Travelers may not have a network provider at their hotel room but often bring their laptop to the lobby to catch up on work, enjoy a free cup of coffee, enjoy some Australian pokies online, and share photos with friends via Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi networks are often located next to food and drink places, museums, and cinemas, so it is the easiest way to get online.
Travelers Want to Know Where the Wi-Fi Networks Are and How They Work
In general, Wi-Fi networks are easy to find. For example, international Wi-Fi networks often have specific logos for hotels. The sign or logo on the door shows the name of the hotel, the local telephone number and the Wi-Fi name. In other cases, the Wi-Fi names are found on signs and sometimes at the end of hotel signs.
As a general rule, the sign usually identifies the frequency bands the network uses. Some Wi-Fi networks use a “brand name” such as WIFI Cable, WIFI Waterfront, or Wi-Fi QuickDot, but the majority of networks identify their networks using specific frequencies. Generally, the networks are either WPA2 or WPA/WPA2-Encrypt. The Wi-Fi frequency bands used by hotels are 800/2000/1200/1600/3000 MHz, but hotels often have exclusive use of specific frequency bands, such as 1.5GHz for hotels.
Wi-Fi Network Name Requirements
There are a few things to consider when identifying a Wi-Fi network. First, the names of networks are usually limited to 25 characters. If the network has a more important logo or logo is written more than three characters, then the network name is automatically truncated.
Second, networks are often limited by a maximum of 100 unique members per IP address. In other words, each member can only have one unique IP address on the network at one time.
Wi-Fi Password Is Mandatory
As a general rule, the Wi-Fi password is not required by the hotel, but is always required by the Wi-Fi network. Any member without a Wi-Fi password is not allowed access to Wi-Fi network.
Hotels commonly have passwords and can be found in hotel directories. More often than not, the password is “Password Required.” While it may seem to be an odd rule, hotels that do not allow members without a password to access Wi-Fi usually also require the members to register in their databases. By keeping all members logged in to the database, hotels can easily assign each member a specific access level on the network.
Wi-Fi Providers
Hotels have the option of adding Wi-Fi to existing networks. While it may not be the most popular Wi-Fi network choice, some hotels add Wi-Fi, such as the Marriott Resort on Waikiki Beach. Guests don’t have to visit a common area to enjoy some of the best high roller casinos. They can connect right from their rooms. However, the Wi-Fi networks are often limited by their bandwidth and wireless speed, within reason, of course.
Travelers are often confused about where Wi-Fi networks are located. As Wi-Fi networks become more popular, hotels have to add more Wi-Fi signals to provide coverage to guests. However, the space available in hotel rooms is limited. In other words, the hotels have to have exclusive access to certain rooms on the hotel floor.
