Safely Sharing Your Wireless Internet With CoovaAP, Part I

"CoovaAP is based on the open source OpenWRT firmware replacement and designed specifically for hotspots. In addition to being a normal access point, it supports WDS (wireless distribution system). Thus if your location requires multiple APs, some can be set in repeater mode instead of having to run Ethernet cables to them. The wireless router and hotspot settings are easily configurable with a web browser, like regular routers.

"The CoovaAP firmware features an customizable internal captive portal, where you can either require user accounts (self registering or defined by you) or require users just to just agree to the terms of service (ToS). Figure 1 shows the portal page shown in users when using the self registering method. Figure 2 shows the ToS page users would see when not requiring users to have accounts. Plus it even has a Facebook portal feature. Traffic shaping or bandwidth control is also included, so you can limit how much Internet power guests use."

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