Dumb question re Italy and electronics...
 

Say my apartment landlord offered wired internet. If I brought my wifi router with me from US, could I use it the same there as here?

(Sorry if that is a dumb question.)

The router will work on their Internet connection just like it does here. You may have issues though if they already have a local network set up (doubtful though). Just make sure the power supply for the router supports 220v; it probably does...

Thanks Kent!:)

Should work fine, just don't forget an adaptor plug. In my experience, buying them in the US is a ripoff, as most Italian hardware stores and even groceries ad small markets sell them for €5 or less... Just don't make the same mistake I did and use them on your hairdryer!

If it offers wired internet, why do you need another router?

The likelihood is that you don't need anything except a plug adaptor so your computer will connect to the Italian electrical system and instructions on how to connect to the installed system (usually just knowing the password or key)

All my routers plug directly into my electrical system, without converting the power. If yours is similar you're likely to fry yours in Italy and possibly blow the entire apartment block's electricity supply if you plug it in without a power CONVERTER, which will cost you more than a week's phones and double your baggage weight.

Begin by asking the landlord - before you leave home - precisely how to connect. If you do need your own router - and I've never encountered anywhere offering internet access where you do - then repost, quoting exactly what electrical input and output your router claims it can handle.

He is bringing a wifi router and says that the apartment only has wired service. And yes you can do this. I bring along a little wireless router that I put DD-WRT onto. If there is no wireless, then I've got my own. Even if there is wireless, their signal may be too low, so using the modified router allows me to create a secure repeater/access point.

I also run an OpenVPN account, so if I am bored, tired, whatever, I can watch American TV shows and my connection is very secure.

dave

I've never heard of a low wattage appliance like a router taking out an entire apartment block's electricity, but you learn something new every day on the internet...

Short answer is check the power supply on the router. Most routers run on 5V DC, with the small brick automatically converting the AC input to 5V DC output. If it says input 100-240V AC, then it'll work fine in Italy. All you'll need is the plug adapter. If it's only rated for 110V then you can't use it in Italy. You could check for a cheap 220V power supply for whatever brand you have on ebay.

Having access to wifi makes a lot of sense to me, if you don't mind packing it along. I too like the freedom to use my laptop anywhere in the apartment, not stuck 3' away from the router by LAN.

Another option is to just bring a long LAN cable. On some business trips I stay in hotels with only LAN, and I keep a 25' LAN cord in my suitcase for those trips so I can reach it across the room. Don't forget to bring at least a short LAN cable to connect the router to the modem.

We have been thinking of this too, as there will be four of us, and a wired internet connection would only allow one at a time. With the router, we can have up to 5 people on line.

As it has worked out, we are supposed to have wifi in all our apartments. I just hope it really works well.

So, not a dumb question after all. :D

I've got a Netgear Rangemax router. The power supply reads, "AC-DC Adapter. Input: AC 120V - 60Hz 0.19A Output: DC 12V 1A".

Will that work? Or should I get a new one? Frye's should have an array, yes?

Thanks all!

"<i>120V - 60Hz . . . Will that work?</i>"

Nope.

If the power supply does not specifically show an INPUT voltage range that exceeds 200v, then it cannot be used in Europe without a voltage converter. Most, but not all, electronics are dual voltage. The caveat is "not all."

dave

Yes, Fry's should have a compatible 12V supply for < $10.

Here a model on ebay that has the correct electrical specs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-DC-Adapt...item2a1584b5b8

but I'm not sure if there are different size connectors for different models, so don't take my word that this one will fit. It's just an example of what you need.

also, on your original power supply you'll see a little diagram on the pin connections for the output side. It will look like a "C" with a dot in the middle of it. Next to that you'll see a + and - (indicating polarity), these must be the same on the new one, as well as the correct pin size.