HotSpotSystem.com Installation Guide v3.0

International versions: Español | Français | Italiano | Portugese | Deutsch | Nederlands | Russian

How to Setup Your Own Hotspot - Video Guide

Please wait until you see the video, then press play.

Part 1: Change firmware to DD-WRT

Part 2: Run the Setup Command

Got questions or comments? Click here


Direct Link to Video Guide on YouTube Part 1 and Part 2

Download the High Quality Version in Quicktime format

HotSpotSystem.com's Channel On YouTube

 

Resources Used In the Video Guide

Registration link: http://www.hotspotsystem.com/en/signup/index.html

DD-WRT firmware image:

• DD-WRT v23 SP2 Generic for LinkSys WRT54GL or WRT54G/GS v4.0 or below
• If you get 'Upgrade is failed' message, then flash with DD-WRT v23 SP2 Mini,then don't forget to upgrade it AGAIN with DD-WRT v23 SP2 Generic.
• For other routers, visit DD-WRT's WIKI site, then download the firmware which is suitable for your router from DD-WRT download page. If you're not sure, what router model/version you have, then use Router Search to identify the model and whether it is compatible with our system or not.
  
  WARNING! Using a wrong firmware image may brick your router so be sure to have the right version before upgrade!

For the most up to date list of compatible routers, click here.

 

Step by Step Guide

Installation is quick and easy. You just have to follow the steps below. Remember that you'll need a compatible router to install the new firmware (you can find a list of compatible models here).

Leave your router's installation CD in the box, you won't need it.

Be sure your computer obtains IP addresses automatically from your existing router via DHCP. Now you can proceed to STEP A.

In the first step, you'll have to replace the firmware on your new router.

Note: STEP A is suitable for those who have LinkSys WRT54GL or WRT54G/GS version 4.0 or below. If you have a different router, find your solution here to replace the factory default firmware to DD-WRT, then go to STEP B to load your personal configuration file.

1. Download the DD-WRT firmware (dd-wrt[1].v23_generic.bin). Download the new firmware image file here and save it to your computer.

2. Connect your PC to the switch port of your router. (do not connect it to the internet wan port, you have to connect the internet to the wan port)

3. Open a browser and type http://192.168.1.1 (login: admin, passwd: admin)

4. Go to Administration > Firmware upgrade.

5. Browse to dd-wrt[1].v23_generic.bin that you previously saved to your computer, then press upgrade. UPGRADE MUST NOT BE INTERRUPTED so please don't turn off the power or press the reset button.

NOTICE TO LINKSYS WRT150N, WRT300N and WRT350N: you won't be able to upgrade directly because LinkSys doesn't allow to load a firmware file which is greater than 2MB. Please click here for special instructions.

After 3-4 minutes "Upgrade successful" will come up. Please wait for this message it is very important. Do not go further until you can see the message.

6. After the successfull firmware upgrade please reset your router by pressing the reset button for at least 5 sec. on the back of your router. (little button on the back of the router). Verify whether the router is doing a reset/reboot or not. If the POWER light on the front of the router is starting to flash, then everything is OK. If nothing happens, then unplug the router, then plug in again. Wait for the router to finish the boot process (the POWER light stops flashing), then press the reset button on the back for 5 seconds. The router should do a reset now.

7. Wait aprx. 30 sec and try to open http://192.168.1.1 . If you cannot connect, then reboot your computer then try again. If you still cannot connect then visit this page.

Now you have a new firmware in your router, now you need to load your hotspot settings.

TIP: If you have troubles with the first step, please visit our Troubleshooter to find a solution to your problem.

For STEP B you will need to have an internet connection through the router.

To verify this, connect to the router and try to browse the internet. If it doesn't work then go to your router's admin page again (192.168.1.1 login: root, pass: admin). If it won't load unplug your network cable for 2 sec or try to reboot your router by unplugging the power cord.

Check the router's time at the upper-right corner. It has to show the current time in GMT. If you see that the time is '00:00:00' (and the current time is not midnight in GMT) it means that the router is not connected to the internet.

IF YOUR ROUTER DOESN'T GET CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET... A. If your router is connected to an internal network via another router then maybe you need to modify the IP address (as seen on the internal LAN) of the router . By default it is set to 192.168.1.1 .If both router use the same IP then the communication won't work. In this case go to Setup > BASIC Setup > IP Address and Subnet Mask > change the IP address to 192.168.20.1 (leave the rest unchanged). Important: you won't be able to connect to the router until you reboot your computer because the router will have a different IP address. B. If your router is connected directly to your adsl modem instead of an internal network (another router) then you have to go to Setup > Basic Setup and choose PPPoE and you have to fill out your ADSL username and password.

STEP B won't work if your router is not connected to the internet correctly, so do not go further until you see the current time in GMT.

If everything looks fine, then you can proceed...

1. Now you will have to run a special command on your router. This is unique for every operator and can be found in the Operator Area.

Log in to the operator area with your Operator Username and password (this is the username and password that you've choosen at the registration). Go to HotSpot Locations and choose the location where you'd like to install your HotSpot. Then find the "ROUTER SETUP COMMAND" section at the bottom , click on the 'Highlight Text' button to select all the text in the text area, then copy it to the clipboard. (Press CTRL+C or APPLE+C or select the copy command from the browser's EDIT menu)

2. Go to your router's admin page again at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.20.1 if you've changed it previously (login: root, pass: admin).

Go to Administration > Commands. Copy your special command (that you've copied from the HotSpotSystem.com operator area) from the clipboard to the text box (click on the text box and press CTRL+V or APPLE+V or select the paste command from the browser's EDIT menu).

Press the 'Run Commands' button.

The router will now download your special settings from our server and will configure itself.

If you see what is on the picture above is normal. The router will configure itself and reboot. Wait about 30 seconds. You may see a "Page not found" error message in the browser, because the router may get a new IP.

IF NOTHING HAPPENS... If you get an error message or the page reloads without doing anything, then... A. you installed a micro or mini version of DD-WRT which is not compatible (Solution: upgrade it to a generic version) B. there's an SPI firewall working in the parent router/computer with intrusion detection capabilities which is blocking access to our website (Solution: turn off any firewalls on your main router) C. be sure that the router gets the proper DNS server settings from the parent router via DHCP. You can set the DNS servers manually in Setup > Basic Setup.

Important: you won't be able to connect to the router until you reboot your computer because the router will have a different IP address (if you changed the IP previously you don't have to reboot).

If everything was OK, then the 'LinkSys' led on the left of your router has to show yellow light. Connect to your HotSpot wirelessly with a laptop and see what's happening. Your HotSpot startup page has to come up if you enter a web page in your browser.

In case of successful upgrade the admin page of your router will be available at: http://192.168.20.1

DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE USERNAME / PASSWORD FOR ROUTER'S ADMIN PANEL TO AVOID UNAUTHORIZED ACCESSES TO YOUR ROUTER... The default username / password is well known so you should change the username/password for your router.

You are done. Now you can operate your router as a HotSpot and you can watch your transactions on your admin page. FOLLOW THESE STEPS TO TEST YOUR HOTSPOT INSTALLATION (RECOMMENDED).

You can visit the Operator Area where you can manage your HotSpot locations, view transaction's details, change prices, etc.

Click here to download the User Guide for Operators

Click here to go to the main log in screen (on the top left)

Should you have any more questions or problems, you can visit our Troubleshooting page or the DD-WRT Wiki page for help. If you still have questions, you can read our Knowledgebase or contact Customer Service.