Making the internet in the villa wireless

[donaldsgal]

Okay, I'm not sure where this should go, so forgive me if this is the wrong place.

I know that, as DVC members, we get free wired high speed internet in the villas. I have an AirPort Express - this essentially serves as a router that allows me to turn a wired connection, such as through Time Warner Cable, into a wireless network. We are taking two laptops with us on vacation. I tried to use the AirPort Express to make a wireless network last October, but it didn't work. Does anyone know if Disney does not allow this? Maybe I did it wrong. Does anyone know how to do this?

Thanks!

 

[mckryan]

I didn't use AirPort Express, but I did take my Netgear router last year to set up a wireless access point. It worked great for my Macbook and my husband's PC.

 

[donaldsgal]

I didn't use AirPort Express, but I did take my Netgear router last year to set up a wireless access point. It worked great for my Macbook and my husband's PC.

How did you do that?

 

[mckryan]

I just plugged the ethernet cable into my router in the bedroom of the 1 BR villa and turned on my computers and they recognized the router and we were off. It was really easy. I'm not sure why your AirPort express didn't work. I know this is a stupid question, but did you try plugging in directly to computer to make sure the connection was working?

 

[donaldsgal]

I just plugged the ethernet cable into my router in the bedroom of the 1 BR villa and turned on my computers and they recognized the router and we were off. It was really easy. I'm not sure why your AirPort express didn't work. I know this is a stupid question, but did you try plugging in directly to computer to make sure the connection was working?

I have a feeling I did something pretty backwards. I've been doing some reading on various techie websites/blogs about how to do this. I think it may have been a combination of user error (me) and computer problems (my sister's computer is older). I think I should be able to do it this next time. If not, I'll just wire in to the connection (I just have dreams of posting to the DIS during our days off/afternoon breaks from the porch at our villa at OKW).

I don't recall plugging it in to check it, but it was connected in every possible way. I should be able to check on the Mac forums for more help too. At the very least, it's helpful to know it has worked for others. Macs are incredibly user friendly (though the switch from the PC has had a bit of a learning curve), so I'm sure it's just me.

 

[mckryan]

It should be pretty easy. Plug the ethernet cable into the outlet in the room, plug the other end into your AirPort express, find the wireless connection on your computer and go. If it doesn't work, definitely try plugging your computer in directly. If you are still having trouble, you could try the help desk number that's on the card in the room. And yes, definitely check out the Mac forums for help, too. I have faith you'll get it working this time around!

 

[jekjones1558]

donaldsgal,
Maybe this link will help:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29578767#post29578767&highlight=airport%20express
Good luck! I loved using the AE when I bring my laptop.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Okay, I'm not sure where this should go, so forgive me if this is the wrong place.

I know that, as DVC members, we get free wired high speed internet in the villas. I have an AirPort Express - this essentially serves as a router that allows me to turn a wired connection, such as through Time Warner Cable, into a wireless network. We are taking two laptops with us on vacation. I tried to use the AirPort Express to make a wireless network last October, but it didn't work. Does anyone know if Disney does not allow this? Maybe I did it wrong. Does anyone know how to do this?

Thanks!

It worked fine for me at the DAKV. I have an Apple Airport Express, that I use just for travel.

Last Oct we had 4 adults and 2 children using our single connection. For what it's worth that is 4 laptops, and 3 smart phones and a 3 Nintendo DS.

The only issue I had was they seemed to be blocking my IPV6 tunnel. The Airport Express has built-in tunneling for V6, and I use it when I can.

johno

 

[donaldsgal]

It worked fine for me at the DAKV. I have an Apple Airport Express, that I use just for travel.

Last Oct we had 4 adults and 2 children using our single connection. For what it's worth that is 4 laptops, and 3 smart phones and a 3 Nintendo DS.

The only issue I had was they seemed to be blocking my IPV6 tunnel. The Airport Express has built-in tunneling for V6, and I use it when I can.

johno

The last two lines make no sense to me! Sorry - I'm not that savvy. Will that be an issue for me?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

We used the Airport Express at both OKW and BCV in Dec. It's actually the only router I've ever had a problem setting up but once we got it done it worked fine.

