Wayne Stallwood wrote:
On Saturday 07 May 2005 12:54 pm, Ben Francis wrote:
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)
Cool, an appliance which does it all out of the box :D
I've had a look and the DLink solution definately looks the best. The only thing that really compares is some SMC kit but it doesn't look quite as good.
With Ticket Printer
* DLink o DSA-3100 DLink Wireless Service Gateway ~£410 - http://www.dlink.co.uk/?go=jN7uAYLx/oIJaWVUDLYZU93ygJVYKOhST9vhLPG3yV3oWIB3k... o DSA-3100P DLink Wireless Hotspot Ticket Printer ~£130 o D-Link DWL-2000AP+ 54Mbps Wireless Access Point ~£45 o DLink DSL-504T ADSL Modem/Router ~£35
* SMC o SMCWHSG44-G UK 54Mbps Wireless Hotspot Gateway (802.11b/g) ~£320 (£399 RRP) - http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_GBR&cid... o SMCWHS-POS UK Mini-POS Ticket Printer ~£230 http://www.smc.com/index.cfm?event=viewProduct&localeCode=EN_GBR&cid...
Without ticket printer
* Linksys WRV54G 54Mbps Wireless-G VPN Broadband Router - http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=565 ~£150 (not really sure it does the same thing)
BT OpenZone route
* BT OpenZone Kit http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=119260 * Netgear WiFi HOTSPOT-IN-A-BOX http://www.netgear.co.uk/wifi_hotspot.php ~£300
More obscure brands
* Nomandix range http://www.connectronics.com/nomadix/ ~£400 Nomadix Wireless Gateway - AG-2000w * ZyXEL ZyAIR G-4100 - Radio access point - 802.11b, 802.11g external http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?product_id=ZYNJG410...
Personally I prefer the ticket based systems where you pay for the access at the counter and get given a time limited access code.
I've never used a wireless hotspot myself, but this sounds very sensible to me.
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.
Perhaps a few buttons, to allow them to enter the amount of time the ticket is valid for.
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)
I'd be interested to know how this works. I think perhaps telling people they can only use webmail would not be very popular so something like this would need implementing. One of the main thing people are going to want to do is sit there with Outlook (or less evil equivalent) open, answering a few emails.
When I move between my house, my girlfriends house and work I'm constantly changing the smtp server in Thunderbird to the corresponding ISP, but only because I've not got round to finding a better solution. Presumably an SMTP server that requires authentication can be used from multiple locations? How do other people send emails from multiple locations?
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)
I agree with this, but like you said later, that makes the initial outlay harder to justify.