BitcoinWiFi Hotspot - Ready for Production, and Shipping Worldwide to customers

[Kris]

A project I have been working on in my spare time is now complete!

BitcoinWiFi Hotspot

Introduction

1. User connect to “BitcoinWiFi” and by visiting a website, brings them to a captive portal where it displays. Pay (defined by the operator) Bitcoin for 24 hour, 5 days or 1 month access.

2. User can easily pay by pre-generated QR code or Bitcoin URI. Bitcoin connections on port 8333 is always open, and access are granted to the most popular hosted wallets.

3. To generate QR codes and Bitcoin URIs, the operator can define Invoice API key of their payment gateway in the settings of the BitcoinWiFi unit.

4. The unit features a captive portal, a small web server. By parsing the blockchain for payments the unit opens the internet connection for paying users in real-time.

5. The operator have the possibility of receiving the payment directly to their bank account in local currency via the payment processor or keep payments in Bitcoin.

http://BitcoinWiFi.me/

Customizable and Open source – The BitcoinWiFi unit can be converted and refurbished to an mini-PC by replacing BitcoinWiFi open source firmware with custom firmware.

Responsive web design - The Captive Portal is built with responsive web design, providing a seamless experience for mobile users as well.

Return on investment is not guaranteed, but if you set it up in a crowded place, one can only imagine?



If you think you can help with this project, please get in touch with me.

[1714071446]

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[1714071446]

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[Kris]

BitcoinWifi Prototype Video

[areebmajeed]

Will it work in India?

[Kris]

Will it work in India?

It will work everywhere, just plug in internet in one of the LAN ports, and turn it on.

[areebmajeed]

Will it work in India?

It will work everywhere, just plug in internet in one of the LAN ports, and turn it on.

Super!

[killerstorm]

This is cool, but I don't see a reason why it cannot be done with a regular wifi router (e.g. Asus RT-N66U) with customer firmware, which will be quite a bit cheaper.

[Kris]

This is cool, but I don't see a reason why it cannot be done with a regular wifi router (e.g. Asus RT-N66U) with customer firmware, which will be quite a bit cheaper.

It most likely could, however I don't have any experience with consumer routers, and the firmware used in these, (sadly)
Still BitcoinWifi is probably like 10x times more powerful than a consumer router anyway, and optimized for many concurrent users. You will probably not run our of STATES in your State Table with this hardware.

[joesmoe2012]

Great idea!

[killerstorm]

It most likely could, however I don't have any experience with consumer routers, and the firmware used in these, (sadly)

Well, the general idea is that it is possible to install fairly normal Linux distro on the most of such devices, some people even managed to run Debian.

I.e. you aren't restricted to the version vendor provides if open source drivers exist, you can use whatever you want.

Still BitcoinWifi is probably like 10x times more powerful than a consumer router anyway, and optimized for many concurrent users. You will probably not run our of STATES in your State Table with this hardware.

Yes, they have less memory and significantly slower CPU...

However, there are high-end models with 256 MIB of RAM, that should be enough for all networking-related things. And then you just need to avoid bloated software...

There are also business-class devices which are more powerful, e.g. D-Link DSR-250N has 1 GiB RAM on board, costs $200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AT0FS2746

I think Atom-based wifi spot makes sense if operator wants to host some additional services on it. Otherwise installation on COTS routers makes more sense.

[Pangia]

A project I have been working on in my spare time is now complete!

BitcoinWifi Hotspot

Introduction

1. User connect to “BitcoinWifi” and by visiting a website, brings them to a captive portal where it displays. Pay (defined by the operator) Bitcoin for 24 hour, 5 days or 1 month access.

2. User can easily pay by pre-generated QR code or Bitcoin URI. Bitcoin connections on port 8333 is always open, and access are granted to the most popular hosted wallets.

3. To generate QR codes and Bitcoin URIs, the operator can define Invoice API key of their payment gateway in the settings of the BitcoinWifi unit.

4. The unit features a captive portal, a small web server. By parsing the blockchain for payments the unit opens the internet connection for paying users in real-time.

5. The operator have the possibility of receiving the payment directly to their bank account in local currency via the payment processor or keep payments in Bitcoin.

http://BitcoinWifi.me/

Customizable and Open source – The BitcoinWifi unit can be converted and refurbished to an mini-PC by replacing BitcoinWifi open source firmware with custom firmware.

Responsive web design - The Captive Portal is built with responsive web design, providing a seamless experience for mobile users as well.

Return on investment is not guaranteed, but if you set it up in a crowded place, one can only imagine?



If you think you can help with this project, please get in touch with me.

Hi Kris,

I live in NYC and would like to know what the signal strength/range (feet, meters, miles, etc.) is for this device. 

I don't see my neighbors (who don't even know what BTC is) using the service, however if the signal strength is sufficiently strong enough, I could see the potential for reaching a wider market in my area.

Please forgive me if it's already known what the signal strength is. I'm not too savvy when is comes to this stuff.

Thanks in advance.

[Kris]

It most likely could, however I don't have any experience with consumer routers, and the firmware used in these, (sadly)

Well, the general idea is that it is possible to install fairly normal Linux distro on the most of such devices, some people even managed to run Debian.

