Router Mode - WiFi input.

[JessH]

Hi

I would like to request that the router function be extended to allow input from a WiFi network, and then have the NAT router output on a second WiFi Network and the Ethernet port.

Presumably this would require a second WiFi radio, though if the 2.4 and 5 GHz could be used separately on the Pi 4 and 400 that would be good.

Reason: For use in communal WiFi like a hotel, where connection between clients is not guaranteed, or is available to anyone. (The control would only be on the private network).

Thanks

[Tim Curtis]

I'm having a hard time understanding the usage scenario.

In a Hotel don't you typically use either your Phone or the Hotel's WiFi network to get to the Internet?

[JessH]

I'm having a hard time understanding the usage scenario.

In a Hotel don't you typically use either your Phone or the Hotel's WiFi network to get to the Internet?

The hotel's WiFi does not always provide a connection to other devices on the network. So headless doesn't work.

In my situation (House too far from work to commute, so I'm living in a hotel) the Moode Pi 4x connecting to the hotel 2.4 GHz network and sharing that on a private 5 GHz hotspot (if that is possible, or a separate USB WiFi stick if not) would allow headless (operated from within the private network).

Currently I either have to use the local display and the TV, or to use it as a bluetooth speaker. (The device at my house, without such restrictions, works great though, but that's about one weekend a month).

Thanks

[Tim Curtis]

If the Hotel has Ethernet ports you can use the Router feature in the Access Point (AP) section of Network Config to forward packets between the AP 2.4G network and the Ethernet connection to the Internet.

The Router config is in the file /etc/nftables.conf.

[JessH]

If the Hotel has Ethernet ports you can use the Router feature in the Access Point (AP) section of Network Config to forward packets between the AP 2.4G network and the Ethernet connection to the Internet.

The Router config is in the file /etc/nftables.conf.

In my experience over 90% don't (including the one I've been staying in for the last 18 months), hence the request. (I'll keep using Moode at home if it doesn't happen, it's nice, but I'm only there perhaps 3 weeks a year in total.)

It could be a great device for these situations.

[Nutul]

If the Hotel has Ethernet ports you can use the Router feature in the Access Point (AP) section of Network Config to forward packets between the AP 2.4G network and the Ethernet connection to the Internet.

The Router config is in the file /etc/nftables.conf.

In my experience over 90% don't (including the one I've been staying in for the last 18 months), hence the request. (I'll keep using Moode at home if it doesn't happen, it's nice, but I'm only there perhaps 3 weeks a year in total.)

It could be a great device for these situations.

Have you tried accessing it by its IP...? I remember being in a situation like yours, and I could see it, although not by name.

ETA
I must admit that I had its local UI, so it was easy for me to see its address...

[TheOldPresbyope]

@JessH

Al makes a good point. 

Have you tried using a helper app on your phone or tablet to scan for and identifiy all the hosts (and their IPv4 addresses) accessible on whatever LAN the device it’s running on?

I’m particularly fond of Fing, which is available for Android and iOS/iPadOS, but there are others too.

I don’t know what you could do on a pure IPv6 network but I’ve never run into a hotel that wasn’t running IPv4.

Regards,
Kent

[Tim Curtis]

If the Hotel has Ethernet ports you can use the Router feature in the Access Point (AP) section of Network Config to forward packets between the AP 2.4G network and the Ethernet connection to the Internet.

The Router config is in the file /etc/nftables.conf.

In my experience over 90% don't (including the one I've been staying in for the last 18 months), hence the request. (I'll keep using Moode at home if it doesn't happen, it's nice, but I'm only there perhaps 3 weeks a year in total.)

It could be a great device for these situations.

I just want to make sure I understand the usage scenario.

You want moOde to connect to the Hotel Wifi for Internet access and also run in AP mode so you can connect your phone, laptop, etc to moOde's AP mode 2.4G WiFi network?

[Tim Curtis]

This article talks about a Travel Router that can connect to Hotel WiFi
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/travel...tal.55544/

[TheOldPresbyope]

@JessH 

I confess I didn't think very hard before posting my first reply. After doing some reading about how hotel properties are implementing guest WiFi access these days, I suspect my suggestion of using Fing or the like will not be productive. As well, it occurs to me that scanning a hotel's LAN might be perceived by others as a black-hat activity even if only looking for one's own hosts.

It seems both HooToo and GL.iNET sell travel routers which might suit. It looks like both take advantage of the open-source project called OpenWRT and possible the OpenWRT TravelMate addon.

Although captive portal detection and login are mentioned in the Tavelmate docs, I I haven't worked my way through the examples to see how easy/hard it would be to use in a typical hotel setting.

In any case, it would be an interesting project to try to shoehorn some of the same features into moOde, using the OpenWRT code as a guide. As a practical matter, it would be challenging because the dev would have to try to replicate the WiFi systems commonly encountered on hotel properties for testing (or start spending time in hotel rooms!). From my readings, it appears there are several different ways captive portals can be implemented, adding to the testing required.

Given that the commercial travel routers are available for about the same price vendors are charging these days for a Raspberry Pi alone, they would seem a good solution....I'm even considering getting one for my partner and me to use on our next trip.

Regards,
Kent