[MLB-WIRELESS] HotSpot Setup

[Tom Fifield]

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 
>
>
>
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