The first step is to round up a supported 802.11g wireless router, such as the following:įull list of supported devices on the DD-WRT website, along with a greatĬomparison chart and list of top routers. The following steps will walk through the process of installing and setting up DD-WRT for a public hotspot solution. IÂ’ve chosen to cover setting up DD-WRT, as itÂ’s a well-rounded, feature-rich firmware replacement offering many hotspot solutions. If you’re designing large public networks, there are also firmware replacements designed for mesh networking, such as

There are also many open-source projects specifically developed for hotspot solutions, including the following (which I discuss later):

OpenWRT: Unlike most other firmware replacements, setting up hotspot features and a web-based GUI interface requires advanced knowledge and additional installation.

It includes hotspot specific features, but requires a yearly $20 subscription fee.

Sveasoft: Also offers multiple firmware versions, including a free public release supporting the ubiquitous Linksys WRT54G/GS routers and more advanced editions supporting additional routers.

Along with adding new general features, open-source projects designed specifically for hotspots are intergraded.

DD-WRT: Offers many firmware versions to support many different routers.

There are three popular general open-source firmware projects offering hotspot capabilities: But if you’re the type who needs to be able to call someone when you run into a problem, then alternative firmware probably isn’t for you. And given that youÂ’re essentially messing with the 'brains' of electronic equipment, setup is a bit more complex than using off-the-shelf hotspot gateways, which are specifically designed for hotspot solutions.įortunately, the more popular alternative distributions, like the one we’ll use, tend to have active user communities with wikis, forums and other lifelines that you can grab onto in case of problems. So if you have problems, you can’t tap your product’s vendor for help or product replacement in case of failure. On the minus side, using third-party firmware will definitely void your warranty. Another benefit is being able to customize the functionality of the router even beyond whatÂ’s provided by the open-source firmware-if you know your way around coding and networking. You can spend just $40 to $60 for a simple router and load it with free firmware to gain functions similar to those in a 'real' hotspot gateway costing hundreds more.Īdditionally, the third-party firmware gives you the ability to use features usually available only in enterprise devices, such as VLANs, virtual/multiple SSIDs, VPN server, bridging and Quality-of-Service (QoS) capabilities. Saving money is one of the greatest benefits. Table 1: Pros and Cons of Alternative router firmware Before you take the plunge, you should be aware of the negatives, along with the benefits you can reap, shown in Table 1.

Whether youÂ’re setting up wireless Internet access at a public venue (such as a small B&B, store or restaurant) or in an office building (for visitors, consultants, and salespeople), open source firmware offers an alternative solution for your hotspot needs. These alternative firmwares open up features not usually available in inexpensive SOHO routers, including hotspot features such as captive portal and bandwidth limiting. Many wireless routers are based on open source operating systems and tools, which open the door to enterprising developers to either provide minor tweaks, or entire alternative firmware distros.

Ddwrt firewall builder kevin palme