Rentable Wifi Possible?

[lyndonguitar]

I live in a country which wifi(and even internet access) is not as widespread as in the US or Europe. so there's an awful lot of cybercafés around here. most of the people using the internet are using renting services, either wifi, through a 3G network or in cybercafes.

Now I'm planning "sell" my internet connection to my neighbors, Don't laugh at this, but houses are SO cramped with each other here so there's alot of people per sq.km, most of us don't have backyards and streets are only one-way road so my Router can cover up ALOT of people. there's a real potential income for this.


I'm asking if its possible, like can I put a ever-changing password on my wifi? give them a key then they connect to my wifi, then the key "locks" to that IP, in a certain amount of time(lets say 2 hours or one day) then it becomes deleted and won't work anymore so they have to pay again to ask for another key. Is there a program that can be used for these kinds of things?

By the way I use the dd-wrt firmware for my router if it helps. Router: ASUS RT-N13U B1

[PLSG08]

Why not do this on a monthly basis? I'm from the phil myself, and I know how sucky internet connection here is.

EDIT: And this is actually a good thing since most internet providers here provide slow speeds at crappy costs. And on the monthly basis, you can create the password yourself so you wouldn't have problems forgetting it and you can get more cash by troubleshooting their internet connection (just my 2 cents tho)

[lyndonguitar]

Originally Posted by PLSG08

Why not do this on a monthly basis? I'm from the phil myself, and I know how sucky internet connection here is.

Its hard to keep track of costumers, they might cheat the system, they might abuse it., etc etc. Weekly/Daily is much plausible

[PLSG08]

Well with the pinoy attitude your right. I'm guessing there is a system or app like that. How fast is your internet speed and how much are ya planning to charge the users?

[lyndonguitar]

Originally Posted by PLSG08

Well with the pinoy attitude your right. I'm guessing there is a system or app like that. How fast is your internet speed and how much are ya planning to charge the users?

I might get a seperate fast connection for this thing, maybe the same speed with most cafe owners have. (which I may also use for my own needs from time to time lol)

as for the pricing, I haven't thought of it yet, as long I get nice extra profit and its a cheap service, its fine

Originally Posted by PLSG08

EDIT: And this is actually a good thing since most internet providers here provide slow speeds at crappy costs. And on the monthly basis, you can create the password yourself so you wouldn't have problems forgetting it and you can get more cash by troubleshooting their internet connection (just my 2 cents tho)

If I just make one password for the month then the "kind" people will surely share it to other non-paying users and abuse, So its better If I can lock it a key to an IP or something

[inyongthegr8]

Originally Posted by lyndonguitar

If I just make one password for the month then the "kind" people will surely share it to other non-paying users and abuse, So its better If I can lock it a key to an IP or something

I suggest lyndon that you should get samples first, like your friends and your relatives, testing from the best case scenario to the worst case scenario when it comes to cheating your system so that you'll be able to know IF and WHEN to use the rentable wifi, because as what PLSG08 said with the pinoy attitude, they'll be able to cheat and hack the system.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by lyndonguitar

If I just make one password for the month then the "kind" people will surely share it to other non-paying users and abuse, So its better If I can lock it a key to an IP or something

Another way to do it is through MAC address filtering. They pay you, give you the MAC address of the PC they are accessing with and if the month is up or they haven't paid, you simply take the MAC address(s) off the list. That way you don't have to play the password game, and less worry about other people getting the password and hitching a ride. Either way, I'd still use a password and change it every month or two... then notify your "customers".

BTW, your ISP probably won't be happy with you either way!

[lyndonguitar]

Originally Posted by inyongthegr8

I suggest lyndon that you should get samples first, like your friends and your relatives, testing from the best case scenario to the worst case scenario when it comes to cheating your system so that you'll be able to know IF and WHEN to use the rentable wifi, because as what PLSG08 said with the pinoy attitude, they'll be able to cheat and hack the system.

thats why i'm asking here if such thing exists (see post #1), if yes, then It will be "cheat-free" unless one of my neighbors turns out to be a good hacker. and I don't need samples, It won't work anyway with friends/relatives as you say. You could easily predict what will happen

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Another way to do it is through MAC address filtering. They pay you, give you the MAC address of the PC they are accessing with and if the month is up or they haven't paid, you simply take the MAC address(s) off the list. That way you don't have to play the password game, and less worry about other people getting the password and hitching a ride. Either way, I'd still use a password and change it every month or two... then notify your "customers".

