MVC and Amazon Paperwhite Wireless Connection?

[gravitar]

I unplugged the TV. That worked. The TV remote controlled the volume and power after that.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[dioxide45]

I unplugged the TV. That worked. The TV remote controlled the volume and power after that.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Problem I have is that there is no television remote. Just the one for the external box.

 

[Dean]

Problem I have is that there is no television remote. Just the one for the external box.

Usually those are universal remotes.

 

[dioxide45]

Usually those are universal remotes.

Not sure it is. It has no IR transmitter on it. So it must be a bluetooth remote that is bound to the external box. There is a separate remote for the Bluray player, but I couldn't get the volume controls to control the TV either unless the control cable from the external box was connected.

 

[GoodTimes]

We use Roku Streaming Stick+ with Volume and Power IR on the remote. At MOW, I had to unplug both the HDMI and 9pin VGA type connector and reboot the TV for the Roku remote to turn on and off the TV. https://www.roku.com/products/streaming-stick-plus

I also started using a travel router - so no longer have to connect each device to the MVC network. Basically all of my devices connect to my private Wifi network (rokus, IPads, phones, laptops, Fire Tablets....) It connects to the MVC/Hotel/Cruise via ethernet or 2.4/5ghz wifi

AC750 Wireless Travel Router

The AC750 Wireless Travel Router is built to be small and light to effortlessly go wherever you do. Create a WiFi network via Ethernet wherever you are.

www.tp-link.com

It is really great for cruises because you only have to pay for 1 device and all of your devices work in your room.

 

[dioxide45]

Well, Shadow Ridge Enclaves has this nifty setup in the 1BR side.

I figured I could just plug my Firestick in there, connect it to that power outlet and I would be up and running. WRONG! Best that I can tell is that this connection goes directly to the television and bypasses the proprietary black box on the back. When I plug my Firestick into this, the LG television shows a popup that it has detected the device and asks if I want to use it. The problem is that the remote is for the proprietary box and there is no way to select Yes in the television. The controller stick on the bottom of the TV does nothing when the 9-pin connector is connected to the back of the television from the proprietary box. So there is no way to actually use this HDMI connection. Had they had this connection go to the proprietary box, it would have at least worked, mostly likely with washed out color. I really need to order a small Universal remote to try to control the television. The bag of cords, chargers and other stuff for travel gets bigger all the time. Though there is no guarantee it will work if the 9-pin connector is plugged into the TV.

So in the end, I deemed this setup a complete waste of time and money when designing it and installing it. Why did they bother?

 

[kanerf]

We are seeing problems with connecting external devices (Firestick, etc) at Marriott properties. They now seem to be using external control boxes (connected to the back of the television, along with the televisions with no external volume controls. This may be the systems that they are putting in all remodeled units as we are seeing them just about everywhere.

The problem is that the HDMI inputs on the external boxes suck. These are the same connections they use to connect the Blu Ray players. The color through these HDMI inputs is awful and washed out. I tried connecting the Firestick directly to the television instead, but the problem there is that there is no volume control on the television itself. All volume is controlled through the external box. So any audio from the Firestick is BLARING LOUD and unwatchable. I can't control the volume through the Firestick. The remote that is provided is for the external box, not the television. So it is either watch very loud television direct through the TV or watch a horribly washed out show thorugh the external box.

Here are some photos to show the difference in color and quality.

Through External Box​	Direct to TV Connection​
View attachment 30322​	View attachment 30321​

​

This is why I carry a universal remote with me on my travels. Disconnect all the hotel junk, plug in direct and use the universal remote to control the TV.

 

[dioxide45]

This is why I carry a universal remote with me on my travels. Disconnect all the hotel junk, plug in direct and use the universal remote to control the TV.

Yeah, I think that is what we will start doing. Though it probably wouldn't help here. They have the TV mounted to the wall and no way to get a hand in behind it to unplug anything. The TV won't budge.

 

[kanerf]

Yeah, I think that is what we will start doing. Though it probably wouldn't help here. They have the TV mounted to the wall and no way to get a hand in behind it to unplug anything. The TV won't budge.

Yes, I sometimes encounter the hotel tv that I cannot hack. Can still watch what I want on my laptop though.

 

[Dean]

Well, Shadow Ridge Enclaves has this nifty setup in the 1BR side.

View attachment 37863

I figured I could just plug my Firestick in there, connect it to that power outlet and I would be up and running. WRONG! Best that I can tell is that this connection goes directly to the television and bypasses the proprietary black box on the back. When I plug my Firestick into this, the LG television shows a popup that it has detected the device and asks if I want to use it. The problem is that the remote is for the proprietary box and there is no way to select Yes in the television. The controller stick on the bottom of the TV does nothing when the 9-pin connector is connected to the back of the television from the proprietary box. So there is no way to actually use this HDMI connection. Had they had this connection go to the proprietary box, it would have at least worked, mostly likely with washed out color. I really need to order a small Universal remote to try to control the television. The bag of cords, chargers and other stuff for travel gets bigger all the time. Though there is no guarantee it will work if the 9-pin connector is plugged into the TV.

So in the end, I deemed this setup a complete waste of time and money when designing it and installing it. Why did they bother?

There should be a way to select yes and the input on the TV directly but they are ofter very hidden. I'd call the front desk and/or maintenance, I've found they often have the answer.

 

[Steve Fatula]

So I use always carry a travel router with which I can sign in to the wifi then anything connected to the router also has wifi access. It also allows me to bypass the limitation on the # of items that some resorts impose like Bluegreen and Wyndham often do.

