How to create free WiFi Hotspot?

W

Wall-E

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Hi all

Need advice: We own a restaurant, with a 4mb/s ADSL line for the office. I want to share this line with my customers, giving them free WiFi in the process. Two requirements:
1. For obvious security reasons, I want to run them on a separate network, i.e. a separate SSID.
2. I want to be able to control the bandwidth of the second SSID, i.e. if customers use too much of available bandwidth on the ADSL line, I want to be able to throttle them (their bandwidth, that is!)
3. If possible, I want to be able to limit each customer's data, e.g. 100MB per customer per day.

In short: A wifi hotspot, without the revenue generating side of things.

I have seen some router/modems on the shelf that look like they could do this (TP-Link's TL-WR842ND, or TD-W8968). They can certainly do the multiple SSID thing. Does anyone know if this will do the trick, or maybe an alternative?

Or am I going about this the wrong way? Any suggestions welcome.

Willem
 
Get MWeb Uncapped with FON.
Then you get #1, and #2 and #3 get taken care of by FON
 
Ubiquiti unifi with the controller software running. Multiple ssid's, guest network with throttling, reporting etc...
 
JStrike said:
Get MWeb Uncapped with FON.
Then you get #1, and #2 and #3 get taken care of by FON
Click to expand...

:-)

I am on MWeb uncapped. But they don't want to GIVE me a FON - And before I buy it, I want to know that it will do the job! Can I manage user "consumption" with a FON?
 
Wall-E said:
:-)

I am on MWeb uncapped. But they don't want to GIVE me a FON - And before I buy it, I want to know that it will do the job! Can I manage user "consumption" with a FON?
Click to expand...

Really? They gave it to me for free.

Works like a charm. I have my private network, and it also creates a public network which just runs. You can't configure it, as it runs on FON's rules, but that is fine. FON users can use it uncapped as well. Non-Fon users get a smaller amount. You don't have to care about managing consumption. You don't pay for the data.
 
Budza said:
What's the limit on the smaller, non MWEB user account?
Click to expand...

You mean non FON users? Not sure. I always connect automatically to any FON hotspot wherever I am in the world, with uncapped usage of course. But that is because I provide a FON hotspot. You would need to ask a non-FON user. Might be a good idea to find a FON hotspot and test it out
 
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MWEB WiFi will also install the infrastructure for you for free.
 
MickeyD said:
Why not get Telkom Mobile to do it for free (no cost to you as well)?
Click to expand...

What IS the deal with Telkom Mobile? A Telkom rep came to see me Nov last year, asking if I wanted a Telkom WiFi hotspot. I said of course, but I do NOT want my customers to pay for internet access. None of them. The way he explained it, it seems existing Telkom mobile users would have free access, but others would have to buy a token for usage. And I don't want extra admin, OR my customers to pay. He said he would bring me more information - still waiting.
I have a FON router at home. Also log in to FON hotspots where I can, or I can access AlwaysOn hotspots (like in the airports) for a limited time.
I don't use the FON functionality at home - maybe I should bring that router to the shop ... ? I presume then that customers will not see a customised SSID (e.g. shop name) but rather just "MWEB FON" or something like that?
 
Keep in mind that some people will try to do questionable things over any open/free wifi point.

So therefore you will need some content filtering software AND a proper firewall to block certain protocols and websites (kiddie porn etc) which is bound to get you attention from law officials...
 
MWEB come in and install the APs, the switches and routers and connect it to their network - and yes, all for free. I am a project manager on the WiFi project.

It's for free because it's a win win deal for the site and mweb
 
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MickeyD said:
Why not get Telkom Mobile to do it for free (no cost to you as well)?
Click to expand...

lawries72 said:
MWEB come in and install the APs, the switches and routers and connect it to their network - and yes, all for free. I am a project manager on the WiFi project.

It's for free because it's a win win deal for the site and mweb
Click to expand...

Okay, you have my attention. How come the MWeb support dude did not once mention this last week during my upgrade of the line? I explained the whole thing to him!

How do I go about it - Where do I start?
 
MickeyD said:
Why not get Telkom Mobile to do it for free (no cost to you as well)?
Click to expand...

The_Librarian said:
Keep in mind that some people will try to do questionable things over any open/free wifi point.

So therefore you will need some content filtering software AND a proper firewall to block certain protocols and websites (kiddie porn etc) which is bound to get you attention from law officials...
Click to expand...

Indeed - which is why I want some kind of configuration ability. I do not, however, want to spend a lot of money - it will not be generating income as such. More like a convenience (and drawing card) for customers (office away from the office, especially during loadshedding).

I had tried an "open" line before (uncapped, slow line, no password to join SSID), and got swamped by youngsters with laptops who would spend the whole day there spending no money. It got ugly - so I stopped it. But there are many bona fide customers who are prepared to spend money while they sit there for half an hour to hour, have a meal, while catching up online. So I want a free but controlled environment.
 
Wall-E said:
Okay wait ... can you explain in a bit more detail? What infrastructure? (In my experience, NOTHING is "for free" :o)
Click to expand...
Telkom Mobile will install an ADSL line (at their cost) - my diner and the local pub has a 10Mbps line and they link it to wireless access point.

Telkom Mobile customers link once and that's it. Other SIMs have to obtain a token from you - for 30 minutes free web access. You have the option to also sell vouchers to non-TM users.

See HERE
 
The MWEB network uses fiber as its backbone, not ADSL.

@Wall-E - sent you a PM
 
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