Public Wireless?

Question

I would like to start a business in my local area offering wireless broadband to my customers' customers. Confusing? Let me give you an example:

My client is a hotel. I want to be able to offer wireless broadband to the hotel guests, using their existing broadband.

Customers will log their laptops onto the wireless network, then enter their credit card details, and the system will then let them onto the internet for as long as they have paid for.

I'd like some ideas of how to acheive this result - from an IT standpoint.

I would think I'd need a seperate wireless router, which is set to allow any wireless device to connect. They're then redirected to a page somewhere which collects their CC info, and gives them access, somehow?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Jeff - I know it's been done, but it's only in the big hotels.

I'm interested in offering it as a service to smaller hotels and businesses, not just to one.

I know that the ISP may offer something, but I'm interested in providing it to a hotel without involving the ISP - and I can charge by the hour and split the fees paid by the customer with the hotel.

Thanks for the responses so far

Answer 1

You want the easy way to do this.
Install a Wireless gateway with user management built in.
AirEpoch has the least expensive of these.. about 200.00
http://www.echotechwireless.com/AirEpoch_HGW210_E_Hotspot_Gateway_p/hgw210-e.htm

They also have repeaters for various areas to assure coverage.

You can also use Proxim, Motorola, Cisco devices that are commerical grade (costs more but handles more).

The AirEpoch can even be obtained with a printer for ticket printing.

Answer 2

I am pretty sure the systems work at the ISP level. When you connect to the internet through the router and request a page the ISP intercepts it and routes you to a login page, That is where all the credit processing takes place.

You can probably set yourself up as an ISP to run the system but with only one location I don't think it would be practical.

Answer 3

specific this is in ordinary words obtainable. appropriate ingredient to do is have a firewall and to no longer transmit mushy education different than the dating is encrypted which includes a HTTPS or distinctive encrypted link on a piece. Then there are additionally SSL connections. as nicely the certainty that this is almost complicated to setup. very final prognosis in case you may save faraway from sending the education in a public place it is the appropriate ingredient you're waiting to do. To the guy above...a public community is in simple terms no longer waiting to have a WEP on it in any distinctive case it does not be public. you may want the foremost to get magnificent of get entry to to it. Public networks are largly unencrypted. additionally if 2 people are employing a similar community this is obvious they the two understand the WEP key and the encryption is not sensible.

Answer 4

The initial connection would be to the in house network only. That would establish the amount to be paid and the info on how to get onto the internet one. ~

Answer 5

I hope this helps. It will lead you in the right direction.

http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/expert/KnowledgebaseAnswer/0,289625,sid7_gci1211583,00.html

Wait. Even better. You have piqued my interest on this.

http://www.jiwire.com/small-business-guide-to-building-your-own-hotspot-why-be-a-hotspot.htm

If you want to do it ALL free.
http://www.howtoforge.com/wifi_hotspot_setup

Answer 6

Geez, this is already done. Been to a hotel lately?

Answer 7

ringing your local phone / wi-fi provider will sort that out, im sure they will be very helpful in assisting you

Answer 8

there are several approaches to this concept and in the past I have used this option

http://www.speakeasy.net/netshare/learnmore/