How Wi-Fi hotspots work
A brief introduction on how wireless and wired hotspots work.
If you been to a hotel, airport or library recently then you might have used a wireless hotspot or an internet kiosk either with your laptop of Wi-Fi enabled
device to access the internet.
This is a
sample process of how a wired or
wireless hotspot works.
1. Laptop user obtains an internet voucher from the café for 30 minutes or 30 Megabytes.
2. Laptop connects to HotSpot NZ wireless router.
3. Router sends an AAA request over the broadband to the NOC (Network Operation Centre)
4. NOC responds to router and presents Laptop with a captive portal login web page.
5. Laptop user enters their voucher password
6. NOC allows the laptop user to surf the internet for up to e.g. 30 minutes or
30MB, which ever is used first.
7. When their time OR their megabyte allocation is used up, the users
voucher and connection will expire.

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