I would second recommendations for UniFi APs. Along with a Mikrotik box (I personally like the $60 RB750GL for small deployments) to manage DHCP lease assignment, do hotspot stuff, and manage the VPN tunnel back to headquarters. That is, UniFi requires the java controller to sit on the same local network as the APs, so a work-around is to have the Mikrotik tunnel a VPN to your cloud server (or whatever) where the UniFi controller lives. You can also run your own hotspot server, and use some example PHP code provided by UBNT to integrate into existing infrastructure.
UniFi runs just fine on $80 Picostation M2's, if you flash them with that airos2unifi.bin binary floating around UBNT support forum. If it's critical to support 'any' APs, maybe look into flashing those APs with OpenWRT, and then use a Mikrotik for the hotspot and lease assignment, coupled with a RADIUS server somewhere in the cloud. This will likely send you down the the path of building your own system, as Scott describes, and I agree about being wary of the scope of such a task, from being in the midst of doing this myself. On Wed, Jul 10, 2013 at 11:13 PM, Scott Carullo <sc...@brevardwireless.com>wrote: > Make your own web pages to collect money however you see fit, use Mikrotik > hotspot to handle the magic stuff, use whatever radios you want. Rolling > your own system takes a respectable amount of work and skill but there is > nothing like it once done because you control every aspect of it - how it > looks, how it sends emails to your staff or customers and whats in those > emails, how it takes the money, options for service lengths - just every > aspect is completely customizable. > > If thats beyond the scope of what you are able to accomplish, I'm sure > there are lots of other good suggestions people are offering as well. Just > letting you know how we do it and it works super fantastic for a long time > now. Programming skills required... > > Good luck > > Scott Carullo > Technical Operations > 855-FLSPEED x102 > > > > ------------------------------ > *From*: "Chris Fabien" <ch...@lakenetmi.com> > *Sent*: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 9:59 PM > *To*: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> > *Subject*: [WISPA] Hotspot Router/Software > > > I need suggestion for a hotspot system for a campground. Requirements: > > Need to provide two levels of service > Basic Free Service - lower speed, limited MB per day > Paid Service - faster speed, unlimited use, billed as daily, 3 days or > monthly service > > Paid service can be purchased via credit card in online portal, would be > easiest if it could collect payment to our Propay merchant account, paypal > is a less desirable option, but we do have a paypal acct as well. > > Compatible with any wifi APs, this year we will connect to current wifi > APs in the park, probably overhaul that next season. Capable of handling > 100-200 users, maybe 50megs traffic max. > > I would prefer an "all in one box" type system over a home > made/server/open source solution. Needs to be proven reliable product and > "just work." Budget is ideally 200-300 for hardware and some modest monthly > cost is OK if necessary. > > So, any suggestions? Thanks! > > > _______________________________________________ > Wireless mailing list > Wireless@wispa.org > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > -- Ben West http://gowasabi.net b...@gowasabi.net 314-246-9434
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