You are not wrong in your assumption. A plain vanilla Linksys can't do
the whole "pay for your hotspot access" idea without help. This device
you found on Oscam looks to be the simplest solution. I've seen more
complex setups that need several devices to do what this one is capable
of. Now, I would recommend that your coffee shop friend keeps his
Linksys to power the private network for the cash register and his own
computing needs. That will keep the store's network and his hotspot on
different subnetworks, improving the store's security. That and you'd be
able to install a packet sniffer in-line on the feed for the hotspot to
monitor the traffic, if your friend decides to do so at a later date.
The network would look something like this when initially wired up: the
gateway device first (cable modem?), the Linksys router next (private
network and feed for hotspot), and then this hotspot device last (public
network). Good luck to your buddy.

Will Stephenson wrote:
> Hello all!
>
> I have a client with a coffee establishment who wishes to turn their free
> hotspot into one that's a bit more regulated. Although still free, he wants
> to restrict usage to customers, and at first connection send them to his web
> page. He thought it might be possible to set up his wireless Linksys router
> to do this. After looking at the software that sets up the router (it's a
> plain old Linksys (pre-N), I don't think the router has those capabilities.
> Am I wrong in making that assumption?
>
> Thinking that I'm right, I researched for appliances that would do what he
> wants, and came up with this as the best:
> http://www.oscamtechnical.com/wirelesshotspot.html
>
> Am I barking up the wrong tree here? Is there a simpler solution? Is there a
> better product? Any input is much appreciated!
>
> Thank you for your time and thought on this.
>
> Best,
>
> Will Stephenson
> Acadia Technologies Inc. 
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>  - Ideologies are ways of organizing large swaths of life and experience
> under a set of shared but unexamined assumptions -
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
> Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/837 - Release Date: 6/6/2007
> 2:03 PM
>  
>
>             Do you want to signoff PCBUILD or just change to
>                     Digest mode - visit our web site:
>                    http://freepctech.com/pcbuild.shtml
>
>   

              The NOSPIN Group is now offering Free PC Tech
                     support at our newest website:
                          http://freepctech.com