burgerwars
join:2004-09-11
Northridge, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
| Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA into?
I just ordered a Sipura 2002. It will mainly be a spare telephone adapter, along with supporting my open access VoicePulse account. I figure I could travel with it, rather than disconnecting another TA plugged into my home network each time.
Which hotels or other public places has anyone gotten their's connected to, hopefully without needing to reconfigure the thing? It's just plain easier leaving it with my home DHCP configuration. |
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dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI
| Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA in
thats a nice thought, but consider hotels are more than likely to be using NAT. in this case perhaps you can dial out, but I would be surprised if you could dial in?
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dnoyeB
"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard. " Ecclesiastes 9:16
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Hooper
Premium
join:2001-10-22
Villanova, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to burgerwars
I am on the road all the time for work, and would venture to guess that 75% or more of the places I stay have wireless internet (some will loan you a bridge if they have one). So unless you are also carrying around a bridge... it just isn't worth the hassle.
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Area Code & Exchange Lookup |
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voiplover
Premium
join:2004-05-28
Portsmouth, NH
 ·Axvoice
edit:
August 8th, @02:28AM
| reply to burgerwars
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA into?
At the most, hotels will have to pay a small fee to connect to broad band so most issue you a user name and PW to login. To save yourself a lot of hassle get an extra ethernet card for your lap top and use it as a pass through to your sipura.  |
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gnexus
join:2005-06-24
edit:
August 8th, @05:22AM
| reply to burgerwars
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA in
said by burgerwars  :Which hotels or other public places has anyone gotten their's connected to, hopefully without needing to reconfigure the thing? It's just plain easier leaving it with my home DHCP configuration. Uhhh. . .it WILL work anywhere any other DHCP device like a laptop would work. 
Provided, of course, that it's set up for firewalls correctly. That shouldn't have to be changed unless your home network is set up EXTREMELY screwy, which undoubtedly it is not. So you would be fine, but please let us know how well it works out.
I plan on getting a SPA-3000 and using my 2002 for travel since it's so small. A wireless device, such as a PDA, would be even better. Maybe a wireless iPAQ for Christmas. . .
The quality will likely be rather variable, but it will certainly work ok. It's the same quality issue deal as with cell phones. The only issue is firewall traversion. You should set the SPA for a worst case firewall situation using STUN, even if you don't need it for your home network. If it works good like that at home then no setting changes on the road would be neccessary. If use of STUN creates problems on your network then you would have to disable it and then reenable it for travel. Normally STUN is used w/o probs.
Occasionally you might run into a network where even STUN doesn't work. It is doubtful a hotel network would be that way, but in that case the Sipura won't work. The only solution then would be a softphone which uses X-tunnels or a similar solution, or Skype. Your best solution would be to change hotels immediately and let us know here so we can avoid that hotel chain. Good luck!
STS-114 is now go for OMS deorbit burn!
Edit: But the weather stopped em, oh well, always tommorrow. . .payload doors reopened |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
| reply to voiplover
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA into?
said by voiplover :Most hotels you have to pay a small fee to connect to broad band so most issue you a user name and PW to login. IMO, most hotels these days do not charge for broadband access; however, the username/pw requirement is valid and can be a major obstacle in getting a VoIP adapter working.
The authentication process @ hotels typically involves connecting a laptop to the hotel's network, opening up a web browser, and authenticating the connection at the web-page which appears. (Prior to authenticating, all internet traffic is typically re-directed to the authentication IP ADDRESS).
The way to get VoIP working in such situations is to:
a) Connect a router to the hotel's network
b) Connect the VoIP adapter to the router
c) Connect a laptop to the router.
d) Open up a web-browser in the laptop and authenticate internet connectivity using the hotel's supplied username/pw (where username is usually your room #).
After step (d) above, the router's WAN assigned IP address will be authenticated for internet access. Thus, all devices behind the router will have internet access as well.
If your VoIP adapter is a combination TA/router, combine steps a & b above into one. 