 

[donaldsgal]

We used the Airport Express at both OKW and BCV in Dec. It's actually the only router I've ever had a problem setting up but once we got it done it worked fine.

What did you do to get it working?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

What did you do to get it working?

Oh boy - I had been hoping you wouldn't ask that!!! Unfortunately I can't exactly remember. At first I had conflicts with the setup and my home router - and FYI, I have a PC. Finally, using the setup software that came with the airport express I did get that resolved but that's where I can't remember what the problem was.

What I found at WDW is that I often (but not always) had to first do a wired connection with my laptop, then I could connect the airport express and it would work. The strangest part was after having to do that the first time to connect I thought I might have to for every 24 hour period to log back in. But there were 2 occasions that the daily re-connect wasn't required. There probably is something in the setup of the router that wouldn't require this to be done but it wasn't much of a bother to do and it worked afterwards.

I should also add - we did have problems with the wired connection at OKW and in one of the rooms at BCV so that can be the problem as well. IT came and fixed both within a few hours.

 

[donaldsgal]

Oh boy - I had been hoping you wouldn't ask that!!! Unfortunately I can't exactly remember. At first I had conflicts with the setup and my home router - and FYI, I have a PC. Finally, using the setup software that came with the airport express I did get that resolved but that's where I can't remember what the problem was.

What I found at WDW is that I often (but not always) had to first do a wired connection with my laptop, then I could connect the airport express and it would work. The strangest part was after having to do that the first time to connect I thought I might have to for every 24 hour period to log back in. But there were 2 occasions that the daily re-connect wasn't required. There probably is something in the setup of the router that wouldn't require this to be done but it wasn't much of a bother to do and it worked afterwards.

I should also add - we did have problems with the wired connection at OKW and in one of the rooms at BCV so that can be the problem as well. IT came and fixed both within a few hours.

I can always be counted on to to ask tough questions - I'm a counselor! Thanks for posting that. We'll see how it goes. I feel better knowing others have been successful with getting the AE to work. I found that thread from January that was linked above (and you posted there, too, I see), so I'm hoping with the directions from someone there that I can do it. If all else fails, I'll call Apple and the Disney IT people. Thanks for your help and feedback!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

You might want to take a look at this thread too. It's a piece of cake. I was even going to write up a tech document on how to do it but it just wasn't necessary. It's pretty much PnP. I had WAY over-complicated it in my mind.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=28906687#post28906687&highlight=router

 

[donaldsgal]

You might want to take a look at this thread too. It's a piece of cake. I was even going to write up a tech document on how to do it but it just wasn't necessary. It's pretty much PnP. I had WAY over-complicated it in my mind.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=28906687#post28906687&highlight=router

Thanks for posting that!

 

[burnsoc]

I just used my AE two weeks ago at BCV. Plug the ethernet cable directly into your laptop the first time you log on. Then plug the cable into the AE and it should work. We had no problems all week. Just make sure you have your own password set for privacy.

 

[donaldsgal]

I just used my AE two weeks ago at BCV. Plug the ethernet cable directly into your laptop the first time you log on. Then plug the cable into the AE and it should work. We had no problems all week. Just make sure you have your own password set for privacy.

That may have been why it didn't work before. I plugged the AE in, then connected the cable to the AE. I never tried connecting the cable to the computer, then disconnecting and plugging in to the AE then. I'll definitely try that! Thanks!

Everyone posting should be aware that, if I can't get this to work, I'll be posting in frustration with myself and technology on May 4, asking for help again!

 

[jco_direwolf]

The last two lines make no sense to me! Sorry - I'm not that savvy. Will that be an issue for me?

Simple answer-
IPv6 is pretty much like every DVC room having a pac-n-play. If you don't know what it is you most likely don't care.

More complex answer-
Most of the internet runs on IPv4 right now, but there are issues (like addressing, and security.) So the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF, the group that makes the rules for the internet) came up with IPng (Internet Protocol, Next Generation) which then became IPv6. There are ways to run IPv6 over IPv4 (v6 has a built-in compatibility with v4.) Airport Express Base Station knows how to do the v6 encapsulation over v4, and it's really well done (Simple to setup, and to use.)

johno