Set up the hotspot on your MikroTik

The platform manages hotspot users and profiles on a router that already runs a hotspot server. If yours does not, set one up on the router first. These steps use Winbox on RouterOS 7.

Make a backup first, from Files › Backup. The hotspot setup changes the interface you choose.

Run the hotspot setup

1. Open IP › Hotspot and choose Hotspot Setup.
2. Choose the interface or bridge your customers connect to.
3. Accept or change the local address and the address pool for customers.
4. For the certificate choose none, and leave the SMTP server empty.
5. Enter the DNS servers the router should use.
6. For the DNS name, enter a name for the login page, such as login.wifi. Note it: it is your hotspot login address.
7. The last step creates a local hotspot user. Give it a strong password, or remove it afterwards: your customers' logins come from your portal.

Tell the platform where the login page is

In your portal open the router and choose Edit. Enter the Hotspot login address: the DNS name from step 6, or the router's hotspot IP address. Voucher QR codes and online sales sign customers in there.

Allow HTTP PAP sign-in

In IP › Hotspot › Server Profiles, open the profile your hotspot uses and tick HTTP PAP under Login By.

Put your login page on the router

Your portal's Hotspot page has a login.html for each router, with your logo and colours.

1. In Winbox open Files, then the hotspot folder (hotspot or flash/hotspot).
2. Keep a copy of the old login.html, then upload yours in its place.

Let customers reach the shop before they sign in

In IP › Hotspot › Walled Garden, add each host listed on your portal's Hotspot page as a Dst. Host: your portal address and Paystack's. HTTPS pages may also need them in the Walled Garden IP List.

Test it with a phone: join the Wi-Fi and the login page should open.