setting up a WiSP/Hotspot

[schurtek]

In my business park I have been given permission to offer Wireless Internet to other tenants. All but two of the tenants are more eager about this than I am so I am now compelled to get this running.

First thing is first. I am building an IPCop Box for my network. It will have three interfaces...

RED: Internet/ADSL
GREEN: My Network
BLUE: Wisp

I want to run 2 PPPoE connections. One for Local and one for International. Now I have downloaded the awesome tutorial from these forums on how to achieve this... so that seems easy enough...

What I require is to control how much bandwidth each subscriber is able to use. I want them to be able to buy 1GB at a time and then the system must control it. I am going to install a 802.11g+ or 11n radio on the roof of the building I am in. The entire complex has only 8 small buildings each 2 or 3 stories. With my 54MB Dlink AP I can pick up a strong signal from each building. And that is with out any extra antennas.

I will be supplying my clients with DLink AP's that I will configure into Bridge Mode (have done this so I know which models to use).

I have taken a look at the Chilli Website and it seems interesting, but if I can do it all from IPCop using plugins and addons then even better.

Karl

 

[Jeremi]

just get RB's ! www.routerboard.com

 

[schurtek]

These boards are nice... but not in my price range... the DLink's are cheap and reliable... and I have test them out in the complex and I have good range...

 

[schurtek]

I know this is necro posting, but just incase anyone is ever crawling this site:

I have since dropped the dlinks and gone with routerboards and nanostations...

don't waste your time looking at anything else... trust me... you'lll be wasting your money... just go out and buy a box of nanostations and RB750 routerboards. Use these for the towers (Nanostations out perform any miniPCI radio and antenna config). Get your self a box of nanstation locos to use as CPEs... problems solved...

 

[schurtek]

already got my own automated hotspot billing system. anyone want, drop me a PM

 

[Atti2de]

As Jeremi said, "Just get RB's" and he's right.

Using something like the D-Link units is seriously a waste if you want to do this properly. Especially for business which have their own little requirements, etc. The Mikrotik RB's let you perform magic and I would not suggest anything else to SME's.

Unless there is something out there that can offer the same off the shelf.

 

[schurtek]

There are many devices that promise the same or more than a routerboard... but to my experience, they all seem to fall short of completely failing. If you look at my original post, you can see that it was in April 2007. Nearly 3 years ago... I have gained a lot of knowledge and experience since then. I have a network that is 40+ strong in towers. Over 300 subscribers. Well it's not my network, but I do most of the installs and maintenance work, and thus I get to play with EXPENSIVE toys...

Again, RB750 and Nanostation. Perfect combination.

 

[F111]

It is worth looking at a gateway appliance like 24online billing and bandwidth managment