Need assistance with accessing the wireless network for a guest.
Need assistance with accessing the wireless network for a guest.
Hello forum members. I believe this query has been discussed before, but I’m not sure what keywords to use. To help you better, I’ll create a new thread and hope helpful users can guide you. I’m looking for instructions on setting up your local Wi-Fi with a 30-minute timer and requiring re-authentication when the time expires. The goal is to prevent automatic connections and reduce bandwidth usage by people downloading during sleep periods. I’m operating in the Philippines, running a small bar in an apartment building near a construction site. I’ve noticed unusual spikes in my internet speed recently, likely due to others using our network. My concern is stopping unauthorized downloads that could waste bandwidth. Is there a software solution or hardware upgrade needed to achieve this?
The thing you're after is known as a Captive Portal. Your router might or might not support it, depending on the model. The Netgears ProSafe Wireless Controller can handle it, but it may be a bit beyond your budget at around $1500 USD. There are likely other solutions too—PFSense is an option, and CoovaChilli is an open-source alternative. Be sure to verify your router settings first. Another idea is to disable the wireless connection when you log in and reset the password every night.
@Tsuki confirmed I switched off the modem and replaced the pass in the past. However, due to the odd configuration of my modem and router, different ports receive unique DHCP IP addresses, making it hard to connect directly to the bridge Wi-Fi from your office computer on the second floor. This is really frustrating. I’m going to try OpenSource apps and see if they help. Thanks for explaining the "Captive Portal" term—I’ll look into it.