Apple TV and Harmony ship

I will be on the harmony next week and considering bringing an appleTV for the kids for the late-evening/early-morning when they are in bed.. i have been trying to read around to see how/if that would work...

i also have one of these (TP-Link AC750 Wireless Wi-Fi Travel Router (TL-WR902AC))

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5RCZQH

anyone have any experience with doing that?

I believe they usually turn off the input button on the remote, and i always bring a universal remote with me as well.

using the travel router should mean the kids could share WiFi in the cabin too i think. I have the VOOM+Surf x 2 devices plan as well.

Lately, the second HDMI input has been showing up on channel 3.

I will be on the harmony next week and considering bringing an appleTV for the kids for the late-evening/early-morning when they are in bed.. i have been trying to read around to see how/if that would work...

 

i also have one of these (TP-Link AC750 Wireless Wi-Fi Travel Router (TL-WR902AC))

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5RCZQH

 

anyone have any experience with doing that?

 

I believe they usually turn off the input button on the remote, and i always bring a universal remote with me as well.

 

using the travel router should mean the kids could share WiFi in the cabin too i think. I have the VOOM+Surf x 2 devices plan as well.

I might be wrong on this, but AFAIK the travel router will only work with an Ethernet connectiong and turn that into a WiFi signal. There will be no wired / Ethernet internet access in your cabin.

The ship will provide a WiFi Internet only, no LAN.

I might be wrong on this, but AFAIK the travel router will only work with an Ethernet connectiong and turn that into a WiFi signal. There will be no wired / Ethernet internet access in your cabin.

 

 

The ship will provide a WiFi Internet only, no LAN.

this model is supposed to act as a wifi to wifi router, so you can use it as a private secure network over existing wifi like in a hotel. although you CAN use it with ethernet it also supports things like WISP

like this: http://www.tp-link.com/us/faq-617.html

I might be wrong on this, but AFAIK the travel router will only work with an Ethernet connectiong and turn that into a WiFi signal. There will be no wired / Ethernet internet access in your cabin.

 

The ship will provide a WiFi Internet only, no LAN.

There are some travel routers now on the market that will share a WiFi connection. I know of one from TPlink and another from Netgear.

There are some travel routers now on the market that will share a WiFi connection. I know of one from TPlink and another from Netgear.

correct, the one i have is one of them.

correct, the one i have is one of them.

I did read a post where it was suspected that Royal was blocking MAC addresses from known router manufacturers. However, that should not be much of a problem if the router has the ability to clone a MAC address.

When we were on Harmony, we had Voom and my son was streaming YouTube videos from DanTDM in the evening and morning from his iPad. It worked like a charm. I am not sure if he tried streaming from Netflix or not. Never tried AppleTV, although I tried using one from a hotel a few months ago, and had nothing but issues. I could stream from iPads or laptop no problem, but could not get AppleTV to work. It was weird. Good luck!

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I brought a similar TP Link travel router with me, an MR3040. The problem I have with mine is that you must scan for SSIDs and then it associates to the radio MAC address of a single access point. It doesn't associate to an SSID, it only associates to a single access point based on it's MAC address. This proves to be troublesome over time. I love to hear if your device behaves differently than mine as my device is a little older, only supports 802.11b/g and I've been think of replacing it.

Having only 1 Voom S&S code I was trying to use it both when I was outside on my cabin on my phone and on the MR3040 when I was back in my cabin. This involved logging in & out which was fine but the MR3040 wouldn't always associate cleanly and allow me to reach the captive portal to re-enter my code through it. In fact my success rate was around 10%. I ended using my Mac to login to Voom then sharing it's wifi connection to my MR3040 connect by ethernet cable to my Mac. This worked every time. One time I forgot to logout my Mac before leaving the cabin and I couldn't login my phone elsewhere on the ship but that's expected when you fail to logout properly.

