If you are a coffeeshop, cafe, bookstore, RV park, laundramat, restaurant and other location owner that wants to become a Wi-Fi hotspot or FreeSpot that provides wireless high speed internet access you'll need a piece of hardware called an access point ( Wireless AP - also called bridges, hubs, switches, routers and gateways)to broadcast your broadband signal to your customers.

You will have a wide choice of products that use the 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g standards or a combination the three. To this point 802.11b (11Mbps maximum throughput rate) products have been the most popular and least expensive but 802.11g (54 Mbps maximum throughput rate) is the most recently approved standard and those products are now entering the marketplace.

If you wish to access the Wi-Fi signal at a hotspot or Wi-Fi-FreeSpot you'll need a Wi-Fi enabled device such as a PDA or a laptop computer that contains an Internal PC card or mini-PCI module (Wireless NIC).

Manufacturers and developers of Wi-Fi and wireless products include the following

• Apple - Airport Extreme router/access point
  
• Belkin - routers and access points and Wi-Fi cards
  
• Binary Wolf has a page about low cost, do-it-yourself, wireless antennas
  
• Bits' Bolts - NetChaser v1.0 - Wi-Fi signal finder for Palm Tungsten C
  
• Buffalo/Melco
  
• Canary Wireless makes the Digital Hotspotter - a Wi-Fi signal detector
  
• Cisco
  
• Colubris Networks
  
• D-Link
  
• DNS Redirector - redirects to a welcome/advertisement page and has other features as well
  
• Dr. Bott's extendAIR - extends range of Apple's AirPort Extreme up to 500 feet
  
• free-hotspot.com handles the installation and maintenance of your FREE HotSpot, and also the tech support for users. Plus a share of advertising network revenue. - focus is on Europe right now.
• Freefinet.com is an ad serving system for hotspots and FreeSpots
  
• Gemtek - the Sputnik AP 220 is a carrier-grade access point based on Gemtek Systems model P-520. The new access point runs Sputnik's award-winning Agent software so that it can be centrally managed over the Internet, out of the box. The Sputnik AP 220 is designed for maximum coverage for large wireless venues such as hotels, multi-tenant dwellings, dormitories, and businesses.
  
• Hospitality Wi-Fi - Wireless Wi-Fi High Speed Internet Provider for Hotels , Motels , Resorts , and Other Hotspots
• Hotpoint Wireless - sets up and manages hotspots and/or hotspot networks, offering a complete package of software, security features, technical support and marketing & promotion services to venue owner/operators
  
• IP WatchDog Lite monitors function of Ethernet devices and detects the devices´ functionality using PING function. It can be used for server and router monitoring and restarting; monitoring of a network structure; ADSL and cable modem supervision; WiFi AP monitoring; security and access system; activation of backup connection in case of network connectivity dropout.
• Intel makes Centrino chips
  
• Linksys - routers, access points and cards
  
• Megapath.net allows connection sharing of their broadband services
  
• Microtik - software router
  
• NetGear - routers and access points
  
• Netopia supplies all the networking hardware, back-end software, and venue marketing materials you need to start offering Wi-Fi to your customers.
  
• Palm - Tungsten C handheld
  
• PatronSoft - FirstSpot product has Captive Portal feature
  
• Public IP Services - The Hot Spot solution for public spaces that want to offer free wireless Internet.
  
• Redspan Solutions - UK based retailer with over 20,000 wireless and IT products
  
• RV Wireless Internet - installer of Free Wi-Fi at RV Parks/Campgrounds
• Sesame Network’s first solution allows institutions and enterprises to offer secure, traceable temporary Wi-Fi Internet access for visiting employees, customers, suppliers, business partners, consultants, or guests. Sesame is planning to bring additional solutions to market that leverage its Identity Management Process and current guest access product.
  
• SMC Networks
  
• Speakeasy.net allows and encourages sharing of their DSL broadband service
  
• Sputnik - Sputnik's New SputnikNet Express offers a great package deal that will enable businesses to create custom welcome pages that include maps, search, and links to local content such as movie listings and weather, provided by Google or Yahoo!.
  
• Vivato - large area coverage solution
  
• VoiceStick - inserts into a USB port on your laptop or desktop computer, and allows you to make calls to any phone around the world by connecting you to the i2 Telecom network and the Internet.
• VPN Tools - VPN Tools and their set-up
  
• WiFi Etcetera - wireless products for several platforms
• WiFi Plus offers obstruction penetrating antennas.
  
• The Wi-Fi Seeker will help people find Wi-Fi signals before opening their laptop to connect.
  
• YachtSpot - complete solution for providing wireless Internet access to Marinas, Boat Yards, Boat Shows

"Wi-Fi" is a registered certification mark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. The Wi-Fi Alliance has a certification program for 802.11-based products. Click here for a list of the Wi-Fi Alliance's Certified Products.

To read reviews of products visit Small Net Builder or Practically Networked.

Return to the wififreenet.com How Do I Set Up a Hotspot/FreeSpot page.

Return to the FreeSpot Directory FAQs page.