Set up for using more than 1 computer at the same time??

[KristineN]

I swear this was talked about before...but I couldn't find the thread.

I have a spit stay coming up at AKV & BWV....2 or 3 laptops are coming along. What is the best/easiest/cheapest way to set up an environment for multiple computer use?

Thanks

 

[Tozzie]

I swear this was talked about before...but I couldn't find the thread.

I have a spit stay coming up at AKV & BWV....2 or 3 laptops are coming along. What is the best/easiest/cheapest way to set up an environment for multiple computer use?

Thanks

You would need to bring a router with you as the only internet accessis wired and there is only 1 port in the room

 

[ParrotBill]

So two choices:

A) Wired
Buy a cheap Ethernet switch and Ethernet cord for each PC. Try not to trip when you move around.

B) Wireless
Bring a wireless router/switch like you would use for a home wireless network. Configure an SSID (identity name) for your wireless and test it before you leave home! Each PC connects to the wireless service you configure.

 

[disneynutz]

You would need a wireless router or many resorts have a wired router under the desk in the bedroom or behind the night stand. The wired router would require a long Ethernet cable for each of the computers so the wireless method which has a slower connection speed would still be the better choice.

 

[KristineN]

as a non tech person...can you guys just verify for me.

so I buy another router....unplug my current one...plug this one in and configure it to all the laptops coming with.

unplug & pack it

replug exiting one.

now....when this is all done, and I replug in my normal home wireless router...all the settings on the laptops will still work? I don't need to redo anything right?

and...so I get to WDW and plug this wireless router into the wall using an Ethernet cable?

I want to make sure I am grasping this.

THANKS!!!!

 

[ParrotBill]

I think you have it...

so I buy another router....unplug my current one...plug this one in and configure it to all the laptops coming with.
YES


unplug & pack it
replug exiting one.
YES


now....when this is all done, and I replug in my normal home wireless router...all the settings on the laptops will still work? I don't need to redo anything right?
YES

Your PCs should be willing to connect to the first known Wireless service it has in its list... the normal home one or the newly seen and recently connected one for travel.


and...so I get to WDW and plug this wireless router into the wall using an Ethernet cable?

 

[cogero]

we keep a wireless router in our owners locker. I actually bought the same one I use at home so DH and I can bring our laptops.

 

[work2play]

Be sure to turn on security! While at BLT two weeks ago, I had over 200 failed attempts to login to my wireless router!! They are wonderful!

 

[gk90]

FYI when we stayed at Kidani in a 2BR we found out that the only place to connect the computer was in the master bedroom, so if you're going to be using a wired router make sure you have an ethernet cable that's at least 20 ft.

 

[Micca]

...I have a spit stay coming up at AKV & BWV....2 or 3 laptops are coming along...

Be sure to wipe them down before you plug them in

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I got my wireless router to work for me in two of the three rooms we were in on this last trip.

I purchased it to leave in my Owner's Locker. Before leaving for the trip, I set it up at home. Configured it with an SSIC and gave it a security key.

I plugged it in and it worked perfectly in both the THV and BWV.

When we got to BCV, though, it wouldn't work. I plugged my laptop in directly, and it wouldn't work, either. I called for technical support, and he walked me through changing my port settings from automatic to a specific speed and duplex. When I asked him to help me make those same settings in the router, he told me they're not allow to provide any help for routers.

So, I sat there tethered at the desk for the nights we were in that room.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

You would need a wireless router or many resorts have a wired router under the desk in the bedroom or behind the night stand. The wired router would require a long Ethernet cable for each of the computers so the wireless method which has a slower connection speed would still be the better choice.

I didn't have any luck with plugging directly into their router in any of the rooms we were in this year. I think they had the un-used ports locked.

The only place I was able to get access was via the wall jack marked HSIA. (Or in the case of the THV, the desktop jack.)

 

[DenLo]

We took our old wireless DLink router and could not get it to work. Three men worked on it, two of which are real hardware geeks. I read on another thread that the Apple Airport Express works great. We plan to buy one for our next trip.

I found the other thread. Here's the link: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2243720&highlight=wireless+router

 

[n2mm]

Be sure to turn on security! While at BLT two weeks ago, I had over 200 failed attempts to login to my wireless router!! They are wonderful!

I can see how this can happen. While at the WLV in July, everytime I turned on my netbook it tried to connect to someone's wireless rounter nearby. It would tell me there is a wireless connection available and if I openned it it generally had 4-5 listed. I told my DH that those are the wireless routers' people bring with them. I just used the cable in my room. I may get a wireless router though as I didn't like being limited to one spot in the room.

 

[corpcomp]

Then again you could just leave all three laptops home and pretend you are going there on vacation

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Well our last stay with 4 teenage boys was very aggrevating as they are used to staying up until the wee hours on their laptops chatting with friends etc and although we were in a 2 bedroom, only the master had connectivity. So, my afternoon naps were spent fighting for bed/room space as they were constantly in there on the internet. They claimed "homework" but lets be real, they don't do that much homework all week normally at college.

Is there like a splitter or something where several ethernet cords could plug in at one time? I don't want to try to figure out the wireless thing and I could at least limit their time on if all of them could get on at once.

 

[majortom1981]

Well our last stay with 4 teenage boys was very aggrevating as they are used to staying up until the wee hours on their laptops chatting with friends etc and although we were in a 2 bedroom, only the master had connectivity. So, my afternoon naps were spent fighting for bed/room space as they were constantly in there on the internet. They claimed "homework" but lets be real, they don't do that much homework all week normally at college.

Is there like a splitter or something where several ethernet cords could plug in at one time? I don't want to try to figure out the wireless thing and I could at least limit their time on if all of them could get on at once.

Its called an ethernet switch and they are pretty cheap on newegg.com they sell off brands for as little as $12 (company called trendnet).

 

[MomsOf2boys]

Its called an ethernet switch and they are pretty cheap on newegg.com they sell off brands for as little as $12 (company called trendnet).

Thank you! This is perfect.

 

[ParrotBill]

Careful!

A switch alone may or may not work. Some networks have their ports set to allow only one computer at a time (single MAC address)... if this happens the switch will not enable a second computer to work.

The way to get around this is to use a home router as described above ... wired or wireless. The router uses the assigned single address, and then the router operates a local network for you and gives out addresses to your PCs.

It does something called NAT (Network address translation) that allows your multiple PCs to work over the single assigned address.

 

[Snowgod]

If you want to Keep it simple. Try this, Take the first laptop and plug it in to the network port. Go into the energy saver settings in control panel and set the computer to not go to sleep. Now go into network settings and set up you computer as a gateway for a shared network (you can use the Network Connections utility in accessories on a windows computer). Now your wireless connection can be used for the second computer to connect to. You can even add a password to secure it. Good luck and have fun.