WiFi - one computer at a time - common?

[dbwiddis]

Parked at a campsite on our very first RV trip as a family! Yay!

We got an access code for the wifi (Tengo Internet) but each different computer that wants to use it has to "take over" the connection, so we can't all be online at the same time.

Is this normal/common for campsites? What do most people do who want to use a router or somesuch to share access?

[NorCal_Dan]

dbwiddis wrote:
@NorCal Dan:

Any (or at least most) router can be plugged into a computer which has access to the internet, and then acts as the gateway.

Sounds like that should work. It's been so long since I messed with PC's that I didn't feel comfortable making any definitive statements.

[dbwiddis]

bigdogger wrote:
But if you have four computers connected, you will be using 4 times the bandwidth than a single computer. It would be possible for each of those four connections to be downloading a Netflix HD movie at the same time. The router wouldn't be the chokepoint since any common router can pass much more bandwidth than almost any Internet connection can handle.

Of course, the router can pass it to the connected computer, but the bandwidth is limited by the computer's internet connection to the camp wifi. An 802.11g connection will draw a maximum of 54 Mbps.

4 computers downloading netflix will download at 1/4th the speed of 1 computer downloading netflix. Each of them will have a 54 Mbps connection to the router, and an even faster wired connection from router to hosted computer, but that final computer-to-camp wifi will be a 54 Mbps bottleneck. So the 4 connected computers will get about 13 Mbps each.

The overall bandwidth (per second) will be the same (just take 4 times as long)

The worst thing this strategy can/will do is increase the radio interference on the limited number of router frequencies available.

[bigdogger]

But if you have four computers connected, you will be using 4 times the bandwidth than a single computer. It would be possible for each of those four connections to be downloading a Netflix HD movie at the same time. The router wouldn't be the chokepoint since any common router can pass much more bandwidth than almost any Internet connection can handle.

[dbwiddis]

bigdogger wrote:
3. The system has bandwidth issues (usually in rural areas where broadband is limited), and they are trying to keep down the number of users hence making the system work for all the guests. Signing a router into this situation to allow multiple connections defeats the purpose and really imposes on all the other users.

In the system I described, the bandwidth for every computer on a router connected via a single computer would be limited by the connection speed/bandwidth of that single computer. This is not an issue.

[bigdogger]

I would assume the one computer one code rule is in place for one of three reasons. 1. the park has problems with people in the surrounding area logging onto their system and dragging down performance. In this case, giving out additional codes to guests wouldn't be a problem. 2. It is a pay for usage system, where giving out unlimited codes would defeat the purpose. 3. The system has bandwidth issues (usually in rural areas where broadband is limited), and they are trying to keep down the number of users hence making the system work for all the guests. Signing a router into this situation to allow multiple connections defeats the purpose and really imposes on all the other users. Best to find out the reason before making judgements.

[dbwiddis]

@NorCal Dan:

Any (or at least most) router can be plugged into a computer which has access to the internet, and then acts as the gateway. Specifically:

- Computer connects to the campground wifi
- Connect a cable on the same computer's wired internet connection to the "WAN" side of the router, and uses software settings to "bridge" the two networks, so that computers on the wired network (the router and all who access it) can use the computer's wireless connection.
- Router shares (a different wifi) with other devices locally.

[NorCal_Dan]

@wittmeba - That's true - in that situation the CG is not restricting access to guests - they are just making sure non-guests do not piggyback their WiFi.

@dbwiddis- If you don't want to get into this situation again then being able to use one access device in your RV to share that connection with all your devices is the best answer. You would only need [to pay for] one access code.

Can you use a router? Unknown.

If the CG WiFi is open, meaning anyone with the [WPA/WPA2] "key" can connect, then a router will work. But...In a "closed" WiFi system, to get internet access, the system will re-direct your browser to the CG page where you will input your login/pw.

I am not aware of any router that can be used this way...

[dbwiddis]

OP here, thanking all for input and re-clarifying initial post.

Yes, the login/pw given was individual per-camper. Now that I know what's going on, I probably could have asked for a second one, but didn't know I needed it until the office was closed. My question was, as a beginning RVer, what to expect at other campgrounds... whether I needed to buy a router to share a single connection, or whether I could usually work around the situation by getting multiple login codes, using a common login, or using my cell phone 4G/LTE service.

[wittmeba]

Dan,

Thanks for clarifying. It made me rethink and re-read the OP post.

If they are posting the credentials (login/pw) in the window it seems to me this is a "community" login/pw. How can this block #2-## within the OP's rv if their IP addresses are unique which they should be? All they should be able to see is each IP address accessing their Wifi router.

If the OP was provided a single login/pw when they signed in that would make sense. This sounds like the situation when I re-read the OP's post - 1 PC access - and that is exactly what the park would want if they have limited Wifi routers.

But if it is posted in a window it should be a community login/pw.

If the OP wants each one in their RV to have simultaneous access they will need unique credentials (login/pw) for each one.

[NorCal_Dan]

wittmeba wrote:
I didn't read all the posts but this does not make sense. If you are accessing a campground wifi and you can only access it 1-at-a-time this would mean the campground has a 1-at-a-time service. The wifi would not know the difference from your rig with multiple computers (each with the wifi ability) and 1 computer in your rig and others campers also accessing the same wifi.

Not to get overly technical, but yes, they can "see" each device accessing their service by it's unique MAC address.

But what we are discussing here is CG WiFi that requires each guest to login using CG provided credentials. The CG can setup to allow one device per credential, or, they can make the system "open" to anyone using the supplied credential. This "credential" is what is sometimes posted in the window at CG's so late arrivals who didn't get checked-in can still access the WiFi.

[JimM68]

Agree with many of the above.
We use a router in our motorhome,once 1 device is authenticated, all will work.
This type of connection sharing will also work if you use a single android or iphone device as your netowrk share.

Note, these campground connections are usually terribly slow, your phones's 4g connection ay be uch faster.

[wittmeba]

Redsky wrote:
...and not to use for banking or credit charge transactions.

Can you explain why not? Any bank should be using an https:// server which is just as safe over a wifi connection as sitting at your home.

We see the passwords posted at the office front desk, sometimes in the window, and it is never changed from one year to the next.

What passwords? What window?

[Redsky]

Be aware that these are public Wifi and shared by everyone so not a good idea to use more than necessary and not to use for banking or credit charge transactions. We see the passwords posted at the office front desk, sometimes in the window, and it is never changed from one year to the next.

For a mifi device the best plan is with millenicom.com where there is no contract and the rates are half that of Verizon though you use the Verizon network.

[wittmeba]

I didn't read all the posts but this does not make sense. If you are accessing a campground wifi and you can only access it 1-at-a-time this would mean the campground has a 1-at-a-time service. The wifi would not know the difference from your rig with multiple computers (each with the wifi ability) and 1 computer in your rig and others campers also accessing the same wifi.

Unless you have some piece of hardware that is serving as a router with a single access you should all be able to connect simultaneously.