[kennedy]

At my club/cafe I am considering setting up a for-fee wireless network giving access to the Internet and a printer.

Question: are their any wireless routers that support this?

By support, I mean implement passwords or codes that can be bought (daily or hourly) or user accounts that can be setup monthly or can log hours on the system, etc?

I don't really care what charge model it supports... I intend to make it fairly cheap... just would like to be able to pay for the system rather than losing money on it, its upkeep, and the internet connection.

Charging for printing can be handled by putting the printer behind the counter... they can pay for the prints where they pay for their coffee, smoothie, or food.


Any good options for this?

[sailor]

You might want to check out this link:

www.nnu.com...they offer a full-service billing solution for hot spots.

I have no idea what they charge, but it would seem to be an easy solution for you.

HTH
Good Luck.

[chabig]

My serious suggestion is to provide free wireless and make money by selling food and drinks. Having a printer available and selling prints for small fee is fine. But trying to charge for the internet access is a hassle, it costs you more (extra equipment, management, billing software, etc.) and it costs the customers more. Your plan should be to get customers into the store where they will buy your food products. The wireless internet is so cheap for you it should be made available free to draw people in. As one cafe owner is quoted in the latest "Wired" magazine, "In the future, charging for internet access will be like charging for salt and pepper."

Chris

[Angus_D]

Charging for Wi-Fi just doesn't work. There are plenty of studies which have shown this.

[chabig]

Yes, according to that Wired article, the T-Mobile hotspots in Starbucks are averaging two connections per day. It just doesn't pay. Make it free!

[aaanorton]

One idea would be to password-protect the network, and change the password regularly. Then you could hang a big sign inside your store displaying that day's password. Seems like a reasonable compromise: if you want to use the network, just come in the store.

[chabig]

aaanorton--that's a great idea! And you could make the network name "Kennedy's Cafe--come in for free internet!"

Chris

[ghporter]

I concur with aaanorton and chabig-free wireless Internet is a real selling point, one that would sure get me to come in and check the place out. As long as the coffee's good and the staff understand the word "service," I'm sure that getting people in will result in keeping customers. It would certainly work with me.

[russellb]

here is the perfect, easy and economical solution.

All user logging is managed onboard no PC required.

http://www.handlink.com.tw/eng/produ...ot_wsg5000.htm

and better no customer configueration needed.

hope this helps