The Advantage of a Travel Router as a Single Device
Traveling with family often means dealing with multiple devices, but the common two-device limit on hotel Wi-Fi can be problematic. Instead of being constrained, utilize a travel router. By connecting a travel router to the hotel’s Wi-Fi, you can create a hotspot that allows all your devices—laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more—to connect effortlessly. The hotel network will only recognize the travel router as a single device, enabling you to bypass additional device restrictions.
Setting Up Your Wi-Fi Hotspot with a Travel Router
Step 1: Connect to Your Travel Router
Start by powering on your travel router. Use your smartphone or computer to locate its SSID. Typically, the default password is found on a label affixed to the router.
Step 2: Access the Admin Panel
Next, access the router’s admin panel. For ZBT routers, you can do this by entering “192.168.8.1” in your web browser. If it’s your first login, select your preferred language and set a new password for the admin panel.
Step 3: Connect to the Hotel’s Wi-Fi
Once logged in, find the repeater function on the admin panel’s homepage. Use it to search for and connect to the hotel’s SSID.
Step 4: Complete the Captive Portal
After establishing the connection to the hotel’s Wi-Fi via your travel router, the hotel’s Captive Portal should appear automatically. Complete the required information, and your travel router will secure an active internet connection. At this stage, your router functions as a hotspot for other devices, all while being counted as a single device by the hotel network.
Optional Step 5: Secure Your Connection with a VPN
If you have concerns about the security of the hotel Wi-Fi, you can log into your VPN account directly through ZBT’s admin panel, ensuring encryption for all devices on your network. Here’s how to proceed:
1. Access the admin panel of your ZBT router.
2. Navigate to the VPN tab and select the VPN client.
3. Choose your VPN service and log in, or upload your VPN configuration file.
Recommended ZBT Travel Routers
- Beryl AX (ZBT-MT3000): Delivers high-speed internet and robust bandwidth.
- Slate AX (ZBT-AXT1800): Offers exceptional VPN processing speed.
- Mango (ZBT-MT300N-V2): The most compact VPN travel router for easy storage.
- Puli (ZBT-XE300): Features a backup battery and SIM card slot for seamless failover to a 4G LTE network.
About ZBT
ZBT specializes in the design and manufacturing of advanced network hardware and software solutions, delivering affordable and secure connectivity for families and businesses worldwide. We address diverse industry needs, tackling everyday internet challenges and providing sophisticated networking solutions for smart buildings and IoT networks. At ZBT, we understand that a strong, secure foundation is vital for successful enterprises, which is why we prioritize enhancing network security and reliability for our partners.