which one do you use? unfortunately most hotel rooms nowadays use ethernet cables not wi-fi....which one do you use with your Macbook air when travelling Ethernet Adapter or Airport Express?
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Ethernet Adapter Vs.Airport Express for travelling with your Macbook Air..
- Thread starter animatedude
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even those hotel has wifi, sometimes they only allow one device using the network..., i have iphone, ipad and the macbook air..., and sometime my wife travel with me too, and she has her own laptop and iphone..., so i always have more than one device connect to the hotel network, therefore the airport express is more convenience...
No idea what kind of hotels you are staying in or where, but I travel to a minimum of 40 different countries and at least half of the states in the USA each year. With the exception of some very old, independent hotels in the US, WiFi access is far and away the most prevalent connectivity offered.
If your travels are primarily within a single country, I would strongly recommend you buy yourself some form of mobile hotspot gadget (or enable Tethering on your phone) and then just use that. For me, I've got a Verizon-powered MiFi in my backpack hooked up to an external battery. I generate my own WiFi personal hotspot bubble everywhere I go and that is my primary internet connection while traveling. I have similar gizmo's for use in Europe and the Middle East. Terrific option and actually, with the right plans, FAR cheaper than paying for hotel WiFi access.
But ethernet? Only reason you need that on an MBA is for faster connection to your home network.
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I'm really an ethernet guy but for travelling WiFi is much more widely available.
But at home and at the office (including remote offices when travelling) I always prefer to plug in for a faster and more stable connection. Of course the 'faster' doesn't really apply with the MBA because the USB Ethernet Adaptor is only 100mbit. But even WiFi-N will struggle to achieve those speeds unless you're right next to the access point.
But at home and at the office (including remote offices when travelling) I always prefer to plug in for a faster and more stable connection. Of course the 'faster' doesn't really apply with the MBA because the USB Ethernet Adaptor is only 100mbit. But even WiFi-N will struggle to achieve those speeds unless you're right next to the access point.
+1. I'm curious as to where the OP does travel to make a statement that "most hotel rooms nowadays use ethernet cables not wi-fi". I travel quite a bit and can't remember the last time I was in a hotel without WiFi. That includes Mexico and Europe.
I have a different experience...
For the last 6 weeks alone, I have been to KL (6 times), Beijing, Jakarta, Perth, Ho-Chi-Minh and Dubai. Stayed in all nice international hotel (Shangri-La, Sheraton, Hyatt, etc) and in at least deluxe rooms to junior suites.
I had wireless connection in the room only once.
And in HCM, I was required to create a single ID/PW to access Internet so that even prevented the use of my Airport Express to allow simultaneous connection with iPad / iPhone.
To answer the OP, I always travel with the Airport Express to expand my own access in the hotel room. Or share with colleague in office when there is only 1 Ethernet connection left in the spare office / conference room.
Why not just use the ethernet adapter with your MBA and then use Internet Sharing on your MBA to broadcast a wifi signal to your other devices?
The choice of connectivity isn't necessarily consistent among locations owned by the same hotel chain, either. I've been to a few timeshare-style resorts owned by Wyndham, and here's the rundown:
- Wyndham Bonnet Creek (Orlando/Disney): Ethernet only in rooms, 1 connection. Wi-Fi in the main lobby area only.
- Wyndham Smoky Mountains (Sevierville TN): WiFi only in rooms (routers hidden behind bolted-down plastic covers, and not in every unit).
- Wyndham Panama City Beach Resort (Panama City Beach, FL): Ethernet only in rooms (numerous connections, though; one behind every TV and another beside the couch). Wi-Fi only near the Skyway bridging the room tower and the lobby.
- Wyndham Ocean Walk (Daytona Beach FL): No connectivity in rooms at all; WiFi in lobby area only.
You need a fourth option. I use an ASUS WL-330gE portable WiFi hotspot. The airport express is probably a better option (AirPlay)
As most have said, having the AirPort Express is indeed handy for travel. I've been in hotels (budget and expensive) and have found that most have had weak to poor WiFi service in room. Most times they've installed a standard ethernet jack which gets one machine online. Having a profile that shares the internet configured on the AirPort Express allows me to get multiple devices online. So I've always brought along an AirPort Express to create my own secure connection (WPA2) in my room vs. using the "free WiFi" provided by the hotel. Of course you could always throw in your own layer using VPN but that's for another thread.
yes i stayed in 5 star hotels in both London and Dubai and they both offer Ethernet only...
for those of you who think most hotels nowadays have WIFI you will be shocked...but i think in the US it's totally different story, i have never been to the US but as far as i know WIFI is the norm over there when it comes to hotel rooms.
for those of you who think most hotels nowadays have WIFI you will be shocked...but i think in the US it's totally different story, i have never been to the US but as far as i know WIFI is the norm over there when it comes to hotel rooms.
Yeah, the way I look at it is you're pretty much covered for everything with an AEx, but not necessarily if you have only an ethernet adapter.
I haven't stayed at many hotels in the USA that had WiFi, most seem to have ethernet connections. So far my Apple Ethernet connector has worked just fine with them, using my MBA 11" 
.
.Best to bring both. It's not like the ethernet adapter takes up any space.
I do this, and have iPhone tethering as a backup. I can't rely on internet at the hotels I stay at. It varies room to room, and I seem to always get the dead zone.
Armed to the teeth.
I do this, and have iPhone tethering as a backup. I can't rely on internet at the hotels I stay at. It varies room to room, and I seem to always get the dead zone.
Armed to the teeth.
I use this with my 11" air when I'm on the road and I need it.
Works greats, you have to install drivers
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031102&p_id=5345&seq=1&format=2
Works greats, you have to install drivers
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031102&p_id=5345&seq=1&format=2
All the hotels I have stayed at (Hilton) have wireless. If anything I can pair my MacAir to my iPhone4 via bluetooth (teathering).
Speaking as a fairly frequent traveler in the US.
Marriott in Cleveland/Westlake. That includes Townplace Suites and Residence Inn. Both are ethernet only. I think WiFi is down in the lobby. Residence I know has WiFi down in the courtesy area, but not in the rooms.
Holiday Inn in Seattle. Ethernet.
Holiday Inn in Minneapolis. Ethernet.
That's just three major ones.
On the flip side, every casino hotel I've been in has been WiFi. Even a run down one in the center of Summerlin/Las Vegas, NV.
I think the reality is that some hotels just refuse to put in the infrastructure to support WiFi for whatever reason because they don't believe there's any value to it. A lot of them stick to the old ways of what a hotel is all about.
I stay a minimum of 100 nights per year in hotels...I find that many hotels have wifi, but even the likes of Marriott, Westins, Hiltons, and Hyatts have wifi throughout their hotels but many dont have wifi in the rooms, only ethernet. I carry around a Verizon mifi when I travel, but always have my ethernet adapter handy just in case. Ive even stayed at marriott's in New York City where there is ZERO phone signal in the room and no wifi, this is in times square. for $29 its completely worth making sure you have a ethernet connection for your MBA, and bringing the Airport Express is small enough for its convenience as well.....I'll be bringing my Airport Express with me on a trip to the bahamas to give me and my family internet connectivity at the same time without everyone paying for wifi at the same time....saves me $15/person/day