Warning RE: Sheraton Vistana Resort & Internet / Cell Service

[Morieris]

Wi-Fi isn't working - While it won't help with the cell issue (Unless you brought your own router and also connected to this port I'm about to bring up, which would be a major security issue), Is there a way to hard-wire connectivity? Those telephone line holes where one could connect an Ethernet cable?

The issue there is do most modern laptops even have ethernet ports? Mine does, but it's a gaming laptop first and foremost.

Sounds like potentially a lot of throughput and the physical and bandwith isn't enough to handle traffic.

 

[dioxide45]

Wi-Fi isn't working - While it won't help with the cell issue (Unless you brought your own router and also connected to this port I'm about to bring up, which would be a major security issue), Is there a way to hard-wire connectivity? Those telephone line holes where one could connect an Ethernet cable?

The issue there is do most modern laptops even have ethernet ports? Mine does, but it's a gaming laptop first and foremost.

Sounds like potentially a lot of throughput and the physical and bandwith isn't enough to handle traffic.

I am also not sure that all of the rooms have wired ports. I recall seeing them in at least one of the phases (perhaps Falls) but not others. Can you confirm wired connections work?

 

[dioxide45]

I follow destination timeshare on youtube and he just did a video on this. It looks like it's still a huge problem and they are now sending pre-arrival emails warning people that they should basically book somewhere else if they want wifi. I can't imagine why they can't get this fixed... This is clearly going to effect bookings, and if I were an owner I would be absolutely furious:

Someone had commented on my video the other day that they called the resort and were told WiFi was working again. I replied to the email sent to me about the WiFI not working and asked if they could confirm. That was last night and I haven't received a reply.

 

[Morieris]

I am also not sure that all of the rooms have wired ports. I recall seeing them in at least one of the phases (perhaps Falls) but not others. Can you confirm wired connections work?

Should have made it clear - I'm not there, just wondering if it's possible

 

[dioxide45]

Should have made it clear - I'm not there, just wondering if it's possible

Okay, sorry. I misunderstood. I know that some of the rooms have wired ports. We have used them on occasion to connect our travel router to. I just don't remember which section it was in, though it had to be Falls, Lakes or Fountains as that was the only sections we have stayed in over the past year. It is also possible that the wired ports won't work either.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Someone had commented on my video the other day that they called the resort and were told WiFi was working again. I replied to the email sent to me about the WiFI not working and asked if they could confirm. That was last night and I haven't received a reply.

This would be fantastic news for my June trip. Please let me know if you hear back.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

This would be fantastic news for my June trip. Please let me know if you hear back.

Agree @dioxide45 - also waiting anxiously for news here too! Thanks for your info!!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Someone had commented on my video

Are you the person who does the Destination Timeshare youtube channel?

 

[dioxide45]

Are you the person who does the Destination Timeshare youtube channel?

Yes, that's me

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Yes, that's me

My wife and I are big fans of your work, especially your resort reviews! Your videos are one of the reasons we tried Vistana in the first place, thanks.

 

[bankr63]

No idea about Villages but the cell data dead zone extends outward from Vistana Resort at least a mile. I’d guess the tower servicing that entire area goes down when the wifi network goes down.

If that is true, then the cellular data issue should be impacting on the Marriott Palms properties too. They are adjacent to Sheraton Vistana Resort.

Just a thought, did you turn off wifi on your phone when it was down? If the provider goes down, but the wifi is still connected (which it seems is what is happening) your phone may be set to prefer wifi over mobile. I've had this happen to me when my provider went down at home and I couldn't connect to the office. I had to turn off wifi to force my phone to connect with mobile data. It may be that you had to drive far enough away to drop the wifi network and then force the connection to mobile data.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

If that is true, then the cellular data issue should be impacting on the Marriott Palms properties too. They are adjacent to Sheraton Vistana Resort.

Just a thought, did you turn off wifi on your phone when it was down? If the provider goes down, but the wifi is still connected (which it seems is what is happening) your phone may be set to prefer wifi over mobile. I've had this happen to me when my provider went down at home and I couldn't connect to the office. I had to turn off wifi to force my phone to connect with mobile data. It may be that you had to drive far enough away to drop the wifi network and then force the connection to mobile data.

