Aruba Surf Club Wi-Fi

[wvacations]

As the date of our Aruba Vacation is getting closer, I have started some planning. Today my son and I (son is not goingto Aruba) set up our Iphones with Skype so we can stay in contact while we are gone. I have heard Cell phone rates are very expensive in Aruba.

Our solution is to use Skype to talk to each other to check in form time to time. I now started reading some reviews on Hotels.com that suggest that there is no WiFi in the villas, just wired interenet.

Can some Aruba experts conform that whether or not WIFi is possible in the Villas at Surf Club.

 

[siesta]

As of my recent trip in April, no wifi in SC villas, but wifi available in lobby.

I used google voice and the free wifi provided to make and receive free phone calls to US while in Aruba via my android smartphone, but not sure if iphone is capable of wifi calling.

 

[MALC9990]

Just get a small wifi device to plug into the Ethernet cable in the villa and you have your own personal in-room wifi.

 

[amanda14]

Exactly what Malc said. I just did that at the surf club 3 weeks ago.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

As others have stated this is easily resolved with a WiFi Travel Router. About $50 for a decent model. Can be purchased online or at your local electronics shop (Best Buy, CompUSA, TigerDirect, etc).

 

[Wally3433]

Any wireless router will work. They have special routers for travel, but they are just smaller, that's all.

If the router you bring does not work, you can purchase one downtown in Oranjestad - it will be expensive - probably $75 for the cheapest router.

 

[m61376]

As others have said, just bring your own wireless router. Sets up very easily and you can log right in with your Ipad, Iphone, laptop, etc..

Alternately there is free wifi in the lobby and I think by the pools.Make sure to turn off your data roaming in the airport before you leave or you might have a nasty surprise when you get home.

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Please keep in mind that even if the OP successfully connects his devices in the room to a wireless router, that there is no guarantee that this setup will work!

The OP is trying to use Skype for Internet Telephony to avoid the call charges.

Skype uses a Point to Point protocol using TCP and UDP dynamic ports to deliver VOIP services.

Many Hotels, Airlines, and Cruise Lines are now filtering (BLOCKING) this type of traffic and can easily block Skype from working at all. Also, if the property does not block this traffic, the ISP can certainly do it anyways. Net Neutrality regulations have only begun to be discussed in the USA. I doubt the Carriers play fair in these Caribbean islands.

Skype uses UDP port ranges 1024-65534 so blocking these ports at the hotels switch is easy. The TCP traffic for Skype is also easily blocked by analyzing the packet data coming from the device generating the traffic.

Many hotels are getting smarter with respect to lossed revenue from customers connecting multiple devices on the network and hogging up bandwidth for free.

Soon we will probably see Hotels change their definition of FREE "Wi-Fi" as limited to only one device per room. If you want to connect more devices they will probably begin charging for it.

 

[wvacations]

Thanks for all the replys. I will try the portable router. If all else fails there is always email! Funny how these day even email seems a bit slow and out dated!!

I have my sister staying with my son, so any imdediate problem can be solved right a away.

 

[FractionalTraveler]

This is one of those limitations Apple IPhone devices have. They don’t have (UMA) Unlicensed Mobile Access features that come with some Android and most Blackberry handsets.

UMA in effect lets you use VOIP services for FREE over any Wi-Fi connection in any location world-wide. No extra software like Skype is needed to complicate the matters.

This feature is a real blessing when traveling abroad as you can have unlimited FREE talking from just connecting to a Wi-Fi access point.

Maybe someday Apple will include such a feature.

 

[m61376]

What about face time?

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Face Time is OK. That's actually a good option. Only limitation is you must have iPhone 4's to use it. Not sure if OP has latest version of device.

It has been reported that Face Time can work on iPhone 3's that have been jailbroken. I have not tested this out so I can't comment.

Should work fine on iPhone 4's though.

 

[alhanna]

The wifi travel router is a great idea. We were at the Surf Club last year and the lack of wifi in the room was a negative.

Since this is your wifi, is it more secure than the hotel wifi in the lobby?

 

[m61376]

The wifi travel router is a great idea. We were at the Surf Club last year and the lack of wifi in the room was a negative.

Since this is your wifi, is it more secure than the hotel wifi in the lobby?

You can set up your router at home with encryption, in which case it would offer security.

 

[wvacations]

What about face time?

I have Iphone4, but I think FaceTime requirers a cellular signal also. I plan to put the phone ir AirPlane mode to avoid using any international Data/Voice.

I know Face Time send the video over Wifi, but think the voice/call still starts with Cellular signal.

 

[Mr. Vker]

We bought the Apple Airport Express. A little more expensive, but VERY compact in size and shape and solid state. Has worked very well all over the world. (Works with all internet capable devices-not just Apple. )

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

 

[Mr. Vker]

I have Iphone4, but I think FaceTime requirers a cellular signal also. I plan to put the phone ir AirPlane mode to avoid using any international Data/Voice.

I know Face Time send the video over Wifi, but think the voice/call still starts with Cellular signal.

