Wireless, external, hotel modem ?

emuub · 03-02-2009, 13:01

Hi guys - first post - hopefully the first of many.

Starting with a question:
What is a model / make of unit that can wireless connect my laptop - with the restrictions given below ?
===================
My (company) laptop is locked so I cannot use a usb or card modem and has no direct wireless capability.
In hotels (e.g. hilton, moevenpick ) I've accessed the hotel wireless net via an external interface provided by the hotel. This consists of a unit with two cables; one is a USB to get power only and the other plugs into the network (? RJ45) socket of the laptop.
With this activated I can then log on to the hotel's net (usually swisscom) using a time limited password bought from reception.
===================
Thanks for any help

**Chris** · 03-02-2009, 13:19

It sounds like you need this sort of thing:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-802-1...3666833&sr=8-1

Although this Belkin model looks as if it's going to need a mains connection, rather than being powered by a USB port.

I might look into getting one myself, my current employer won't allow wireless to be installed in their laptops so I have a 10-metre cable snaking its way out of the dining room to the router located next to our home computer in the next room.

Raistlin · 03-02-2009, 13:22

I'd be slightly worried that the particular model you're linking to only seems to support WEP

---------- Post added at 13:22 ---------- Previous post was at 13:22 ----------

Ah right, looks like there's a firmware download for it to support WPA/WPA2.

**Chris** · 03-02-2009, 13:23

I wasn't going to link to it initially, for that very reason, until I read some of the buyer feedback. I'd never connect to any network using WEP.

emuub · 03-02-2009, 19:15

Thanks for the reply but this is not at all what I am looking for. Your link is to a "standard" wireless modem.

What I am looking for is described in my original mail.
Typically 12cm (4 1/2") x 2.5cm (1") x 5cm (2") with two leads. There is normally no external antenna (so I guess its internal !).

Jon T · 03-02-2009, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by emuub

Thanks for the reply but this is not at all what I am looking for. Your link is to a "standard" wireless modem.

What I am looking for is described in my original mail.
Typically 12cm (4 1/2") x 2.5cm (1") x 5cm (2") with two leads. There is normally no external antenna (so I guess its internal !).

No, the link supplied is not a modem, it's a wireless to ethernet adapter, and will do exactly the job you need it to do.

popper · 03-02-2009, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by emuub

Hi guys - first post - hopefully the first of many.

Starting with a question:
What is a model / make of unit that can wireless connect my laptop - with the restrictions given below ?
===================
My (company) laptop is locked so I cannot use a usb or card modem and has no direct wireless capability.
In hotels (e.g. hilton, moevenpick ) I've accessed the hotel wireless net via an external interface provided by the hotel. This consists of a unit with two cables; one is a USB to get power only and the other plugs into the network (? RJ45) socket of the laptop.
With this activated I can then log on to the hotel's net (usually swisscom) using a time limited password bought from reception.
===================
Thanks for any help

your refering to a "wireless bridge " as Chris and Jon T pointed out.....

but if your sat there in the hotel trying to do work stuff then its down to the company to supply you this wireless kit....and tell them to stop being antiquated.

if this works laptops got peoples personal data on it, you shouldnt using it for personal use time anyway, just get yourself a cheap and cheerful 10" 3lb "netbook" with internal 11n wireless card and linux on a CF card....and carry that around.

if however your doing off work browsing etc, then providing the works laptop BIOS boots a livecd all you need then is a cheap linux USB wireless key at around Ã‚Â£10 and a copy of say slax http://www.slax.org/forum.php?

OC you might already have the wireless card in the laptop, but its disabled/locked inside windows in which case a linux liveCD might just see it and work no messing around (or not), try it and see...OC many laptops have a manual button on the edge to activate the internal wireless card, did you check that to make sure, whats the model and make etc...

booting a liveCD you can then forget the works windows OS lockout....as you dont access any of the HD (unless you mount and access its MS partitions on purpose OC) its self contained and booting directly off the CD/DVD into ram....

**Chris** · 03-02-2009, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by emuub

Thanks for the reply but this is not at all what I am looking for. Your link is to a "standard" wireless modem.

What I am looking for is described in my original mail.
Typically 12cm (4 1/2") x 2.5cm (1") x 5cm (2") with two leads. There is normally no external antenna (so I guess its internal !).

