Need some advice about setting up an access portal for a small coffee shop offering free wi-fi. They've had some problems with customers doing illegal downloading. So they would like to have a log-in page for access to the internet (customers would have to provide their name/email to get online). They don't have a Starbucks budget, so they don't want to subscribe to a service. I found some software (wysiwyg) to do this, the company is in England, looks like around $200 or so with shipping. So that's one option.
We've tried to find someone local who could build an access portal, but no luck so far

How involved is this for someone with coding experience?
http://feedthenetwork.com/wi-fi/make-wi … ys-wrt54gl

Anyone here have experience with this? Should they get the software or try to find a bored 14 year old to whip this out?

Why not just follow the instructions on that linked page to install the openwrt-wrt54g firmware and run Chillispot like they suggest? The firmware and Chillispot are free, so all you need is a compatible router.

Tom - I haven't even made the leap from VSD to writing my own code. I know nothing about routers (and they have 2), so I wouldn't feel comfortable messing around in their set-up.
But this sounds like a fairly easy process for someone who knows what they're doing?

Tom get your coding html for food avatar out !

While replacing the onboard software that is installed on the router at the factory can be tricky and even leave it inoperable, you'll never learn until you try. You can do it.

And who said anything about testing this out on their router?

So I should screw up my own internet access first, then move on to theirs?