Yeah, a travel router is ideal for almost any scenario, very handy and effective. Also may protect your devices connected to it, better security. You can also call Marriott tech support and have them add your MAC address to allow you access even without a browser.

 

[dioxide45]

Yeah, a travel router is ideal for almost any scenario, very handy and effective. Also may protect your devices connected to it, better security. You can also call Marriott tech support and have them add your MAC address to allow you access even without a browser.

I recently bought the same travel router that @Dean linked here. So far it has worked pretty good. A few times it was tricky getting connected to the wifi. I had to run the quick setup to get it to connect. It however doesn't like two VPNs going through the same network connection. My wife and I were both connected to the non 5G network on it and our VPN kept disconnecting. As soon as she switched to the non 5G everything worked fine.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Yep, all routers not the same! What router is Dean using? Don't see any reference.

 

[gravitar]

Well, Shadow Ridge Enclaves has this nifty setup in the 1BR side.

View attachment 37863

I figured I could just plug my Firestick in there, connect it to that power outlet and I would be up and running. WRONG! Best that I can tell is that this connection goes directly to the television and bypasses the proprietary black box on the back. When I plug my Firestick into this, the LG television shows a popup that it has detected the device and asks if I want to use it. The problem is that the remote is for the proprietary box and there is no way to select Yes in the television. The controller stick on the bottom of the TV does nothing when the 9-pin connector is connected to the back of the television from the proprietary box. So there is no way to actually use this HDMI connection. Had they had this connection go to the proprietary box, it would have at least worked, mostly likely with washed out color. I really need to order a small Universal remote to try to control the television. The bag of cords, chargers and other stuff for travel gets bigger all the time. Though there is no guarantee it will work if the 9-pin connector is plugged into the TV.

So in the end, I deemed this setup a complete waste of time and money when designing it and installing it. Why did they bother?

Give this a try. Unplug the power to the tv, unplug the power to the box. Disconnect the HDMI from the box. Connect your device, power it on. Reconnect the TV power. The remote should now work and the TV should recognize your device.

This works for me at all Marriott's that have this configuration.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[dioxide45]

Give this a try. Unplug the power to the tv, unplug the power to the box. Disconnect the HDMI from the box. Connect your device, power it on. Reconnect the TV power. The remote should now work and the TV should recognize your device.

This works for me at all Marriott's that have this configuration.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

I suspect it would, the problem is that the TV has only about an inch of clearance here, so doing all this is pretty much impossible.

 

[dioxide45]

Yep, all routers not the same! What router is Dean using? Don't see any reference.

Dean's link must have been from another thread. It is the same as the one that @GoodTimes linked above. This is the one I picked up;

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5RCZQH

 

[kozykritter]

This is why I carry a universal remote with me on my travels. Disconnect all the hotel junk, plug in direct and use the universal remote to control the TV.

Same here! I specifically bought a LG universal remote because that is the predominant brand in Marriott properties across the US including former Starwood properties. I often use it also to adjust the picture quality from the dark Eco mode to something a bit brighter. I turn off the tv, unplug the hotel junk, and then turn the TV back on and use the universal remote to change the picture quality. Then turn the TV off, reconnect the hotel junk, turn the TV back on and the setting usually stays for the rest of my time.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I prefer this open source router:

Amazon.com

Being techie helps though.

 

[Dean]

Yeah, a travel router is ideal for almost any scenario, very handy and effective. Also may protect your devices connected to it, better security. You can also call Marriott tech support and have them add your MAC address to allow you access even without a browser.

I have had several instances where the internet provider refused to do manual authentication including the last 2 times I tried. In both cases they stated it was in violation of their contract with the resort. The router solves that problem among others. Wyndham often limits the number of connections so it helps there as well.

Dean's link must have been from another thread. It is the same as the one that @GoodTimes linked above. This is the one I picked up;

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5RCZQH

Yes another thread but is the TPlink one listed above.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I have had several instances where the internet provider refused to do manual authentication including the last 2 times I tried. In both cases they stated it was in violation of their contract with the resort. The router solves that problem among others. Wyndham often limits the number of connections so it helps there as well.
Yes another thread but is the TPlink one listed above.

We were speaking of MVCI, were you? I JUST called a month ago and it was no issue at all. (Forgot travel router, lol). Maybe one day we will talk about the same thing, seems like you always misunderstand me. Or, maybe I mislead you.

 

[Dean]

We were speaking of MVCI, were you? I JUST called a month ago and it was no issue at all. (Forgot travel router, lol).

Yes, the only places I've tried to have them do manual authentication was MVC, the last 2 times I was given a flat no even speaking to a supervisor. All were different resorts.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Yes, the only places I've tried to have them do manual authentication was MVC, the last 2 times I was given a flat no even speaking to a supervisor. All were different resorts.

Strange, I had no problem at all, guess it depends who you reach. Anyway, this is exactly why I recommended a travel router of course. I hope you read that.

 

[dioxide45]

Quite often I find that different resorts have different Internet support companies. Much of it depends on the vendor the individual resort is using. I find when calling the internet support numbers it seems like I am calling some small bit operation running out of someone's garage. Very rarely do they answer with the name of the company, just "Hello". You never seem to know if you actually called the right place until you ask them if they are Internet support for whatever resort you are calling from.

 

[Dean]

Strange, I had no problem at all, guess it depends who you reach. Anyway, this is exactly why I recommended a travel router of course. I hope you read that.

Same here, also simplifies connecting all this items we take with us as well as usually giving better signal.