I have an Airport Express. The idea behind it is, I want to be able to take it to any hotel or location that ONLY has wired internet, and create a WiFi hotspot for my iPad.

Right now I have it set up working on my home network, but I want to make sure the settings are correct so that I could...say...take it to the Ramada Inn that only (in this example) has wired ethernet internet and plug it in, and turn the connection into a WiFi network.

What settings do I need to put in specifically for that purpose?

I have the same qustion too. I am using my ipad on the road all the time and most time out of US. Most hotels don't offer wifi in guest room but provide ethernet port for internet use. I am looking for a small device with no setup needed at the point of use as I will not have computer on hand when I am going to use such device to connect with ipad to internet.
Thank you
Stephen

I think I paid 15$ for a refurbished NetGear 4 port WiFi router on eBay. That's all you would need really.

Thank you for your help y2kgtp. I don't know if this NetGear router needs to be setup by computer or if it is large in size. In my case; I use my ipad when I on a trip. I pack light.(that's why I use ipad, not a labtop) So if the router or any devise that needs to by setup by computer at the point of use (at this point, use by ipad) is no use at all, or if it is too big in size. I've yet to try the airport express for ipad but will going to later this month. I've found this device "CradlePoint CTR500" which may work for my case but I'd like it to be smaller and it also works for 3g/4g modem as well which I don't need. I hope there is a small device just convert the ethernet port to wifi hotspot or a cable os something that can connect ipad to the ethernet port to sue the internet.
Thanks again for the help.
stephen

I figured this out, it works fine. Basically most of the default settings are what you need.

You select WiFi extender if I remember correctly.

thank you guys! I've just order the airport express. I will give it a try next trip.
-stephen

Isn't that like...180$?

Nope, $99 straight from Apple.

AirPort Express Base Station with 802.11n and AirTunes - Apple Store (U.S.)

or $95 from Amazon.

That's more acceptable. I was looking at the extreme base i guess.

I still vote for my 15$ NetGear refurb router. was free shipping too.

Also glad I have WiFi tethering on my Droid


Now if that iPad would ship.....

How big is the router though? The AXP is tiny. Plus it plugs directly in, so no power cable. Perfect for traveling.

Here it is with my Droid on top....

And the power cable? Here is mine, complete, with my Droid on top.

For traveling, every inch counts.

Speaking of which, Matth3w, I noticed an Arabic/Persian keyboard showed up in Appulous today.

I don't have to travel too often, just a few times a year for work when they fly me back to Cambridge...but every place I have stayed at lately has WiFi on the network. I would just shove the router in one of my bags, it's weight is pretty light including the small wall adapter. Adapter is not any thicker than the height of the router itself.

Yeah I travel over 50k miles a year, unfortunately. Hopefully that will change soon. I don't like to shove electronics in my bag because they are usually mission critical, and if they lost a bag I would be effed. Like I am going to Germany and staying where they only have wired internet...I wouldn't want to be out and about not speaking German very well trying to buy a router if that makes sense.

Gents,

Not to be too obtuse, but I just bought an Airport Express and I see nothing in the manual about setting it up as a WiFi repeater (the hotel room scenario). What do I need to do ahead of going on my trip? Do I need to get it setup on my home Mac first in some manner?

Cheers,

You need to set it up on your computer the first time.

Apple - Support - Discussions - Airport Express Connection in a Hotel ...

Note that they say it doesn't always work if a hotel is blocking a router, for example, but it has worked the couple of times I have used it as a test.