Rizzo |
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gnexus
join:2005-06-24
| Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA in
I believe there's another way that should work that doesn't need a router:
Write down the MAC address of your laptop. Make sure it is readable and dont lose it. Before travelling, clone the MAC address of your ATA into your laptop using the registry hack. Verify it matches the ATA and make sure it works on your network. Keep in mind that the laptop and ATA can't coexist on the network at the same time after cloning the MAC, so temporarily disconnect the ATA before testing.
At the hotel log in with your laptop. After the laptop is connected QUICKLY plug in the ATA instead. Most authentication servers have a timeout, which will keep the connection going for a bit, so the ATA should work.
Make sure to set your laptop MAC back to the old one before connecting back up to your network. By simply saving each registry key as a .reg file you can simply double click on them to go easily back and forth. |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
| That method should work as well. Of course for those who want to connect both their laptop and their ATA, unless the hotel offers both WIRED and WIRELESS connectivity, you'll need some type of external "adapter" for one or both devices.
Scenario 1: Hotel only offers wireless connectivity:
You'll need an ethernet to wireless bridge for your ATA. Laptop can use its standard Wifi adapter.
Scenario 2: Hotel only offes wired connectivity:
You'll need a hub, switch, or router to share the (typically) single wired connection in your room w/ both the laptop & ATA.
Scenario 3: Hotel offers both wired & wireless in-room
Connect ATA to wired connection (afer having done laptop MAC cloning technique above). Connect laptop wirelessly (after you've changed its MAC address back to original).
In scenarios 1 & 3, you can eliminate the need for an "extra adapter" by connecting your ATA to your laptop's ethernet port (via a crossover cable) and enabling ICS on the laptop's wifi connection (assuming the hotel's DHCP network doesn't use the 192.168.0.x subnet). The ATA will only be operable though while the laptop is powered on.
If you travel w/ a router such as a WRT54G (w/ 3rd party firmware installed, such as SVEASOFT Alchemy), you can use that router as a wireless bridge, regular router, or simple ethernet switch.
Linksys makes a travel sized 54G router too which may use the same firmware as the WRT54G; however, I've never reasearched it.
Rizzo |
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gnexus
join:2005-06-24
| said by rizzo2dial :Linksys makes a travel sized 54G router too which may use the same firmware as the WRT54G; however, I've never reasearched it. Rizzo Excellent post! I haven't heard of the travel WRT, sounds interesting.
A more elegant solution, which I'm hoping to get, is something like an iPAQ:
h6315
You could use it with Bluetooth headset as regular phone until it hits a hotspot or a wired connection, then use VoIP. New one has GPS built-in, but has smaller screen and no WiFI or dual card slot. Heard there are a few bugs with both, however.
Asus makes PDA which would work well also. No phone in it. |
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tj008
join:2004-06-24
Cincinnati, OH
| reply to rizzo2dial
said by rizzo2dial :Scenario 1: Hotel only offers wireless connectivity:You'll need an ethernet to wireless bridge for your ATA. Laptop can use its standard Wifi adapter. In scenarios 1 & 3, you can eliminate the need for an "extra adapter" by connecting your ATA to your laptop's ethernet port (via a crossover cable) and enabling ICS on the laptop's wifi connection (assuming the hotel's DHCP network doesn't use the 192.168.0.x subnet). The ATA will only be operable though while the laptop is powered on. If you travel w/ a router such as a WRT54G (w/ 3rd party firmware installed, such as SVEASOFT Alchemy), you can use that router as a wireless bridge, regular router, or simple ethernet switch.
I will be traveling soon and have been pondering this issue. Can you offer some more information on how to do this configuration: Hotel's Wireless --> Router WRT54G --> computer, ATA.
How does one put the WRT (Alchemy firmware) in a wireless bridge ethernet mode? Will it still be able to do DHCP? Im guessing that my computer will be able to access their wireless network thru the linksys router page to make everything work.
Ive never traveled with voip and computer in tow before and would like to know what im getting myself into.
Thanks!
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DSL. Voip cos: Paid- Nuvio, SunRocket, ViaTalk; Free- FWD, SIPphone, GalaxyVoice, InPhonex. Voip providers on trial: none. Tried: wIPphone, Teleo, Broadvoice, Lingo. |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
| First, find out what sub-net the hotel's network runs on. If it's 192.168.1.x, and if your WRT54G is also configured for 192.168.1.x, change your WRT54G to use a different subnet (i.e. 192.168.2.x). Keep your WRT54G's DHCP server enabled. It's probably safest to set its "Internet Connection Type" to "Automatic Configuration - DHCP."