The other problem I had on Harmony in a GS is that I couldn't access the HDMI connections on the flat panel. A GS has two flat panels and neither of them had HDMI ports I could reach (there were none on the sides or bottom). I brought a Samsung remote with me from home so I was able to access menus and change inputs but I couldn't physically access those inputs. On Anthem I had the same problem. No access to the ports. The flat panels are mounted very close to the wall and I couldn't despite many efforts find a way to reach any HDMI port.

I've brought this setup on many ships and had the best luck on Grandeur where I could easily reach the HDMI ports.

Appreciate any feedback after your trip as I consider different devices towards this goal until RCI delivers the new connectivity options they have announced (built in Apple TV support for streaming your own device).

There are some travel routers now on the market that will share a WiFi connection. I know of one from TPlink and another from Netgear.

Perhaps to help avoid one passenger hoarding bandwidth from other cabins in the area...

I brought a similar TP Link travel router with me, an MR3040. The problem I have with mine is that you must scan for SSIDs and then it associates to the radio MAC address of a single access point. It doesn't associate to an SSID, it only associates to a single access point based on it's MAC address. This proves to be troublesome over time. I love to hear if your device behaves differently than mine as my device is a little older, only supports 802.11b/g and I've been think of replacing it.

 

Having only 1 Voom S&S code I was trying to use it both when I was outside on my cabin on my phone and on the MR3040 when I was back in my cabin. This involved logging in & out which was fine but the MR3040 wouldn't always associate cleanly and allow me to reach the captive portal to re-enter my code through it. In fact my success rate was around 10%. I ended using my Mac to login to Voom then sharing it's wifi connection to my MR3040 connect by ethernet cable to my Mac. This worked every time. One time I forgot to logout my Mac before leaving the cabin and I couldn't login my phone elsewhere on the ship but that's expected when you fail to logout properly.

 

The other problem I had on Harmony in a GS is that I couldn't access the HDMI connections on the flat panel. A GS has two flat panels and neither of them had HDMI ports I could reach (there were none on the sides or bottom). I brought a Samsung remote with me from home so I was able to access menus and change inputs but I couldn't physically access those inputs. On Anthem I had the same problem. No access to the ports. The flat panels are mounted very close to the wall and I couldn't despite many efforts find a way to reach any HDMI port.

 

I've brought this setup on many ships and had the best luck on Grandeur where I could easily reach the HDMI ports.

 

Appreciate any feedback after your trip as I consider different devices towards this goal until RCI delivers the new connectivity options they have announced (built in Apple TV support for streaming your own device).

well back from the trip.. i didnt get a chance to try out the appleTV but i would assume it would work just fine with this device since it worked well on the ship:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Wireless-Travel-Router-TL-WR902AC/dp/B01N5RCZQH

I did however use that device often though as i bought the internet for 2 package, but sometimes at night i would want my iPhone and laptop on (plus wife had her iPhone connected).. or sometimes the kids were in the room late night or early AM and wanted to watch movie. the basic setup was simple, i did tell it to clone the MAC of the primary device which had a small side effect as i think their wifi validates that the MAC being used is from 1 device, so if i left the room and forgot to unplug it, the ships WIFI would kick my iPhone off wifi until i went back and removed it..

but i definitely plan to always bring this on my RCCL sailing now (i was on the harmony) as it was great to use when a needed a couple more devices connected for a while (but not like the entire trip).. also its very small, and i actually used an ANKER battery one night and put it in my pocket as the kids wanted to watch something while waiting for dinner and took it with me.

it also make it simple if you set it up with the same SSID and PW as like your home network, and then when your traveling your devices "just connect" and i don't need to run to each kid or device with the PW.

There are some travel routers now on the market that will share a WiFi connection. I know of one from TPlink and another from Netgear.

It would be great if a techie weighed in here with the straight scoop. Anyone?

AFAIK: While I know there are models that will share an open wifi connection, there is still the issue of password protection, which may be controlled by proprietary software on the ship's server. What I'm not sure about is whether (and how) the devices using the travel router would access the protected internet and just not the router.