I definitely turned off wifi. Believe me I tried everything.

 

[bankr63]

I definitely turned off wifi. Believe me I tried everything.

Good to know, would be interesting to hear from folks at Marriott World Centre/Palms are having issues with cell phone connectivity. There is a pretty good chance the nearest cell tower is on the MWC as the tallest building in the area.

@dioxide45 the new wifi access point in our villa did have a port on it with the new VOIP phone connected. Not sure if the new system is installed in all sections, but I expect all of Courts is done as all of the old antennas have been removed. The resort hasn't made any mention of this in newsletters. The only reason I noticed is because I'm a computer engineer, work in IT, and take interest in such things. If the system is well designed, it will probably have zoning to prevent you from using those ports for direct internet access so that the phones will have QOS access. Always worth a shot though.

I hope it is true that service is restored now. I doubt we will ever know what happened, but I'll update the Vistana thread here if Marriott ever reinstates owner communications/updates and fesses up.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Good to know, would be interesting to hear from folks at Marriott World Centre/Palms are having issues with cell phone connectivity. There is a pretty good chance the nearest cell tower is on the MWC as the tallest building in the area.

I wonder if they would really notice it if marriot world center had working wifi. Most of them would likely have their phones connected to wifi for data and the voice connection on the phone was fine.

 

[dioxide45]

My wife and I are big fans of your work, especially your resort reviews! Your videos are one of the reasons we tried Vistana in the first place, thanks.

Thanks for watching the videos. Strange seeing the word "fans" LOL. Every once in a while now someone will recognize me at a resort. Just happened at Marriott Lakeshore Reserve last week in the pool. Glad you tried out Vistana Resort, outside of the WiFi issues right now the resort is great. My wife isn't as keen on the resort though, but we use it as a base for working during the days and going to Disney in the late afternoon/evenings.

 

[GreatLakes]

Even if the wired ports are in the rooms I'd be surprised if they were hot. Leaving your wired routing in place after a migration to wireless, and without locking it down to specific devices if it is kept, is a big security issue. Those phone ports on the mesh networks are also usually specific to phones and won't let you connected a computer to them. It depends of course on the specific device and settings but most will only be set up to allow a SIP session, not full network access.

I'm booked there in November so I hope this is fixed by then.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

Even if the wired ports are in the rooms I'd be surprised if they were hot. Leaving your wired routing in place after a migration to wireless, and without locking it down to specific devices if it is kept, is a big security issue. Those phone ports on the mesh networks are also usually specific to phones and won't let you connected a computer to them. It depends of course on the specific device and settings but most will only be set up to allow a SIP session, not full network access.

I'm booked there in November so I hope this is fixed by then.

I don’t think I understand a word you just said but we are hoping to book there November too!

 

[dioxide45]

Even if the wired ports are in the rooms I'd be surprised if they were hot. Leaving your wired routing in place after a migration to wireless, and without locking it down to specific devices if it is kept, is a big security issue. Those phone ports on the mesh networks are also usually specific to phones and won't let you connected a computer to them. It depends of course on the specific device and settings but most will only be set up to allow a SIP session, not full network access.

I'm booked there in November so I hope this is fixed by then.

I suspect they are dead ports too. We had an issue while at a Marriott timeshare on Hilton Head that required my wife's computer to be connected to a hard wired connection. Finding the router was the first problem. Maintenance came and opened a door in the ceiling of the utility room above the washer and dryer. They then connected a network cable to it that we could plug in to. But that port didn't do anything. We were able to call the WiFi support and they were able to remote in and activate the port. They turned it off right after we were able to resolve the issue that needed the hard wire and we were then able to use WiFi after that.

 

[erinch]

I was on the phone today with the fabulous Joshua, who handles advance room requests.
He said the wife/cell service appears to be much better. We arrive June 4. I will certainly post a report!

 

[nicksinger8]

I was on the phone today with the fabulous Joshua, who handles advance room requests.
He said the wife/cell service appears to be much better. We arrive June 4. I will certainly post a report!

This is good. I am not going until August so will hold fire on looking for somewhere else. I really don't want to change - we really need an apartment style resort. My daughter does not do well in hotels due to sensory needs. Are there any other recommendations?