Save Time Reconfiguring WiFi While Traveling
Now that we live several hundred miles away from our closest family, I am finding that we are traveling more frequently. I am also finding that when we travel, we come fully armed with the latest technology. We are, after all, a technology family full of geeks!
We have a separate pack for our technology and it often includes:
- four to six laptops
- two WiFi enabled video players
- three digital cameras
- two cell phones
- two power bars
- miscellaneous chargers
- two MP3 players
- an FM transmitter
- 12VDC to 120VAC power inverter
So, when we move into a new temporary home, be it a hotel room or a friend/family’s home, we first unpack out stuff and then I get to work setting up the tech gear.
One of the issues that I run into time and again is getting the WiFi configured for all the different WiFi devices. Often there are hotels that provide Internet access but they do not have WiFi. You need to plug in your laptop directly to the RJ45 plug and everyone is now fighting over the Internet connection. Or I need to go about and reconfigure each of the units to connect to the wireless because I’m the tech guy! Assuming that a hotel will allow more than one device to log in with the same username and password at the same time. Or that the people whose home we are staying with remember their connection information.
My next step will be to configure a firewall/router that will be permanently installed in my car and run off the battery. I can then remotely connect to it from the WiFi connection and get it to connect via a WiFi client so that I do not have to actually move it or plug it in. I’m thinking something in the Tomato or OpenWrt format.
Then again, if I really got motivated, I might be able to come up with a Slurpr!
2 Responses to “Save Time Reconfiguring WiFi While Traveling”
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Frank Barrett Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 8:27 amI’d go with OpenWrt. If there is a better way to repurpose an old Linksys WRT54G, I don’t know what it’d be.
That is a great idea of installing it in the car! Add a couple Pringle can antennae and you’d be set.
Yet another great post Tim.
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Light & Dark Says:
March 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pmI second the WRT54G, but get the GL version if you can - Linux OS and lots more ram. Adding 3rd part firmware will let you turn up the transmitting power too if needed.
Very cool idea to install it in the car. You may have challenges powering it when the car’s off though. A lot of newer cars don’t provide juice to the accessory socket (aka cigarette lighter) when the engine’s not running. Does yours? (Mine doesn’t.)
Paul