BTW, your ISP probably won't be happy with you either way!

good idea, I might do these if nothing else works, its just hard to explain to people MAC address and stuff, they aren't used to such..

and nahh, ISPs here don't care about us that much, as long as you don't run cables to the other house its fine. Think of it as a "donation" to provide wifi connection to the area

[CJCerny]

And how do you prevent one of your "customers" from soaking up all of your bandwidth?

[lyndonguitar]

Originally Posted by CJCerny

And how do you prevent one of your "customers" from soaking up all of your bandwidth?

bandwidth limiting per address I guess?

[dorsetknob]

review your Router Wireless Settings
Check that you can enable Wireless Access Control useing a MAC Filtering Table
Each Sharer will have to give you the Mac address of their wi fi device for you to enable in your Router
You Should then be able to restrict access to your Wifi to Authorised Mac addressess (devices)
That along with a Strong Password which you would change weekly / Monthly. should be ok for a ad hoc private pay access Hotspot.

[CJCerny]

Originally Posted by lyndonguitar

bandwidth limiting per address I guess?

Right, but can your router do that?

[3870x2]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Another way to do it is through MAC address filtering. They pay you, give you the MAC address of the PC they are accessing with and if the month is up or they haven't paid, you simply take the MAC address(s) off the list. That way you don't have to play the password game, and less worry about other people getting the password and hitching a ride. Either way, I'd still use a password and change it every month or two... then notify your "customers".

BTW, your ISP probably won't be happy with you either way!

This in combination with the monthly/weekly code, and do not forget to set it to only allow one host per connection this way they cannot share it through their devices. DD-WRT is capable of just about anything you want it to do, just google it.

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by lyndonguitar

good idea, I might do these if nothing else works, its just hard to explain to people MAC address and stuff, they aren't used to such..

It's a little technical, but all you have to do is get that information from them. After that, they don't have to worry about it, you just maintain a list and add new devices if they ask. You could limit each person to say 2 devices and give temporary passes to guests.

Depending on how much service you are providing, you could go with a management system (like some pay-per use places have), but that's expensive and time consuming.

Originally Posted by lyndonguitar

and nahh, ISPs here don't care about us that much, as long as you don't run cables to the other house its fine. Think of it as a "donation" to provide wifi connection to the area

I'm sure they have thier limits

[newtekie1]

Check out FON: http://corp.fon.com/us/this-is-fon/money-making-wifi/

I know it is available in other countries outside the US, but I'm not sure if it is available in yours, but it is worth checking out. It handled the subscription and money handling for you, they take a percentage and you get a percentage(don't remember exactly how much, but I do remember it being very fair) and the money just gets deposited in your paypal account. You just kind of set it and forget it, and all your neighbors can access it as they want.

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Another way to do it is through MAC address filtering.

The problem with that is MAC address spoofing is very easy. All they need to do is pick a packet out of the air for someone connected to the network and spoof their address.

[lyndonguitar]

Originally Posted by CJCerny

Right, but can your router do that?

Yes

Originally Posted by 3870x2

This in combination with the monthly/weekly code, and do not forget to set it to only allow one host per connection this way they cannot share it through their devices. DD-WRT is capable of just about anything you want it to do, just google it.

Seems the best way to do it so far. I will definitely research more on dd-wrt stuff!

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Check out FON: http://corp.fon.com/us/this-is-fon/money-making-wifi/

Damn! this is better than I was planning, arggh too bad Its not available in my country

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by newtekie1

Check out FON: http://corp.fon.com/us/this-is-fon/money-making-wifi/

Nice, and it looks like no paying until you reach a certain reveinue threshold.

Originally Posted by newtekie1

The problem with that is MAC address spoofing is very easy. All they need to do is pick a packet out of the air for someone connected to the network and spoof their address.

True. Locks are there to keep honest people out.

[Banned_User]

There are a few options. Depends on what you want to spend and how much you plan on making. A few customers is easy enough to do with any of the suggestions here. When you are talking 10 or 20+ with varying times that are paid for you need something easier to manage like this: Whotspot But that costs a lot because it is based on hardware.

If it is strictly software you are looking for then CuteHotSpot is probably what you are looking for. They offer a free trial and it looks like there are not so honest versions around the web too. No client software in needed and just about any wifi device can use it. You create prepaid tickets the customer uses.