Love to see someone explain this in understandable detail. Thanks.

It would be great if a techie weighed in here with the straight scoop. Anyone?

 

AFAIK: While I know there are models that will share an open wifi connection, there is still the issue of password protection, which may be controlled by proprietary software on the ship's server. What I'm not sure about is whether (and how) the devices using the travel router would access the protected internet and just not the router.

 

Love to see someone explain this in understandable detail. Thanks.

i am a techie.. and i used the one i posted last week. basically you turn it on and connect to it as your wifi, then you go into setup and tell IT to connect to the ships wifi, it will prompt you to login (or give your ship access code for the wifi) and if you also tell it to clone the MAC it will always look like the same iPhone (or whatever) was already connecting to it.. I actually think you can just set it up.. login to your wifi on your phone like normal, and then go thru the guided setup in the tp-link and tell it to connect..

so all my devices in my room.. in my case a few iPads, my iPhone and my laptop, all connected to this travel router and the travel router connects to the ships wifi... "technically" its more secure this way since all your connections are going thru your private router.

It would be great if a techie weighed in here with the straight scoop. Anyone?

 

AFAIK: While I know there are models that will share an open wifi connection, there is still the issue of password protection, which may be controlled by proprietary software on the ship's server. What I'm not sure about is whether (and how) the devices using the travel router would access the protected internet and just not the router.

 

Love to see someone explain this in understandable detail. Thanks.

At home you likely have a router connected to an internet provider. On one side it connects to your cable or DSL provider, on the other side it makes wifi that everyone within your home can use.

These travel routers work on the same concept except instead of connecting to a cable or DSL provider, it connects to the ship's wifi in place of that, using a purchased internet plan. The other side works just like at home making a wifi signal independent of the ship wifi that multiple devices you manage can connect to - just like at home.

Like at home there is some setup required initially.

They work quite well in the cabin but once your party leaves the cabin there are some limitations such as everyone must stay together to share the signal and someone has to carry the travel router and power supply for it. There is an element of techie required to keep it all working from time to time.

At home you likely have a router connected to an internet provider. On one side it connects to your cable or DSL provider, on the other side it makes wifi that everyone within your home can use.

 

These travel routers work on the same concept except instead of connecting to a cable or DSL provider, it connects to the ship's wifi in place of that, using a purchased internet plan. The other side works just like at home making a wifi signal independent of the ship wifi that multiple devices you manage can connect to - just like at home.

 

Like at home there is some setup required initially.

 

They work quite well in the cabin but once your party leaves the cabin there are some limitations such as everyone must stay together to share the signal and someone has to carry the travel router and power supply for it. There is an element of techie required to keep it all working from time to time.

for the tp-link the setup was just plug it in.. and then follow the prompts.. took about 5 seconds.

 

Like at home there is some setup required initially.

 

They work quite well in the cabin but once your party leaves the cabin there are some limitations such as everyone must stay together to share the signal and someone has to carry the travel router and power supply for it. There is an element of techie required to keep it all working from time to time.

And therein lies the issue for many cruisers: the setup idiosyncrasies, which may differ from ship to ship and stymie some of us (it would be great to know which cruise lines gateways may be able to block a travel router [e.g., digitalseas.io login gateway on Oceania???]).

But the real kicker is what you mention last: once anyone leaves the cabin, the travel router serves only that/those person(s) possessing it. On Oceania, which provides one unlimited internet account, the gateway sign on page let's you kick the other person off. So, we just try to split use time when we're out and about doing our individual things.

Thanks for the info.

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for the tp-link the setup was just plug it in.. and then follow the prompts.. took about 5 seconds.

Easy for techie folks like us. My parents would be tormented by it and it would likely be found at the bottom of the ocean. As their official tech support hotline I am amazed how many wifi problems they have at home let alone dealing with something like this on a ship.

