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[–] flaxom 0 points 15 points (+15|-0) ago  (edited ago)

I was about to recommend piratebox which I've used in the past with a little openwrt capable router, but I see the project has been abandoned. Probably still workable though if you want to get one running.

I ran a customized one of these for a while using a long range directional wi-fi antenna, a GL-AR150 router, usb stick, and a usb battery bank, most of which I had sitting around already. Kept it in my vehicle for a while last summer and would run it when large events were taking place near my office. Battery would last for days. Had plans to try floating one with a balloon over some event with thousands of people, but never tried it.

The problem I ran into is that nobody ever fucking connected. My operation was missing a critical component which would be informing people to connect to a specific network AND connect to a certain url only available on that network (there are ways to redirect any request, but it wasn't a feature available in piratebox if I remember right). Whether keeping the thing in one location for a long time or deploying it at some event, awareness was the key that I was missing. There's also a leap of trust users would need to take just to connect their device to a strange open network.

edit: like dis

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[–] goatsandbros 0 points 12 points (+12|-0) ago 

nobody ever connected

Name the network "nigger party van" or "JFK sex tapes" or something. Worth a shot.

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[–] Shishamo 0 points 6 points (+6|-0) ago 

You could also get extremely basic and put fliers on telephone poles that make it seem mysterious and interesting.

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[–] watts2db ago 

😂 LMAO

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[–] svipbo 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Redirecting a URL must be possible as many free wifi networks redirect you to a sign-in screen.

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[–] hwong 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Ahhhh Piratebox is dead? I was going to set one up this spring on a solar panel at our little neighborhood library box thing for ebooks and movies. sad day...

[–] [deleted] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

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