Next, configure the WRT54G as a Wireless Bridge (under Alchemy) by going to the "Wireless" tab and changing the "Wireless Mode" to "Client."
At most hotels, there's no wireless security, so clear out any WEP/WPA/etc. settings, etc.
Connect your laptop and your ATA to the WRT54G via ethernet. Plug both devices into LAN ports on the WRT54G. Both devices will be DHCP assigned IP addresses issued by your router's subnet range (thus, they'll be running behind a firewall on your router).
Finally, power on the laptop and open up a web browser. If the hotel requires authentication, you should be re-directed to the authentication page. Once you authenticate, your ATA should start working shortly thereafter (you may need to power cycle it).
Rizzo
P.S. In client mode, you cannot connect to your WRT54G wirelessly. There's another mode called WDS (Wireless Distribution System) which allows this; however, WDS configuration requires having compatible routers on both ends w/ both routers configured to use WDS. |
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tj008
join:2004-06-24
Cincinnati, OH | Thanks rizzo2dial! Your instructions are super. I feel better prepared.
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
| Forgot to mention, you'll need to program in the SSID of the hotel's Wifi network when configuring the router in CLIENT MODE.
You can get the available SSID(s) by navigating to the "Status" tab (all the way to the right), "Wireless" sub-tab (i.e. the line below), then clicking on the "SURVEY" button.
Rizzo |
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jmpalomo
join:2005-09-02
Euclid, OH
| reply to rizzo2dial
Hi Rizzo2dial, I was looking a solution for my situation which is similar to your scenario 1. I have a desktop and I have only wireless connection, because I share the connection with a neighbor 3 floors upstairs me... I´m using a PCI wireless card. I was wondering since I have a empty Network card if it will work to connect an ATA adapter like the sipura SPA-1001 to my network card if I bridge my wireless card with my network card with the option the Windows XP give me to do....
If the answer is NO.... I have wireless router (Zyxel p-330w) which can be used as a client, to receive the connection.... In this case I can connect my computer to one LAN port and the Sipura to other LAN port? Is this what you call a Wireless to ethernet bridge?
Im trying to know this before I buy the sipura....
Thanks for anyone who can help  |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
edit:
September 2nd, @03:06AM
| said by jmpalomo :Hi Rizzo2dial, I was looking a solution for my situation which is similar to your scenario 1. I have a desktop and I have only wireless connection, because I share the connection with a neighbor 3 floors upstairs me... I´m using a PCI wireless card. I was wondering since I have a empty Network card if it will work to connect an ATA adapter like the sipura SPA-1001 to my network card if I bridge my wireless card with my network card with the option the Windows XP give me to do.... Bridging the network connections doesn't work (at least I've never gotten it to work); however, using Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) works like a champ (provided the wireless router you're connected to does not use the 192.168.0.x subnet). See the following post of mine for details on how to do this:
»Re: anyone tried VOIP in hotspots?
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said by jmpalomo :If the answer is NO.... I have wireless router (Zyxel p-330w) which can be used as a client, to receive the connection.... In this case I can connect my computer to one LAN port and the Sipura to other LAN port? Is this what you call a Wireless to ethernet bridge? If your router supports CLIENT MODE, this should indeed be the equivalent of an Ethernet to Wireless Bridge. It's IMO a better solution because you don't need your PC to be powered on for your VoIP adapter to work.
Based on your current setup, you won't actually need to connect your PC to the Zytel router as your PC has a Wireless PCI card installed. Thus, you'll only need to connect the Sipura VoIP adapter to the router. Now, if your PC is low on system resources, you can uninstall the Wireless PCI card + associated software/drivers and then connect your PC to one of the LAN ports on the Zytel router.
