How To: Using Chromecast in a Hotel wifi network
Tags :Chromecast wifi hotel Travel
Using Chromecast in a hotel wifi network can be no easy task with authentications, splash pages and more. Here are two ways to get around issues using Chromecast on a hotel wifi network I found. We should be taking advantage of those large tv's with HDMI ports in the hotel rooms to watch Netflix, Hulu or whatever else.
The first option is the easiest.
Bring your own small router and create your own network in your room. I have reviewed numerous with my current favorite being the TP-Link Wireless N150 Nano Travel Router (TL-WR702N) that I carry with me. This allows you to plug into the hotel ethernet port and connect directly to the TP-Lnk to share the connection. With your iPad, other tablet or computer and the Chromecast all connected to your router, the setup is so simple. Plus it in and go!
I found that once I plugged in my TP-Link Nano router, authenticated using my iPad with whatever splash screen or authentication they needed, everything worked right away.
The second option took a lot longer and needs more technical skills. You may have to do this option if you do not have a travel router or if the hotel does not have an ethernet port in your room available. For this I used a D-Link Wireless Compact Wi-Fi Range Extender (DAP-1520) that amplifies the hotel wifi network for you. (Sometimes you just have to connect directly to the hotel wifi if you do not have this either).
For this option you will need the MAC address (this is simply a hardware identifier number) of the Chromecast (found in the final setup screens) and the ability to follow some simple steps. I suggest getting the MAC address at home before you leave if possible to save some frustration at the hotel when all you want to do is watch Netflix or Hulu.
- Connect to the Chromecast and launch the setup wizard application
- Get the MAC address of the Chromecast and walk through connecting it to the hotel network or your repeater network
- Shut the Chromecast down (pull the power)
- Change the MAC address on your laptop to match that of the Chromecast. For a Mac user this is quite simple with a terminal command. Read this great article on OSX Daily for a step by step. NOTE: Write down your origianl MAC address so you can change it back in step 6
- Connect to the hotel or repeater network with the new MAC address and go through whatever authentication steps are required. (you are pretending to be the Chromecast at this point)
- Change your MAC address back to the original (see step 4)
- Connect to the repeater or hotel network with your laptop
- Start the Chromecast back up and it should connect right away since the hotel network will remember it for a day at least usually.
At this point you should be ale to see the Chromecast and start throwing content at it! Now the one downside to this second option is that technically someone else could connect to your Chromecast depending on the hotel network setup. I still prefer option #1 with my own nano router which isolates me and makes this dead simple. All for around $20 plus the price of the Chromecast.
Let me know of any questions. I have done this twice now with great success.
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On Thursday, July 10th, 2014 by Chris Miller
