HotSpot Eqiupment Recommended For Low Cost Solutions

cipherfx0 · 06-14-2004

Ok guyz I just have to tell you, you are all awesome. I'm thankful for all the feedback I see on here. Its great to see all the help that is served out here.

I'm in the process of becomming a WISP looking for low cost solutions.

What do you guyz think would be some good wireless equipment to use.
I'm looking for something that is widely supported with various technologies.
And something where it supports signal repeating. I'm looking into a Linksys WRT54G which is a Wireless G Router which allows the signal to be repeated using a Linksys WAP54G which is a Linksys Wireless G Access point. Seems to be somewhat low cost. But I don't know if thats the best option. I'm hoping that this router will allow me to implement low cost solutions that you guyz have discused on these forums. Such as like no cat and various authetication alternatives. Do you guyz think this is a good router that could be setup to be a HotSpot using low cost solutions? I heard I could flash the firmware with a non Linksys firmware that would allow me to put in some type of page not sure what you call it but yea that page you see when you try to connect to a hotspot. I"m confused need help Thanks

wrzwaldo · 06-14-2004

Some good reading.

No Cat

WRT54G Tools

WRT54G

LiquidEdge · 06-16-2004

Well, are you going to build hotspots or become a WISP? Big difference. WISP's provide Internet access like a dsl or cable provider. Hotspot providers might use DSL or something as the backhaul.

You can flash the Linksys Wap11 to use NoCat Splash to force a start page. The problem is that it is in RAM, so as soon as it gets unplugged (which you need to do on occassion to reboot it), you lose the Splash page.

But, you can use a crappy PC (A 486 will do) and put NoCat on it with some Linksys consumer equipment and have a pretty inexpensive hotspot. Maybe use Yahoo! Stores or something for the https so you can take credit cards and have them handle those transactions (Though it costs about $100 a month).

I *really* like Linksys equipment for an inexpensive HotSpot. If you have just a few more bucks to spend, you can get some Zyxel equipment for the Hotspot, which has a built-in radius server. Gotta love that.

Now if you're talking a true WISP, most of this is moot.

06-14-2004	#1 (permalink)
cipherfx0 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 6	HotSpot Eqiupment Recommended For Low Cost Solutions Ok guyz I just have to tell you, you are all awesome. I'm thankful for all the feedback I see on here. Its great to see all the help that is served out here. I'm in the process of becomming a WISP looking for low cost solutions. What do you guyz think would be some good wireless equipment to use. I'm looking for something that is widely supported with various technologies. And something where it supports signal repeating. I'm looking into a Linksys WRT54G which is a Wireless G Router which allows the signal to be repeated using a Linksys WAP54G which is a Linksys Wireless G Access point. Seems to be somewhat low cost. But I don't know if thats the best option. I'm hoping that this router will allow me to implement low cost solutions that you guyz have discused on these forums. Such as like no cat and various authetication alternatives. Do you guyz think this is a good router that could be setup to be a HotSpot using low cost solutions? I heard I could flash the firmware with a non Linksys firmware that would allow me to put in some type of page not sure what you call it but yea that page you see when you try to connect to a hotspot. I"m confused need help Thanks

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06-14-2004	#2 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,127	Some good reading. No Cat WRT54G Tools WRT54G

06-16-2004	#3 (permalink)
LiquidEdge Keeper of the Cheese Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 29	Well, are you going to build hotspots or become a WISP? Big difference. WISP's provide Internet access like a dsl or cable provider. Hotspot providers might use DSL or something as the backhaul. You can flash the Linksys Wap11 to use NoCat Splash to force a start page. The problem is that it is in RAM, so as soon as it gets unplugged (which you need to do on occassion to reboot it), you lose the Splash page. But, you can use a crappy PC (A 486 will do) and put NoCat on it with some Linksys consumer equipment and have a pretty inexpensive hotspot. Maybe use Yahoo! Stores or something for the https so you can take credit cards and have them handle those transactions (Though it costs about $100 a month). I really like Linksys equipment for an inexpensive HotSpot. If you have just a few more bucks to spend, you can get some Zyxel equipment for the Hotspot, which has a built-in radius server. Gotta love that. Now if you're talking a true WISP, most of this is moot.