Wi-fi Hotspot Questions

Anyone here with some knowledge of setting up a pubic wi-fi hotspot? I own and operate an Internet cafe here in Egbeda, Lagos. Customers with wireless-enabled laptops can access the Internet from two wireless access points  connected to a DLINK hotspot gateway that does the authentication.

However, I have not had similar success trying to access the Internet from outside locations. I had the intention of serving customers at home in the immediate vicinity (up to 3 miles or so). I have a 15dbi omni antenna on top of our eight storey building, also connected to the DLINK hotspot gateway. I do have an amplifier connected to the omni. I have been able to get 4 out of 5 bars of signal strength from 2 miles away but I cannot get an IP address allocated by the gateway. As I drive closer to our building, I am able to get an IP address and connect.

Meanwhile, I am doing all my testing with just my wireless enabled Toshiba laptop. I have been told that the end-user computer will require a more powerful antenna than just the built in one or wireless adapters in the market.

Has anyone here successfully done this? Can I get the specs for the subscriber antenna unit? Where can I purchase these in Lagos? I need to get back to more testing.

I hope I get some help here.

Thanks to you all.
http://www.cafepointe.com

Try Visit Speednetworks Systems Tech.

Its an NCC licenced WiFI Provider

157 Mushin Road (Beside SOS children's Village)
Isolo, Lagos

Good luck

hi
  please i need to know the wireless setings to use if i want to connect to the internet in mellenium park abuja
i hear that the place is a hotspot
please someone send the settings
thanks!

bros your installation is illegal. what equipments are u using, your AP/gateway and bridge?

regulation states u cant exceed 4W for an Omni

i saw your questions on wi-fi settings things u need to put into considerations is that
1. what type of radio are using
2. what is the power of the radio u are using make sure it doesn't exeed 1w.
3. the amplfier will not do u too good so it is adviceable that u remove it that is why your system is not connected even when u see the signal. so try those options.or u call me. am into wireless networking and that is what is do on daily bases so if u won't mind u can call me on this nos 07027410186 or 08073157686 and lastly 08038551924.

This is coming ages after the question was asked but I just can't help it,
Let me give an allegory.
Imagine I was on the top of your eight-storey building and I'm holding a megaphone thats set to extremely loud (viz-a-viz your amplifier). We're trying to have a conversation (two way communication) but I only have my natural voice to work with. Definitely, I'd be able to hear you crystal clear but & a big but at that is that its a dialog. If all you were doing was passing instructions it would have been fine but a conversation requires that I give you feedback on your input an d vice versa. You will on the other hand not be able to hear me no matter how hard I try. its that simple. Normal TV and FM broadcast utilize your current setup a WiFi Network can't because all your Client stations can hear your Access Point but they don't have enough strength to shout back across the distance.
Just my Two cents

Mikrotik is the best Access Point to use for indoor and outoor wireless hotspot for hotels,cafes and campgrounds school premises

For non line on sight equipment laptops and PDA it can go upto 500 metres

up to 15 km for point-to-multipoint links
up to 25 km for point-to-point links



Install mikrotik wired and wireless hotspot gateway/billing for your wired/wireless users
this will enable you to set time and  print ticket /voucher for your laptop users or your wireless client on your network.



up to 25 km for point-to-multipoint links
up to 70 km for point-to-point links

Kingsley
kingslinenet@yahoo.com
08029961149