TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin wifi at the Atrium

It appears from what I'm reading that the 'free' wifi at the Atrium is not very good and is not really accessible from the rooms. I need to be able to be connected from my room. What are people's experiences with it? And does anyone know if Scarlet works there?

I'm surprised your staying at the Atrium. Don't you usually stay at the RP? My neighbor owns at the Atrium but did not go this last year as they go every other year. I'll check with him so see what it was like last year in 2014.
As far as Scarlet, give them a call. I thought I read they expanded their range.

I think it depends on the room and what kind of device you are using (most laptops can pick up a weaker signal than an iPad). I read the same things but when we stayed there I had an acceptable signal from our 3rd floor room. It was definitely stronger in the lobby.

Staying with friends at the Atrium this next year, who've got a really sweet room. Our last experience Scarlett, they basically didn't know whether it would work or not, just said try it.

Thanks. I will be using a laptop, yes. I will be staying in a high floor room, and it seems like the signal is weaker the higher up one goes? I have a few months to figure it out. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Are the friends you are staying with owners? If so they should know.

dustin--another Atrium question--have you been in the gym? I just need a few machines, like a back machine, etc., or is it just cardio equipment?

Could not get any signal in our room last year Carol. Had to go to the lobby or Greenhouse. I have never even looked in the gym!

mort--thanks. Looks like I will be checking out Scarlet. I am not an exercise fanatic by any means, but with my recent problems with my back, I have to use machines to keep it under control.

We stayed at the Atrium this past January, we were on the second floor and were able to pick up Wi-Fi signal in the room without any problems. They also offer a magic jack if you need to make a call. It was our 1st time staying there and we liked the location and the staff was very helpful. We used the hospitality suite the Saturday we checked in which was really nice and they held our luggage the day we left and we used the shower in the gym.

Could get a signal on the 6th floor but not the 9th

Hi Trinigerl--do you remember any machines in the gym, or was it just cardio equipment?

I am an owner at the Atrium, and yes there is wifi. It is better with laptops than it is with ipads. You might have to move your laptop in the room closest to the middle of the building to get a real good signal, as they do have repeaters in the middle of the building. I can't vouch if they have the repeaters on all floors, I can tell you that they did have a repeater on the 5th floor facing the beach.

Carol they had a few weight machines, treadmill, bicycle and a several other equipment. I did not use the gym we just used it to shower and change before the airport. It’s on the first floor lobby area facing the street.

OK, thanks much! Sounds like that will be good enough for what I need.

Thanks for the reply. I'll figure something out.

Carol,

My experience with Scarlet this year has been very positive.
Not only Flamingo didn't charge me for the modem (5 days) but the speed was excellent, much much faster than WiFi at the resort.
Our unit is on the top floor of Building 3, on top of the hill, so I believe it's higher than the top floor at the Atrium, but I could be wrong. Anyway, like I said, speed was excellent.
Anyway, you can try and if it doesn't work, I'd be surprised if Scarlet doesn't give you your money back.
Good luck and let us know how it went.

Thanks for the reply. A few years ago when we tried Scarlett at Flamingo (main building) and it didn't work, we just took it back and they didn't charge us. That was a few years ago. I know that they have installed more repeaters since then. When we have used them in the past, and it was in their service area, their speed was very good. I thought previously when it didn't work, it wasn't a matter of the actual height of the building, but that somehow the mountain blocked the signal. It will be March of next year before I find out for sure how it goes! Sure seems a very long time to wait...

Do they still have the CAT5 hook ups in the room? We just used the wifi last time there so I do not remember.

Wifi was week, fine closer to the front door but worked enough for us.

We will be back there in 121 days! Whooop Whooop!

Todd, when I was there the last few years I did not see any cat 5 cables in the kitchen area at all.

We have one of these on our boat and take it to hotels as well, works great. It increases your range dramatically.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alfa-9dBi-WiFi-B...=item1e8eda6c4d

Sorry, I'm pretty stupid about these things--increases your RANGE, or boosts a low volume signal?

The signal is constant, so you can have 5 bars of crappy internet, like 3-5 gigs is very slow. We are probably running close to 100 in the states. You can always test this with speedtest.net. So if we are anchored in Simpson Bay, we can easily pick up their signal on the boat. So, it increases your range. In Grand Case we must have had 10+ wifi signals to choose from. We would then go to the bar or restaurant, order a drink and ask for the internet code, all done

Wifi antennas are on every floor near the central core where the elevators are. The closer your are the better. Like life itself on SXM, it's never consistent.

We may have discussed this before, plequerre --- I think we may have the same unit(s) <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Sorry, that doesn't help me, if I have to get a code from the restaurant and frankly, I don't feel that great about stealing someone's signal for a week, based on one drink..

who said one drink and we ate there as well, and it's not stealing, he willfully gave me the security code. It does not cost them anymore if 5 or 15 people are surfing. Many BVI charter guests either have Alpha Bullets or some other type of boosters. I also have a 1/4 mile booster mounted on my spreader. Many private owners and even charter companies are installing these on charter boats. They are very lawful. In the case of Simpson Bay, remember we stayed there for a week and already had the code, so it worked great on the boat.

The more users on the wifi connection the slower it gets.

Actually, that is not at all true. Internet connection is always based on how much it is ueed. To me, eating at someplace does not entitle me to use their internet for any length of time that exceeds when I am physically sitting there. We pay a LOT of money per month for our bandwidth. There is no way I am going to take advantage of a business in SXM or elsewhere by 'stealing' their signal.

Oh my. We're agreeing again. Whats this world coming to? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

yes, I'm sure, one of the signs of the Apocalypse! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

3301AB

That's it <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> We should leave each other notes in secret hiding places <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

It would pretty hard to screw one of them onto a laptop, since laptops don't have that type of connection on them.....

the Alpha Bullet uses an USB, no screw on anything, OH, the base screws onto the antenna

Alpha Bullet?

I'm just across from you for two weeks in 3302A/B <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" />

Week? I'm 28

Week 6. Interested in buying wk 5 or wk7 in the same unit.