Multiple devices on one hotel internet subscription

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Multiple devices on one hotel internet subscription

Hi

I have found myself with an issue. I have an airport express and multiple network devices I want to use in an hotel room. The hotel requires a fee per 24 hours with a login screen. I have tried and configured the express to use bridged mode and also to distribute a range of IP address’s. When

I use each device they all first go to the logon screen requiring a fee. Now I have had this up and running in another hotel where I was able to bypass the login screen once the first device was logged in.

I think that the issue may be that I used the laptop this morning to login and pay the fee, and maybe the hotel network is using the laptop mac address as the device the fee has been paid against. I have set the express with the IP the laptop received and disrupted IP’s to the other devices with no luck.

I may just have to wait 24 hours to pay the fee again using a device behind the express. Which should see the express mac address as the device requiring internet service.

Anyone have another idea’s

Thanks

iPad, iOS 4

Posted on Jan 4, 2011 11:37 AM

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Answer 1

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,488 points

Jan 4, 2011 11:43 AM in response to caesarson

Try setting up the Express to "Share a public IP address". That way the hotel router only "sees" one device. You'll probably get a Double NAT message when you try this. Click to "ignore".

The "Share" setup will work about 50-60% of the time at hotels in my experience.
If it does work, you'll be able to connect as many devices as you want and pay only one fee since the hotel router only "sees" one device.

In Bridge Mode, the hotel router "sees" each device. If your set the AX to distribute a range of addresses the same thing occurs. You want the router to only see one device, the AX. Worth a try.

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Answer 2

caesarson Author

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Jan 4, 2011 2:24 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks for the reply. I did try this and got the NAT error. I'll ingnore it and give it go. Will let you know

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Answer 3

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,488 points

Jan 4, 2011 2:30 PM in response to caesarson

Thanks for the follow up. Hotels usually limit bandwidth per ethernet port, so you may notice some slowdown with multiple devices connected simultaneously. Sounds like it's going to work for you.

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Answer 4

caesarson Author

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Jan 4, 2011 11:47 PM in response to Bob Timmons

still no luck, second devices go straight to the login screen and prompted for payment. Will have to wait for the payed session to end. Will let you know

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Answer 5

caesarson Author

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Jan 5, 2011 10:49 AM in response to caesarson

All working now. Once the first session had ended I made sure I connected via the express. I can now use as many devices behind the airport as I like. Just have to make sure I always connect via the airport express next time

Thanks

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Answer 6

Kelvinb

Level 1

7 points

Feb 20, 2011 7:59 PM in response to caesarson

Hi

Thanks for sharing your details. I will be in the same situation soon and will want to share my wired Internet connection to multiple WIFI devices. Can you please confirm you did the following:

1. Connect the Airport Express to the Hotel network port
2. Airport Express is pre-set to BRIDGE mode
3. Connect iPhone (or iPad) to Airport Express
4. Iphone get the hotel login prompt and logs in
5. Subsequent mobile devices can connect to the Airport Express and access Internet

How I got that correct?

Thanks in advance

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,488 points

Feb 20, 2011 8:07 PM in response to Kelvinb

All correct except for #5, which may or may not work. Hotels are rapidly starting to charge for each device that connects and the hotel router will know when you try to connect another device.

That's why I suggested the Share a public IP address setting. In this setting, (which worked for the other user) the hotel router only sees one device...the AirPort Express. It does not know how many devices are connected to the AirPort Express in this setting. In bridge mode, it does.

Remember there are never any guarantees with hotel connections. What works at one hotel will not work at another. You need to be able to make adjustments and configuration changes on the fly according to the circumstances at hand. In other words, it's really not possible to pre-configure the Airport Express for any hotel connection.

Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Answer 8

Kelvinb

Level 1

7 points

Feb 20, 2011 8:17 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks Bob

Much appreciated. It there a way I can change configuration if I am only using an iPhone?

Thanks + regards

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Answer 9

Bob Timmons

Level 10

186,488 points

Feb 20, 2011 8:24 PM in response to Kelvinb

Unfortunately, you need AirPort Utility to make changes and it's not available for the iPhone or iPad.

If it were me and I had only one choice for configuration before I left on the trip, I would configure the Express in bridge mode and try to convince the hotel that they should only charge me for one connection.

Sometimes, with the "share" setup, you can't even get past the hotel's log in page because the hotel's network won't allow another device to perform routing functions on the network.

Are you sure the hotel has ethernet ports? They are getting to be very hard to find these days.

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