I.e. you aren't restricted to the version vendor provides if open source drivers exist, you can use whatever you want.

The problem is with the drivers for those specific consumer routers, I agree, they are most likely not open source, hence one would have no chance to make them work in UNIX.

Still BitcoinWifi is probably like 10x times more powerful than a consumer router anyway, and optimized for many concurrent users. You will probably not run our of STATES in your State Table with this hardware.

Yes, they have less memory and significantly slower CPU...

However, there are high-end models with 256 MIB of RAM, that should be enough for all networking-related things. And then you just need to avoid bloated software...

There are also business-class devices which are more powerful, e.g. D-Link DSR-250N has 1 GiB RAM on board, costs $200: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AT0FS2746

I think Atom-based wifi spot makes sense if operator wants to host some additional services on it. Otherwise installation on COTS routers makes more sense.

There is the possibility for adding snort, Dansguardian or even squid3 via precompiled packages to BitcoinWifi as asked on Reddit

I love the idea and something similar was on Reddit a few days ago, though I'd like to ask: how would you deal with "customers who do nasty stuff via your connection"?

[Kris]

Hi Kris,

I live in NYC and would like to know what the signal strength/range (feet, meters, miles, etc.) is for this device.  

I don't see my neighbors (who don't even know what BTC is) using the service, however if the signal strength is sufficiently strong enough, I could see the potential for reaching a wider market in my area.

Please forgive me if it's already known what the signal strength is. I'm not too savvy when is comes to this stuff.

Thanks in advance.

No it's a very good question.

BitcoinWifi supports 802.11b/g/n, and with N you will have speeds of up to 300mbit/s and a range of twice the range of 802.11b/g which is quite much, don't know exact numbers.

However you can detach the included antenna and switch it to an outdoor antenna for instance.



The thing with 802.11n is that the further away you are the better it works. Don't ask me the technical aspects of it, as I don't know them.

There is even antennas capable of reaching 8 miles or more. They are called Cantenna and are what is called Directional antennas. However directional antenna will only "work" where you point them, in a small area of that direction.


Just for fun I've made a few Cantannas out of Pringles cans.

[DeaDTerra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#Protocol
according to wiki,
70m indoors and up to 250m outdoors, if I am reading this correctly
//DeaDTerra

[Kris]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11#Protocol
according to wiki,
70m indoors and up to 250m outdoors, if I am reading this correctly
//DeaDTerra

Nice find!

[killerstorm]

The problem is with the drivers for those specific consumer routers, I agree, they are most likely not open source, hence one would have no chance to make them work in UNIX.

Wat?

There is a plenty of routers which work with OpenWRT, it really isn't a problem to buy one, and they cost about $100.

OpenWrt is described as a Linux distribution for embedded devices.

Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and allows you to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application. For developer, OpenWrt is the framework to build an application without having to build a complete firmware around it; for users this means the ability for full customization, to use the device in ways never envisioned.

Routers supported by OpenWRT: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start

[Kris]

The problem is with the drivers for those specific consumer routers, I agree, they are most likely not open source, hence one would have no chance to make them work in UNIX.

Wat?

There is a plenty of routers which work with OpenWRT, it really isn't a problem to buy one, and they cost about $100.

OpenWrt is described as a Linux distribution for embedded devices.

Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and allows you to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application. For developer, OpenWrt is the framework to build an application without having to build a complete firmware around it; for users this means the ability for full customization, to use the device in ways never envisioned.

Routers supported by OpenWRT: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start

Interesting. Someone should have told me before I started this custom solution.

None the less BitcoinWifi is completed, it works beautifully, and I hope people will develop further on the idea.


Someone suggested a hotel tv box?, which is a nice idea!

Well, then why not make an "tv box with xbmc and wifi over bitcoins?" Would be cool for hotels each room one of those boxes

[Spekulatius]

Great application Kris!

Only one concern (sorry to rain on your party here):
What about illegal activity by anonymous users of your open wifi, e.g. pirated movie downloads, Child porn, etc.?

I guess for the operator of your application this would be no different to lets say Star Bucks or any other open Wifi providers around, I just wonder how one can tke precautions that such an abuse doesnt bust you for good or have you heavily fined.

Anyone knows?

[phelix]

Could this be run on a standard router?

Just noticed killerstorm asked the same question. That would be a cool application for your software. Earn coins with your wifi.

[grobbes]

Build it with an ALIN board to cut costs. pfSense runs beautifully on there and form factor is much smaller.

[Kris]

Great application Kris!

Only one concern (sorry to rain on your party here):
What about illegal activity by anonymous users of your open wifi, e.g. pirated movie downloads, Child porn, etc.?

I guess for the operator of your application this would be no different to lets say Star Bucks or any other open Wifi providers around, I just wonder how one can tke precautions that such an abuse doesnt bust you for good or have you heavily fined.

Anyone knows?

I could included the possibility for adding snort, Dansguardian or even squid3 via precompiled packages ?

There was also one suggesting to run a VPN on the BitcoinWifi, so that people connecting and doing shady things, could not be traced to them as easily.