Not correct. Clearly it's not the same device you were using in the hotel, but it does the same job. It is not a wireless modem/router as you suppose, it's an adaptor that allows you to receive a wireless signal via your regular ethernet port. You asked 'what is a make/model of unit that can wireless connect my laptop', without using a PCMCIA card, USB modem or built-in wireless - well, that Belkin unit can do that.

If you had simply wanted someone to tell you the make and model of the exact device you used in the hotel you should have just said so.

Perhaps someone will be along soon, who recognises your description. Or perhaps you could try ringing the hotel, you may be able to persuade someone on reception to read the make/model number of one of the units.

Hom3r · 03-02-2009, 20:17

I would speak to your IT department first, as doing anything my result in you downloading a virus and other nasties, worst case putting it on your companies network and you will be very popular.

They should allow you some freedom especially if it is helping you do you job, plus the fact you are working away from home and should be in contact with family.

Where I work company laptop are locked to a point but with approval from you manager get a lot of these restrictions lifted.

popper · 03-02-2009, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

I wasn't going to link to it initially, for that very reason, until I read some of the buyer feedback. I'd never connect to any network using WEP.

if your that bothered about using WEP, why didnt you just setup a tunnel on your VM home PC and tunnel into that on the laptop when your outside?

---------- Post added at 20:24 ---------- Previous post was at 20:18 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hom3r

I would speak to your IT department first, as doing anything my result in you downloading a virus and other nasties, worst case putting it on your companies network and you will be very popular.

They should allow you some freedom especially if it is helping you do you job, plus the fact you are working away from home and should be in contact with family.

Where I work company laptop are locked to a point but with approval from you manager get a lot of these restrictions lifted.

thats why a linux liveCD is your best bet as it doesnt touch the HDs unless you want to, if your version mounts the windows partitions, you can just unmount them after booting and so no virus can ever infect your machines HDs, any and all data from the liveCD session is all gone after a reboot...liveCDs the only real option for online banking/shopping etc.

**Chris** · 03-02-2009, 20:25

Actually I don't use any encryption at all. There's no-one else here for miles around to defend it against. If any nerds want to come wardriving past here, they'll stick out like a sore thumb.

The router I have at home has WPA, should I feel the need to switch it on. My home computer (a Mac) sits next to it but uses wireless, whereas the work laptop is cabled to it as my employer has disabled the wireless card. The laptop needs to be constantly connected for VPN.

If I were tempted to replace the long ethernet cable with a wireless adaptor, I would feel honour bound to switch encryption on, as I have access to a certain amount of sensitive data.

emuub · 05-02-2009, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon T

No, the link supplied is not a modem, it's a wireless to ethernet adapter, and will do exactly the job you need it to do.

Ok thanks / sorry - I was a bit quick on that.

1- Any Idea of its physical size ?

2- it requires an external power supply - which I ain't going to carry around with me bu is definately in the right direction.

---------- Post added at 23:24 ---------- Previous post was at 22:52 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by popper

- "but if your sat there in the hotel trying to do work stuff then its down to the company to supply you this wireless kit....and tell them to stop being antiquated."
- "you might already have the wireless card in the laptop, but its disabled"- - "if this works laptop has peoples' personal data on it, you shouldn't be using it for personal use"

Sort of understand your outlook but :-
>>I work for a very up-to-date company that takes security seriously. For that reason my (new) Dell laptop has no wireless device, cannot use a usb modem; USB sticks only work if they have been declared to the machine by IT etc. etc.
>>There is no personal data on the machine. The access is not for personal use.
>> The data transfer is fully encrypted. All data comes via the company server and anything in the way of iffy emails or attachments are stripped of content (leaving just a "sorry - contact IT support") message
>>All security settings are blocked - there is no wireless card in the device.
>>All CD are checked for content before allowing access and if the fail to meet acceptance criteria are blocked
It makes for a difficult life !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

perhaps you could try ringing the hotel, you may be able to persuade someone on reception to read the make/model number of one of the units.

>> Yes you are probably correct - and then I'll come back and see if someone can suggest similar units

Noggo · 06-02-2009, 21:40

so you're after one of these then:
http://www.teleadapt.com/hotels/Trav....%20012208.pdf

**Chris** · 07-02-2009, 10:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noggo

so you're after one of these then:
http://www.teleadapt.com/hotels/Trav....%20012208.pdf

Result! Well found, that man ...

The only problem I can see now is, with them marketing it at hotels, it may be tricky to buy a single unit.

Sir John Luke · 07-02-2009, 10:58

...or then again

http://www.shop.teleadapt.com/uk/vie...Tp=&VCT=&WERR=