[MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup

[Tom Fifield]

Is there a possibility of having a (old, linux) PC running along with 
the router? You can get a great deal of flexibility out of that.

client <==> AP(running custom firmware) <==> PC (running some software) 
<==> Internet

For a past employer I implemented a system that utilised Chillispot 
running on a WRT54G, with a radius / postgres / php backend that 
provided authentication for known* users.

A basic chillispot/radius system isn't too hard to do if you know linux, 
and from that starting point it would be simple to (for example) add a 
little more PHP to manage user registration/payment etc - even if you 
didn't know PHP, you could change the database directly through an easy 
tool like phpmyadmin, or one of the radius ones.

Too complex? Confusing? Perhaps ...

--Tom


*There was a complex database synchronization process that happened to 
make a user 'known' - thankfully you don't have to deal with this!
Mark Gregson wrote:
> Hi Tom,
>
> Thanks for the fast reply. Like most things these days there's no money
> available, so it needs to be as cheap as possible. And we'd like to use
> readily available hardware just in case there's ever a problem.
>
> Thanks, Mark
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tom Fifield [mailto:gummay at gmail.com] On Behalf Of Tom Fifield
> Sent: Sunday, 15 April 2007 6:37 PM
> To: Mark Gregson
> Cc: melbwireless at wireless.org.au
> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup
>
> If you're looking for an easy (though generally much more expensive) 
> solution, a few companies make dedicated 'hotspot' hardware.
>
> For example, products like the Netcomm HS960 even print receipts for you.
>
> Is there a budget figure that has been discussed?
>
> --Tom
>
>
> Mark Gregson wrote:
>   
>> Hi Nick,
>>
>> Thanks for the reply, however I am helping a friend setup a hotspot at his
>> caravan park in rural Victoria. The basic design of the HotSpot will be an
>> access point connected to the internet through an ADSL service. 
>>
>> So all I need is an easy way to setup a HotSpot that has security so the
>> people must have authorisation to use it.
>>
>> Any ideas greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks, Mark
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Nick Selemidis [mailto:nikolis at netspace.net.au] 
>> Sent: Thursday, 12 April 2007 12:16 AM
>> To: gregsonm at aanet.com.au
>> Subject: Re: [MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <gregsonm at aanet.com.au>
>> Newsgroups: wifi.groups.melbournewireless
>> To: <melbwireless at wireless.org.au>
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 3:39 PM
>> Subject: [MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup
>>
>>
>>   
>>     
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I am interested in setting up a hotspot that is easy to setup and uses
>>>       
> off
>   
>>> the shelf hardware/software.
>>>
>>> The HotSpot must have security so that people must have authorisation to
>>> use it, either via a ticket/token or password.
>>>
>>> Does anyone out there have any suggestions on how this can be done?
>>>
>>> Thanks, Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>     
>>>       
>> Hello Mark
>> I would suggest you to try contacting first other operating nodes around
>>     
> you
>   
>> and work out a plan with them. Maybe a bulk purchase will save you some 
>> bucks.
>> Other than that if you still want to go ahead building your own node, you 
>> should consider buying a wireless router that you can run openwrt on it
>>     
> and 
>   
>> then depends what you plan to offer at your hotspot an antenna. Remember
>>     
> the
>   
>> leagal limit is 36dbi. The Omnis are great for sort distances but if you 
>> plan to link with another node a parabolic dish is the way to go. The 
>> security issue is another story, very hard to explain and actually do.
>>     
> Maybe
>   
>> a simple splash screen with an open ssid and some info about your node and
>>     
>
>   
>> other services you offer will do the trick. For personal use you should
>>     
> use 
>   
>> another secured ap.
>>
>> I hope I have give you an idea were to start.
>> Maybe a small how to build a node at the M.W. site will help ppl like
>>     
> Mark.
>   
>> Nick Selemidis 
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Melbwireless mailing list
>> Melbwireless at wireless.org.au
>> http://wireless.org.au/mailman/listinfo/melbwireless
>>   
>>     
>
>
>