Wireless routers and ipads

[Mrs Hobbes]

Hi all

Just wondering if any of you have tried using wireless routers in the room with ipads.

Can you plug in your router to the ethernet cable and find it on your ipad just as you would at home. Would I need to configure the router on my mac before I travel? We have always taken our laptop and just used the ethernet cable in the past but now we have our ipad I would rather just make do with that.

It will also mean that the kids can use their ipods too in the room.

Thanks for your help

 

[drusba]

Any wireless router will work, e.g., you can bring your own from home and the IPad will be fine. If you use one for travel, best to buy a portable wireless router. There are a number of good ones including Apple's Airport Express and DLinks portable router. Apple's is more expensive (close to $100) but used ones, which work just as good as new ones, can be purchased for prices closer to what the others sell new ($50 to $60). Key is to set them up to communicate with computer/IPad/IPod Touch at home first and have desired security so you don't have to do that when you get there.

 

[erionm]

I purchased a refurbished Apple AirPort Express from the online apple store. It looked brand new and works perfectly with my iPad and iPhones. I did set it up at home first to enable security so that only those that know the password can connect to it.

 

[quirty30]

I have a cheap Netgear wireless router. Works like a charm. My kids don't have iPads, but they have iPods and they use them at Disney just like at home.

 

[aggiemullins]

I took my Airport Express for my iPad last October. It sounds like Disney hotels have no problem with routers, but because not all hotels allow multiple internet connections through one wired internet connection and because I only have my iPad on vacation and have no way of changing the settings of my airport once I'm at the hotel, I set up my airport for bridged mode from the following instructions:

The step by step to configure the AirPort Express in bridge mode is outlined below. Note that you will need to use the AirPort Utility application for this. On your Mac computer, it's located as follows:

Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility.

Use AirPort Utility - Manual Setup to check some of your settings on the Express.

Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Wireless Mode = Create a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = Your choice
Radio Mode = 802.11n (802.11b/g comatible)
Wireless Security = WPA2 Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal
Wireless Password = Your choice
Verify Password

Click the Internet icon
Connect Using = Ethernet
Connection Sharing = Off (Bridge Mode)
Update to save settings

Power down the Express and connect it to the hotel's ethernet jack using an ethernet cable. Power up the Express. Open your browser to see if the hotel's internet page will appear so you can agree to terms, pay fees, etc. Once you agree, you should be on the internet and wireless should be working.

 

[mphillips76]

We used our iPad for internet when we were in a cabin at FW over Thanksgiving...but we just used the 3G.
;-)

 

[photobob]

It will definitely work with no problem just like at home. Just plug up the router connect with the ethernet cable and go!

 

[Tea4Alice]

Will the 3g iPad work without airport express?

 

[papamouse1]

Will the 3g iPad work without airport express?

Yes. The 3G works through the cellular service package yo buy for the iPad and doesn't need any computer or internet connection. Just like a smartphone

 

[papamouse1]

I only buy the small 3G package for my iPad, so used very sparingly my last trip. Guess I am going to pick up an aiport express for the next trip

 

[erionm]

Will the 3g iPad work without airport express?

The AirPort Express is a wireless router that will allow you to create your own wifi hotspot using a wired connection.

The 3G iPad will work, but Disney will not allow AT&T to put towers up on property, so your signal strength will vary depending on where you are.

 

[erionm]

I only buy the small 3G package for my iPad, so used very sparingly my last trip. Guess I am going to pick up an aiport express for the next trip

Any wireless router will work. I went with the AirPort Express because of it's compact size.

 

[WDWBlue]

we use the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G730AP. Works flawlessly, plug and play. You can find it on Amazon.

 

[Mrs Hobbes]

Thanks for all the comments guess we will be getting a wireless router before our next trip then

We can not use our 3G in the states as coming from the uk with a uk provider we really get stung for the Internet connection, it's good to know we have another option

 

[papamouse1]

Any wireless router will work. I went with the AirPort Express because of it's compact size.

Yep, that is exactly why I want that one

 

[buzz5985]

we use the D-Link AirPlus G DWL-G730AP. Works flawlessly, plug and play. You can find it on Amazon.

This looks great and for under $40!!!! Add free shipping, guess what I am ordering!!!!!!!

Thank You!!!!!

Janis

 

[Cisco]

When we travel to WDW, the very first thing I do is setup the old Netgear router and my hotspot is ready for all laptops, Ipod touches, and Ipad.

I also have a CradlePoint router I tether to my BlackBerry so we have internet in the car on the way.

 

[margitmouse]

All I want is a wireless connection for multiple appliances while traveling- laptops,itouch, ipad.... but in doing the research on the airport express and the D-Link, these things seem like they have really intricate setup processes. As someone who is very nontech-
it's really intimidating.
For these routers, once the initial setup is done , does each appliance have to be individually setup to the units(wireless router) or is it a matter of knowing the new network name and password.

I don't trust taking our old linksys router as it frequently has to be rebooted and I don't even know now if the security(password) is set on it... see how non-tech i am : (
I hope some other people have these questions too.. feeling like technology has left me waaay in the dust!

 

[Judique]

All I want is a wireless connection for multiple appliances while traveling- laptops,itouch, ipad.... but in doing the research on the airport express and the D-Link, these things seem like they have really intricate setup processes. As someone who is very nontech-
it's really intimidating.
For these routers, once the initial setup is done , does each appliance have to be individually setup to the units(wireless router) or is it a matter of knowing the new network name and password.

I don't trust taking our old linksys router as it frequently has to be rebooted and I don't even know now if the security(password) is set on it... see how non-tech i am : (
I hope some other people have these questions too.. feeling like technology has left me waaay in the dust!

I think you can see if it is security enabled - just plug it in and look at your choices when you click connect to a network.

I'm not technologically literate either - I basically just know where the on button is. I function mostly by telling one of the kids to 'fix this for me'.

And - I felt pretty good about that after a relative called from another state to have my son walk them through setup on a printer - hehe - I coulda done that by myself!

 

[dis-happy]

Although we've used a router successfully at WDW many many times in the past, in Jan. we were unable to use it. My dh is in tech and he is wondering if things are being put into place to curtail the use of the routers (if it's left open as a hot spot then Disney is out the internet connection fees). Just our experience and interested to see if anyone else has had trouble recently.