[MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup

[Mark Gregson]

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