Not sure if its different for IPAD, but Ipad only requires WIFI. We use Facetime and do not have a 3G Ipad.

 

[MALC9990]

I have Iphone4, but I think FaceTime requirers a cellular signal also. I plan to put the phone ir AirPlane mode to avoid using any international Data/Voice.

I know Face Time send the video over Wifi, but think the voice/call still starts with Cellular signal.

I think Airplane mode turns off the WiFi as well as the 3G.

 

[wvacations]

I think Airplane mode turns off the WiFi as well as the 3G.

When you initially turn on AirPLane made, it does in fact turn off WiFi, but you turn WiFi back on and it still eliminates Cellular signal and Data.

I may just have AT&T enable International Roaming just in case I have to get in touch right away. I think I have read that even with that option, you have to go through the local networlk which has a seperate charge. Not sure if that is correct or not.

 

[MALC9990]

When you initially turn on AirPLane made, it does in fact turn off WiFi, but you turn WiFi back on and it still eliminates Cellular signal and Data.

I may just have AT&T enable International Roaming just in case I have to get in touch right away. I think I have read that even with that option, you have to go through the local networlk which has a seperate charge. Not sure if that is correct or not.

On my iPhone I always have data Roaming turned Off as standard but alo when overseas I turn off Cellular Data. This then means only WiFi is available for data but the phone still works for calls and Texts.

I use Skype for Voice calls using the WiFi and even when calling a non-Skype phone the costs are very low. For lowest cost we text and then set up a Skype call.

 

[LUVourMarriotts]

Just get a small wifi device to plug into the Ethernet cable in the villa and you have your own personal in-room wifi.

As others have stated this is easily resolved with a WiFi Travel Router. About $50 for a decent model. Can be purchased online or at your local electronics shop (Best Buy, CompUSA, TigerDirect, etc).

Any wireless router will work. They have special routers for travel, but they are just smaller, that's all.

If the router you bring does not work, you can purchase one downtown in Oranjestad - it will be expensive - probably $75 for the cheapest router.

The wifi travel router is a great idea. We were at the Surf Club last year and the lack of wifi in the room was a negative.

Since this is your wifi, is it more secure than the hotel wifi in the lobby?

I have purchased a Zyxel MWR222 travel router. It is about the size of two iphones stacked on top of each other. It has been fantastic for me. A friend also purchased on for his last trip to Aruba at the Renaissance. He had this setup in his villa and was able to sit down at the pool and get wifi to his iphone or ipad and skype with his family back home. As far as price, I got mine for about $30 from woot. It was actually on woot again yesterday (sorry I'm a day late). My buddy got his for about $40 online, but not sure of site. Amazon sells it for $68. Just note that you don't need the 222. There are other models that will do the same thing that are cheaper, but the 222 allows you to plugin a USB 3G/4G card and broadcast that as wifi to several devices. Yes, a MiFi would do that on its own.

 

[buzzy]

I have purchased a Zyxel MWR222 travel router. It is about the size of two iphones stacked on top of each other. It has been fantastic for me. A friend also purchased on for his last trip to Aruba at the Renaissance. He had this setup in his villa and was able to sit down at the pool and get wifi to his iphone or ipad and skype with his family back home. As far as price, I got mine for about $30 from woot. It was actually on woot again yesterday (sorry I'm a day late). My buddy got his for about $40 online, but not sure of site. Amazon sells it for $68. Just note that you don't need the 222. There are other models that will do the same thing that are cheaper, but the 222 allows you to plugin a USB 3G/4G card and broadcast that as wifi to several devices. Yes, a MiFi would do that on its own.

My apologies for not being tech savvy, but we are self employed and are going to Aruba next year. We need the cheapest way to communicate to our employees who will call us a million times. We have Iphones and our carrier is ATT. When you get a travel router, do you still set up an international plan with ATT?

 

[m61376]

My apologies for not being tech savvy, but we are self employed and are going to Aruba next year. We need the cheapest way to communicate to our employees who will call us a million times. We have Iphones and our carrier is ATT. When you get a travel router, do you still set up an international plan with ATT?

Yes- but using the ATT international plan can get very costly (at least I know Verizon does) and you are better off using Skype or getting an Aruba cell phone there with a Setar card if you are going to be fielding multiple calls.

 

[MALC9990]

My apologies for not being tech savvy, but we are self employed and are going to Aruba next year. We need the cheapest way to communicate to our employees who will call us a million times. We have Iphones and our carrier is ATT. When you get a travel router, do you still set up an international plan with ATT?

Get a travel router and plug into the wired Internet in the villa. Then log into the wifi that the router will provide with your iPhone. Now you can use Skype to make free or cheap calls. remember that Skype is only free to another Skype user but if you load some money into your Skype account you can all non-skype phone numbers for a very small cost.

For employees needing to call you then get them set up with Skype accounts at work and then they can call you for free.

Remember this only works when you are connected to the WiFi so if you are away from the router's range then you will not be connected.

 

[bazzap]

Hi, just wondering - do you use Apple's own Airport Express or did you go for a different travel router?