Tutorial : set up a simple Wi-fi hotspot

Steps

Set a static IP on the wireless card
Create an Ad hoc network
Download and install Wirox

Can you imagine an easier way to build a wifi hotspot?

Have you ever dreamt of building a fully functional captive portal with no special hardware but an ordinary computer and at no cost? With this tutorial you will get such a wifi hotspot within a few minutes, using Beouifi.org webservice and your wireless card in Adhoc mode.

Our installation will look like that:

1 - Check that your system is Beouifi capable

To build a light but efficient beouifi hotspot, all you need is

MS Windows
At least two networking interfaces, one of them being a wireless card.
A firewall activated. MS Windows firewall is fine. (this is really mandatory)

If you are currently connected to the Internet using your wireless card, please consider connecting to your router using an ethernet cable instead or have a look to our other deployment schemes.

2 - Configure your wireless Interface

Set up a static IP

You need to specify a static IP on your wireless Interface. It's easily achieved by using Windows Control Panel (with Administrator rights) :

	Open the Control Panel
	Enter the network connections panel
	Select the properties of the wireless connection
	Select the Internet Protocol (Ipv4) and click on properties
	Set a static IP, for instance 192.168.99.1, with netmask 255.255.255.0 Be certain that no gateway is configurated You don't need to specify any DNS server, but be sure to select the "use the following DNS addresses" option Don't forget to save your changes!

Create an Adhoc network

As we don't want to rely on any specific device to handle the Wifi network, we will turn the wireless card in Adhoc mode. This step may vary depending on what software you are using to configure your wireless card, but if you are using the windows application as most people does the steps are here (otherwise please refer to your software documentation)

	Go back to the Wireless Connection properties and visit the Wireless Networks tab. Tick the use Windows to configure my wireless network settings if needed Click on the Add button
	We have to create an open network as the security issues will be handled by the captive portal software itself Choose a name for the network, for instance beouifi@myplace Specify that it is an open network with no encryption Specify that it is an Ad-hoc network Save your changes and be sure that your wireless card is switched on!

External wifi devices should already be able to see your brand new Wi-fi network.

3 - Install Beouifi software

Wirox is a piece of software written by Beouifi.org. It is capable of handling networking traffic and implements a captive portal. Here is the easiest part : download the Auto-Installer and install it. It will start silently, don't be surprised!

4 - Check that everything went fine

Visit the Manager page from this very computer to check your captive portal's status and customize it if you want.

Still needing help?

Let's meet on the Forum!