Easy for techie folks like us. My parents would be tormented by it and it would likely be found at the bottom of the ocean. As their official tech support hotline I am amazed how many wifi problems they have at home let alone dealing with something like this on a ship.

So, which one would you recommend?

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So, which one would you recommend?

 

 

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There is not one answer. It depends on your situation.

If you have decided to buy an internet package the easiest but most costly solution is to buy it for everyone. If you don't all need to be on the internet at the same time, share a package. If you are inclined to take on the tech, buy the travel router offered above and learn to use it before sailing, at home or at a coffee shop with free wifi.

You could also take on a hybrid approach. Use a travel router at night in the cabin but then share a package during the day when you are out of the cabin.

If my parents were asking me and both wanted to be connected at the same time I'd tell them to both buy it. Then if they have problems, go to guest services or call the internet specialist on board.

If you have teenagers and want to use texting during the day to reach each other then buying the multi-device plan is the best solution.

There is not one answer. It depends on your situation.

 

If you have decided to buy an internet package the easiest but most costly solution is to buy it for everyone. If you don't all need to be on the internet at the same time, share a package. If you are inclined to take on the tech, buy the travel router offered above and learn to use it before sailing, at home or at a coffee shop with free wifi.

 

You could also take on a hybrid approach. Use a travel router at night in the cabin but then share a package during the day when you are out of the cabin.

 

If my parents were asking me and both wanted to be connected at the same time I'd tell them to both buy it. Then if they have problems, go to guest services or call the internet specialist on board.

 

If you have teenagers and want to use texting during the day to reach each other then buying the multi-device plan is the best solution.

agree... which is why i bought both.. i liked the TPlink because you can also use the ethernet port on it if you needed to, its small, it has a USB cord so you can power it with a powerbank if you needed to, and it worked well on the Harmony

I have the HooToo Tripmate Titan. Has Ethernet to WiFi and WiFi to WiFi routing. Also has built-in battery pack for portability. Can be used to power your Chromcast at the same time. Can also connect a USB storage device and used as a NAS for Media files.

dp

I have the HooToo Tripmate Titan. Has Ethernet to WiFi and WiFi to WiFi routing. Also has built-in battery pack for portability. Can be used to power your Chromcast at the same time.

dp

i had that one (for an unrelated trip) and the connection speed for me was really bad (like under 1MB down at home and i have 1GB/1GB service).. but i really liked the concept and think i just had a defective unit

i had that one (for an unrelated trip) and the connection speed for me was really bad (like under 1MB down at home and i have 1GB/1GB service).. but i really liked the concept and think i just had a defective unit

I'll have to run mine through the paces to see. I did set it up and connected to it many different ways at home and at work to try it. Tested internet access and USB storage access, but have not had time to really push it for numbers.

I assume the WiFi to WiFi routing has to be somewhat limited since it probably has to share the same chip to do so.

dp

I'll have to run mine through the paces to see. I did set it up and connected to it many different ways at home and at work to try it. Tested internet access and USB storage access, but have not had time to really push it for numbers.

 

dp

yeah.. this was noticeably slow.. even double digit MB would have been OK for my purpose. but sub-1MB was not ok.. so just returned it.

There is not one answer. It depends on your situation.

 

 

 

If you have decided to buy an internet package the easiest but most costly solution is to buy it for everyone. If you don't all need to be on the internet at the same time, share a package. If you are inclined to take on the tech, buy the travel router offered above and learn to use it before sailing, at home or at a coffee shop with free wifi.

 

 

 

You could also take on a hybrid approach. Use a travel router at night in the cabin but then share a package during the day when you are out of the cabin.

 

 

 

If my parents were asking me and both wanted to be connected at the same time I'd tell them to both buy it. Then if they have problems, go to guest services or call the internet specialist on board.

 

 

 

If you have teenagers and want to use texting during the day to reach each other then buying the multi-device plan is the best solution.

Oops- actually I was asking which travel router you recommend.

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