Cool Gadget - USB to Ethernet Network Adapter
I was traveling last week and found myself without Internet connectivity in my hotel room. If there is one thing a field engineer needs why traveling is Internet connectivity. This is the second time I have stayed at a Courtyard Marriott and had no internet. Both hotels use iBahn boxes that plug into a telephone jack and have an ethernet port on the front. Try as I might I was unable to get an IP address issued to my wired adapter. After jumping through all the hoops (restart computer, check adapter config etc.) the technical support representative put me through I finally asked for my case to be escalated. When a senior person got on the phone he asked if if I had a Broadcom network adapter in my laptop. When I answered yes he explained that Broadcom adapters are not compatible with the iBahn adapter and that was the reason I could not be issued an IP address. Great! One of the most widespread network adapters in the industry would not work at one of the largest hotel chains in the world. A frustration "perfect storm". I now had two choices; switch hotels (did that last time) or find another solution.
I tethered the cell phone, connected to the Internet and searched for information on USB Ethernet adapters. I ran down to the local Office Depot and picked up a Cisco(aka Linksys) USB Ethernet adapter. I plugged the device in, loaded drivers and I was back in business. If you travel you might want to pick up one of these just in case...