went into this "We don't troubleshoot Apple products".

 

[palaemon]

And let me warn you that the Disney resort Tech group will not help you if you even mention Apple. It took us 2 calls to get them to realize that we had checked all settings and couldn't even get internet directly from the drop with their ethernet cord and our own ethernet cord. All because once we told them we were using Apple Express and macs, they went into this "We don't troubleshoot Apple products".

The irony is that Steve Jobs is the largest shareholder of Disney.

 

[disneynutz]

The irony is that Steve Jobs is the largest shareholder of Disney.

TV, Telephone, and HSIA are provided by a outside vendor, not Disney. The Techs have a policy to not support any customer supplied equipment, not just Apple products.

Bill

 

[pnyltwk]

Does your router provide DHCP funtionality at home or do you have another device doing that?

 

[DenLo]

We brought an older DLink to WDW and we could never get it to work. My two BILs both worked on it for a couple of hours. Then on our next trip we bought a Airport Express set it up at home and like others have said it worked great at WDW. We've used it at other hotels that require a hardwire connection.

 

[n2mm]

I do not know but we bought a 38.00 travel router on Amazon (very small and comes in a zipper pouch the size of a wallet) and it worked great at BLT in our 2 bedroom until. We set it up at home with security settings and just plugged it in and was able to use all 3 lap tops (2 DD's in college and they both had work to do, 1 lap top was an Mac). I think there are several post out there on this subject. Good luck

Sounds like the one we have....DLink? It works great and is so tiny and easy to travel with.

 

[Skip Wiley]

If you have issues try plugging the router directly into the modem instead of using the wall jack, on two occasions I stayed in rooms that must have had bad wall jacks, once I plugged directly into the modem it worked fine.

 

[Tiger926]

Does your router provide DHCP funtionality at home or do you have another device doing that?

We aren't sure about that...what exactly does that refer to?

If you have issues try plugging the router directly into the modem instead of using the wall jack, on two occasions I stayed in rooms that must have had bad wall jacks, once I plugged directly into the modem it worked fine.

Yup, we always plug it straight into the modem, as the wall jacks are problematic. We've stayed at all resorts, except for BLT and Treehouses, and we've had connection issues of some sort at many of them. Have spent a long time with tech support as well...

Thanks, Tiger

 

[dbs1228]

Sounds like the one we have....DLink? It works great and is so tiny and easy to travel with.

Yes I believe so someone on the boards months ago gave a direct link and I bought it. I also used it at AKV and it was plug and play not a problem at all. And so little!

 

[yitbos96bb]

We took our home wireless router with us to OKW last week - of course it worked at home, as it had our settings on it, but when we got to OKW, it didn't work.

We were able to use the Internet, but couldn't receive any wireless setting in our villa. I want to buy an Apple Airport Express, but hubby isn't so sure, as it costs $100.00, so if it doesn't work, we are out that money.

Hubby is very good with computer hardware issues, yet he had a heck of a time with our router in our villa.

Anyone have any ideas or tips about what may have happened? Also, anyone have an Apple Express for their computers - we will be bringing our new Acer Netbook with us.

Tiger

Why would you be out the money? Save the receipt and return it... Just buy at a national retailer like Walmart or Best Buy and you can return when you get home.

My guess is your router got damaged on the plane, reset somehow, or there was a misconfiguration.

 

[yitbos96bb]

We aren't sure about that...what exactly does that refer to?



Yup, we always plug it straight into the modem, as the wall jacks are problematic. We've stayed at all resorts, except for BLT and Treehouses, and we've had connection issues of some sort at many of them. Have spent a long time with tech support as well...

Thanks, Tiger

DHCP Functionality means it assigns an IP address vs you manual entering one.

To troubleshoot: Make sure all the cables are plugged in and you see connection lights depending on the model of the wireless router.

Connect your laptop to the wireless. If running windows, hit the Windows key and r, to bring up the RUN box. Type CMD into the box and then run

When the command prompt opens, type ipconfig. Look for an IP address assigned to the machine. It will most likely be either a 10.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x or 172.x.x.x number. If it starts with 169, then you are most likely not connected to the wireless or the wireless DHCP isn't working.

If its working, log into the wireless admin console... check your manual for how. Check the status and make sure the WAN side of the router gets an IP address. From there you should be able to narrow down the issue.

 

[pnyltwk]

DHCP Functionality means it assigns an IP address vs you manual entering one.

To troubleshoot: Make sure all the cables are plugged in and you see connection lights depending on the model of the wireless router.

Connect your laptop to the wireless. If running windows, hit the Windows key and r, to bring up the RUN box. Type CMD into the box and then run

When the command prompt opens, type ipconfig. Look for an IP address assigned to the machine. It will most likely be either a 10.x.x.x, 192.168.x.x or 172.x.x.x number. If it starts with 169, then you are most likely not connected to the wireless or the wireless DHCP isn't working.

If its working, log into the wireless admin console... check your manual for how. Check the status and make sure the WAN side of the router gets an IP address. From there you should be able to narrow down the issue.

I assume that your P.C is set up for DHCP. At home does the wireless router connect directly to your ISP (internet service provider) or does it connect to a modem? If it connects to a modem who configured the wirelss router on your home LAN?