If you want to test whether your Zytel router actually works as an Ethernet to Wireless bridge:
1) Configure it to connect to your existing Wifi Network (in client mode)
2) Connect your PC (via its Ethernet port) to one of the LAN ports on the Zytel router
3) Disable the Wireless Network Connection on your PC
4) If you can web-browse, your Zytel router is good to go as a Wireless Bridge (which means go ahead and order your VoIP adapter).
Rizzo |
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jmpalomo
join:2005-09-02
Euclid, OH
| Hi Rizzo2dial!!
Thanks a lot for your fast and detailed help!! I check my current IP address and it is 192.168.0.102, so as far I understand if I want to use the ICS I will need to ask my neighbor to change this on the wireless router.....
But you are right.... I should use my router as a client so I don't need to have the computer on to use the phone.... I can not test right now if my Zyxel works as an Ethernet to Wireless bridge because I need to ask my neighbor to change the MAC address I give to him from my PCI card for the Zyxel one. I don't have access to the router configuration and since we are sharing with 3 people and filtering by MAC Address, I think I can only ask to they put one MAC address, otherwise they can think I'm given the internet to someone else..... Because this I probably should deactivate my PCI card and only use the zyxel......
Thank you very much again for all your help....
Manuel |
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Big Dawg 23
join:2002-03-27
Northfield, MN
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to burgerwars
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA into?
I would disagree with most Hotels have WIFI only. Most have connection ports in the hotel. I travel and every hotel I go to does have WIFI but for a charge. They have Network ports in the room. I know this is for certain in one of the largest chains of hotels in nation. |
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jjoshua
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ
·Comcast
| reply to burgerwars
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA in
I picked up a Grandstream HT-488 which worked perfectly for me in this situation. The tiny device has 1 FXS, 1 FXO, 1 WAN, 1 LAN, and NAT router.
For wired internet, I used the box alone. I could plug the hotel's analog phone line into the FXO port and use the hotel's phone on the FXS port.
For wireless internet, I put a ZyXel P-300w (in WISP mode) in front of the HT-488 and put the HT-488 in the ZyXel's DMZ.
In both cases, I connected my laptop to the HT-488's LAN. Quality was very good in both cases. |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
edit:
September 2nd, @03:41PM
| reply to jmpalomo
said by jmpalomo :I check my current IP address and it is 192.168.0.102, so as far I understand if I want to use the ICS I will need to ask my neighbor to change this on the wireless router..... Correct (or use a commercial software solution other than ICS).
said by jmpalomo :But you are right.... I should use my router as a client so I don't need to have the computer on to use the phone.... I can not test right now if my Zyxel works as an Ethernet to Wireless bridge because I need to ask my neighbor to change the MAC address I give to him from my PCI card for the Zyxel one. I don't have access to the router configuration and since we are sharing with 3 people and filtering by MAC Address, I think I can only ask to they put one MAC address, otherwise they can think I'm given the internet to someone else..... Because this I probably should deactivate my PCI card and only use the zyxel...... Most routers have the ability to "CLONE A MAC ADDRESS" (although that's usually the WAN MAC address).
If the cloning function on your Zytel router works on the Wifi portion of the router, you should be able to clone the MAC address of your Wireless PCI card and then connect to your neighbor's router.
Rizzo |
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rizzo2dial
Premium
join:2004-08-05
| reply to Big Dawg 23
Re: Which hotels/other places can you plug a TA into?
said by Big Dawg 23 :I would disagree with most Hotels have WIFI only. Most have connection ports in the hotel. I travel and every hotel I go to does have WIFI but for a charge. They have Network ports in the room. I know this is for certain in one of the largest chains of hotels in nation. It very much depends on the hotel chain. Take the Marriott family of hotels for example. In actual "Marriott" hotels, rooms typically have wired connections but don't have Wifi connectivity. However, Courtyard (by Marriott) and Residence Inn (by Marriott) typically have Wifi Access in rooms but no wired connectivity. The actual "Marriott" hotels charge a daily rate for their WIRED internet connecitivity while Courtyards and Residence Inn's typically provide their Wifi service at no additional charge.
From a cost perspective, when pre-existing hotels want to add broadband access, it's far less expensive to roll out Wifi access throughout the hotel than to wire up each room w/ CAT5.
Rizzo |
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