Hi Linda

Having recently installed a closed (no public internet) wifi system in a gallery, I now know far more than I want to about configuring wifi.

Basically you can choose to have people log in or not. If you choose logging in, the easy way is not really logging in at all but just being taken to a "terms and conditions" page where they press "accept" and then off they go.

To have them actually log in (via what is known as a "captive portal") they go to the same page, but in this one they have to enter a code - provided to them by staff, a sign on the wall, the cafe with purchase of a sandwich, whatever criteria and means you feel is right. You can also capture name, email and perhaps consent to go on the mailing list. You've probably experienced this yourself in cafes etc.

The log in can be the same for all or generated individually. If individual, it usually gets generated by a web service - of which some are free or open source, many are not. A search for captive portal hotspot will give you some suppliers.

You can restrict the router(s) to ban any site you feel is appropriate to ban. It's just a text-based list. Bear in mind they can circumvent via things like unblockyoutube.net etc.

You can restrict by time of day - could be very useful to only allow connection during opening hours. People are more likely to behave when surrounded by others. 

Different routers and router software have more or less control over what happens. Some can be reloaded with different "firmware" that greatly expand your options. See http://www.dd-wrt.com/ for an open source one.

It's all much more techy than you'd like it to be, but orgs have found themselves in the situation before and have solved it so the business cases are out there.

All the best

Peter



Peter Pavement
Surface Impression Ltd
01273 958600
[log in to unmask]
www.surfaceimpression.com



On 12 Jul 2012, at 15:14, Linda Ellis wrote:

> I am battling with our local authority ICTS department to try and get public WiFi in our gallery.  The cabling and WiFi access point is in place but we can't go live because of issues we have with how they want to control access to the WiFi.
> 
> To help us build a business case to convince them that users shouldn't have to provide documentary evidence of who they are and their age before we can allow them to access this public WiFi service I would be really grateful to hear form any museums or galleries that already offers WiFi to their visitors.  In particular:
> 
> 
> *         Do users have to log in or is it a completely open system?
> 
> *         Is the login generic or unique to individual users? Do they have to join something to get a unique WiFi login?  How simple is it for users to obtain a login?
> 
> *         Have you been advised to keep a record of who is accessing the WiFi so that you could, if required, provide information to the police about an individual's use of the internet via your WiFi service?
> 
> *         Do you restrict what websites users can access?  If so what do you restrict e.g. pornography and gambling websites?  Do you have different restrictions depending on the age of the user, e.g. more restricted access for children and young people?
> 
> *         What problems have you had with offering public WiFi that we should bear in mind?
> 
> 
> Many thanks
> 
> Linda
> 
> Linda Ellis
> Digital Projects Officer
> WAVE
> Wolverhampton Art Gallery
> Lichfield Street
> WOLVERHAMPTON
> WV1 1DU
> Tel: 01902 552035
> www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk<http://www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk>
> 
> 
> 
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