Problems using ROKU away from home

[Tom52]

Several times I have tried using ROKU while away from home. Only once have I been successful being able to get it connected and running. Anytime I have tried it in a hotel where you have to logon thru the hotel's wireless network, I can't get the ROKU to work. The one time I was successful was when we rented a house in FLA last winter, we were able to access their wireless network by typing in the wifi name and password using prompts displayed via ROKU on the TV screen.

I have spent some time online today trying to find out how to make the connection work when staying at a hotel. I understand there is a "Hotel & Dorm Connect" step under the "Settings">"Network">"Set up new wireless connection". I saw several YouTube videos that presented conflicting information. One video gave instructions that required a laptop in addition to the ROKU. Another video required a laptop but also software on the laptop that created a wifi hotspot. The software was about $30. Another video added a Hoo Too portable router and laptop, (assuming some sort of router software installed on laptop.

It all seems very confusing and inconsistent from one video to the next. Anyone out there with experience what is really needed to get the ROKU to work at a hotel? Any link to a good article or website that give clear concise directions for this? I don't have any problems with the actual connection of HDMI cable etc., just additional equipment required beyond the standard ROKU equipment. BTW I have a ROKU2 box that is supposed to have the "Hotel & Dorm Connect" capability.

 

[bUU]

The Hootoo approach would be the path of least resistance since you could get it working at home, and as a bonus have an easier time sharing the internet connection with your other devices.

 

[donheff]

The Hootoo approach would be the path of least resistance since you could get it working at home, and as a bonus have an easier time sharing the internet connection with your other devices.

That HooToo device is new to me. The online description is confusing. Does it allow you to stream an iOS device display directly to a TV similar to airplay over Apple TV? So, for example could you play Amazon Prime or Netflix from the phone to a TV?

 

[bUU]

You can think of a Hootoo as a router. You connect to it like you do any other router and it works like any other router as long as it is connected to another router that is connected to the internet. When you turn it on you would access it using a browser and through it connect to the hotel LAN. Once that connection is made now you can connect to the Hootoo from any device and it'll work again just like any other router. There is of course a little bit of overhead but very little.

Now some might feel that the convenience of being able to have all of your devices except one connect automatically without having to go through some rigmarole on each one to connect to the hotel land isn't a big deal. I suppose that's a matter of opinion. From my standpoint I'm looking at it as a bit of marital peace insurance. Regardless there is another Advantage. There are some venues that charge for Access by the device. with the Hootoo you should be able to connect the Hootoo to the venue LAN and then share that connection among multiple devices through the Hootoo. It should save me roughly $80 over the next couple of months based on what I've heard from other folks who have used it.

 

[MissMolly]

I have successfully used my Roku in a hotel on two occasions. On one, I was able to do so by logging in to the hotel wifi. On the other, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get logged into the hotel wifi through the Roku. I downloaded a free hotspot to my laptop and then logged the Roku in with that.

 

[Tom52]

I have successfully used my Roku in a hotel on two occasions. On one, I was able to do so by logging in to the hotel wifi. On the other, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get logged into the hotel wifi through the Roku. I downloaded a free hotspot to my laptop and then logged the Roku in with that.

MissMolly, thanks for the idea about a downloaded hotspot. Can you tell me the name and how to find it?

 

[Sunset]

What does Roku give you that having a laptop doesn't ?

Couldn't you hook the laptop to the tv via hdmi cable and see netflix on the tv ?

 

[MissMolly]

MissMolly, thanks for the idea about a downloaded hotspot. Can you tell me the name and how to find it?

I don't know the name of it. I Googled "free hotspots" or something like that. When I look at it, it just says "MissMolly's hotspot". Sorry I can't find more info on it.

 

[MissMolly]

What does Roku give you that having a laptop doesn't ?

Couldn't you hook the laptop to the tv via hdmi cable and see netflix on the tv ?

It gives you access to everything on your Roku. Netflix, Amazon Prime, all the dozens of other channels I have on Roku and most especially my Plex server at home.

 

[MissMolly]

And I already pack enough stuff when I go thru airports. I don't want to have to carry around an HDMI cable too.