Re: Help With Free WiFi !!

GlowingBlueMist · 05-10-10, 08:11 AM

On 5/9/2010 8:31 PM, Kimmy Boyer wrote:
> I own a small cafe and want to give my customers (maybe 10 at most)
> free wifi access when they sit and eat. I have Netgear wireless router
> but it runs on a WPA2 requiring a password.
>
> My concerns are two things. One so that I don't have to give out and
> change passwords every day and two keeping access limited to a very
> small, open atrium area. I turn the router on/off as I come and go.
>
> Any help is appreciated!
>
> Kim

If you are lucky your router is supported by the DD-WRT or Tomato
firmware upgrade. With either of them them you should be able to set up
a "cafe" style access system with out a password being needed.

You can set it up to present a screen with your house rules that the
user has to click on and accept before they are allowed onto the internet.

Here is a link describing the DD-WRT firmware and Cafe access.
http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...ing-DD-WRT.htm

If your present router is not supported a suitable replacement can be
found at many places like Ebay, Tigerdirect.com, and many other places.

GlowingBlueMist · 05-10-10, 08:49 PM

On 5/10/2010 10:06 AM, Kimmy Boyer wrote:
> On Mon, 10 May 2010 08:11:41 -0500, GlowingBlueMist wrote:
>
>> On 5/9/2010 8:31 PM, Kimmy Boyer wrote:
>>> I own a small cafe and want to give my customers (maybe 10 at most)
>>> free wifi access when they sit and eat. I have Netgear wireless router
>>> but it runs on a WPA2 requiring a password.
>>>
>>> My concerns are two things. One so that I don't have to give out and
>>> change passwords every day and two keeping access limited to a very
>>> small, open atrium area. I turn the router on/off as I come and go.
>>>
>>> Any help is appreciated!
>>>
>>> Kim
>>
>> If you are lucky your router is supported by the DD-WRT or Tomato
>> firmware upgrade. With either of them them you should be able to set up
>> a "cafe" style access system with out a password being needed.
>>
>> You can set it up to present a screen with your house rules that the
>> user has to click on and accept before they are allowed onto the internet.
>>
>> Here is a link describing the DD-WRT firmware and Cafe access.
>> http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials...ing-DD-WRT.htm
>>
>> If your present router is not supported a suitable replacement can be
>> found at many places like Ebay, Tigerdirect.com, and many other places.
>
> Thanks, my router is a WGT624v3 not supported but I can pick up a
> Linksys no problemo! I found ready-rolled Hotspot software with
> Click-Thru from your link.
>
> http://www.hotspotsystem.com/en/hots...e_hotspot.html
>
> Ther atrium area is approximately 2,000 sft 50x40 and is separated
> from the cafe by glass walls and a hallway.
>
> Anyway I can limit the access to the atrium area only (that is where
> all the seating is)?
>
> Kim

Sounds like you have a plan.

You should be able to eliminate the need for you to power down the
router when not needed as most DD-WRT versions of the software can also
be told what times and day of the week the wireless can be accessed.

You might want to allow an extra 30 to 60 minutes for those few who stay
late. There is usually an easy procedure you can follow to override the
time lock should you have a special party planned during your normal
"closed" times.

Most DD-WRT have control over the transmitter power and can lower it to
limit the coverage area, it depends on the router chosen. Take care if
you raise the power level above the default as many routers can overheat
with out a fan modification. Some manufacturers limit the transmitter
power in order to maintain adequate cooling with out the need for a fan
or a more open design of the case.

danny burstein · 05-10-10, 09:55 PM

[snip]

>You should be able to eliminate the need for you to power down the
>router when not needed as most DD-WRT versions of the software can also
>be told what times and day of the week the wireless can be accessed.

no reason not to shut it down completely, and it'll save power, too [a].

A hardware based plug-through-timer is what, $10 or so these days?
And it'll be a clear and sure way of making certain that the
router and its wifi signal are dead, dead, dead,

[a] if we figure ten watts, and we can shut it off for real one
half the time, then that's 12 hours * 30 days * 10 watts =
=> 3,600 wat-hrs/month, or 3.6 kw-hr/month. Ok, it ain't
a huge number, but you've got to start somewhere...

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
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