On Saturday 07 May 2005 12:54 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
Do you know what software they use?
Unfortunately they do not use any software, it is simply an open access point.
Not the correct way to do things, at least I managed to convince them to put the AP on a timeswitch so that it is only operational when the place is open.
Not that way I would have done things :-(
A few of the Greeneking pubs have either MyCloud or Purple Patch. The MyCloud ones are next to useless to me because I can't get out on ssh and VPN's won't work over them (I refuse to use a untrusted network any other way) and the Purple Patch ones annoy me because despite being a BT OpenZone they don't accept the OpenZone credits I get from my ISP. Oh and both of them are a pain to sign up to using anything other than I.E.
You've got me thinking. If the big networks are so appalling, what software is out there to set up a wireless hotspot with free software?
I haven't actually looked into that yet, there are a few appliance based solutions. I've seen a D-link one that has a little ticket printer for the access codes and there is something similar by another company.
But they are both quite expensive (so much so that it would take a while just to recoup the equipment costs let alone pay for the broadband and make a profit)
A quick search on the usual haunts turns up:
- Public IP ZoneCD - http://sourceforge.net/projects/publicip/
- Less Networks Hotspot Server - http://sourceforge.net/projects/lesshotspotserv/
- Linux LiveCD Hotspot Server - http://www.wifi.com.ar/english/hotspot.html
- mysqlWisp - http://openisp.net/mysqlWisp/
- WiFiAdmin - http://wifiadmin.sourceforge.net/
Public IP ZoneCD looks quite good.
Hmmm I will have to take a look at that.
The main issues with the paid for solutions are that they tend to be subscription based, the idea behind the openzone stuff being that it should work for more than one place. Personally I prefer the ticket based systems where you pay for the access at the counter and get given a time limited access code. Anyway in my experience the portability of OpenZone credit can not always be assured (although I have confirmed that it works between GK pubs). Also in my mind it tends to be expensive.
Has anyone ever done this?
No but I do want to.
Without looking at your links this is the system I want.
I want the only interface to the Bar staff to be a ticket printer with a single print button. Pressing the button prints a ticket with a unique reference code, this code then unlocks the access portal users are greeted with when they try and access the Internet from a connected laptop.
The printing action is recorded in a log somewhere which is available to the back room PC via a web interface or something, this way bar staff cannot print out free tickets for their mates without it appearing in the logs (and therefore the till being short), Actually on second thoughts perhaps it would be better if the printer can do a z total at the end of the day and print a journal to go in the till's cash drawer.
The brains of the system should not need to be in or near the bar area (trust me unless you can budget for industrial spec machines or yearly replacement, you do not want a PC anywhere near a bar)
Perhaps there should be some sort of transparent SMTP relay (that is perhaps limited to 10 messages per ticket and message size) Could be useful (but I don't know if it is worth the bother)
Part of the problem is I think the way Wireless Access is viewed by business. It really needs to be an indirect revenue stream not a direct one (more of my lunchtime beer money will go to the closest pub in Bury that has workable free (or simple to access and very cheap) internet access for customers)
In that case the ticket printer prints free tickets for paying customers....then you go back to the whole argument of whether the system is worth the effort and cost in the first place (so maybe the guy at the lounge bar is right after all)