Alfa-Network
This section describes actions that might damage your device or firmware. Proceed with care! You have to match the exact AP / WiFi router version to prevent issues!
1. Do not power off the router during the HotspotOS installation, as it can cause the device to crash or become unusable.
2. Some AP models require 10 to 15 minutes to boot after initial installation. Please be patient and wait until the device flashing is finished ( led indicator stop blinking).
3. Do not flash APs over WiFi, use an ethernet cable to connect to the AP.
4. Certain AP models cannot be restored to stock firmware. With such devices proceed at your own risk.
Please select a model and download HotspotOS.
DownloadHotspotOSConfigurationTroubleshoot
Connecting
Connecting
Please reset the AP / WiFi router to factory settings to avoid problems with some previous configuration.
Connect your computer by network cable to the LAN port.
Please log in to the Alfa Network web interface at https://192.168.26.1
On the Dashboard, scroll down and click on Advanced Settings and choose Firmware Update.
When the Windows Security window appears, type admin as the username in the top field and type admin as the password in the bottom field.
Go to the Management menu and click the Firmware Upgrade link to install the HotspotOS.
Be sure and untick Keep settings option before HotspotOS installation.
Click Choose File.
Navigate to the location where the HotspotOS for your model is downloaded and press Open.
Press the Upload button.
During this process, you will see information about the processing.
Do not power off the router during the HotspotOS installation, as it can cause the device to crash or become unusable.
Reconnect LAN cable or Disable/Enable NIC card in order to get new valid IP address in 10.200.0.x range from router.
Configuring parameters
Configuring parameters
Start your browser and in URL field type http://10.200.0.1:8089/ to login to HotspotOS.
Username: admin
Password: admin
Press the Login button to access to Status tab.
On the HotSpotOS Status page, you can check AP MAC address, Public IP, device Uptime, Radius and Cloud status, and a number of users connected to AP.
The MAC address of your AP will be used in the SignUp process.
During SignUp, after typing HotSpot name, select as HotSpot model HotspotOS, and add your MAC address from the Status tab.
From the Setup page configure your AP.
The Hotspot is started and the Autostart and Inactivity Logout options are active by default.
Inactivity Logout is set to 900 sec. Inactivity period defines how long will the device stay logged-in without activity. This prevents repeated logins if the connection temporarily breaks.
IP-based Authentication is used to switch AP domain ap.wifihotspot.io to 10.200.0.1
It is recommended to disable this option to avoid issues with https-based websites.
Radius Timeout – 8sec
Auto Update – enabled
Master/Slave mode
One AP will manage access and roaming for all other APs.
Enable only if multiple APs are installed in a location.
By default as Network WAN Connection is set DHCP, but you can choose network protocol based on your needs. Our recommendation is to use DHCP Network Protocol.
WiFi channels – Eleven channels are designated in the 2 GHz range, spaced 5 MHz apart from each other. Those eleven channels in the spectrum are allowed anywhere in the world.
DNS – Custom
IP – 10.200.0.1
Please note, if the DNS IP address isn’t 10.200.0.1 the whitelist will have no effect.
Save changes.
From the SSID tab, you can Enable SSID 1 and 2.
Configure the SSID name and enable it.
Secondary SSID 2 is mostly used for staff WiFi with WPA2 password but you can also enable Hotspot on it.
If you want to use Social network login feature or Paypal as payment gateway, enable it on the Whitelist tab and Save changes.
You can also whitelist websites based on URL, IP, or MAC.
From the System tab, you can flash HotspotOS image and change the Admin password.
When you finish setup, restart the AP / WiFi router to apply changes.
Alfa-Network HotspotOS Download
ALFA Network AC1200RM
Download HotspotOS
Do it under U-Boot, using UART and TFTP server:
Select option “2: Load system code then write to Flash via TFTP” and use HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network AP120C
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network AP120C-AC
Download HotspotOS
1. This board uses dual-image feature (128 MB NAND is divided into two 64 MB partitions: ‘rootfs1’ and ‘rootfs2’).
2. Before the update, make sure your device is running firmware no older than v1.1 (previous versions have incompatible U-Boot).
3. Use ‘factory’ image in vendor GUI, without preserving settings.
ALFA Network AP121
Download 8M HotspotOS
Download 16M HotspotOS
ALFA Network AP121F
Download HotspotOS
Under U-Boot web recovery mode:
1. Configure PC with static IP 192.168.1.2/24.
2. Connect PC with RJ45 port, press the reset button, power up the device, wait for the first blink of all LEDs (indicates network setup), then keep the button for 3 following blinks and release it.
3. Open 192.168.1.1 address in your browser and upload HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network AP91-5G
COMING SOON!
Use “factory” image in vendor GUI (in case of problems, make sure your board has up to date firmware).
Alternatively, TFTP in U-Boot can be used: select option “2. Load system code then write to Flash via TFTP” during early boot and use HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network AP96
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network AWUSFREE1
Download HotspotOS
You can use HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmware.
Alternatively, you can use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Power device with the reset button pressed and release it after ~5 sec.
2. Setup static IP 192.168.1.2/4 on your PC.
3. Go to 192.168.1.1 in the browser and upload the HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network Hornet-UB / AP121 / AP121U
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network Hornet-UB x2
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network N2
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network N5
Download HotspotOS
ALFA Network N5Q
Download HotspotOS
You can use HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmare.
Alternatively, you can use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Configure PC with static IP 192.168.1.2/24.
2. Connect PC with one of RJ45 ports, press the reset button, power up the device, wait for the first blink of all LEDs (indicates network setup), then keep the button for 3 following blinks and release it.
3. Open 192.168.1.1 address in your browser and upload HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network Quad-E4G
Download HotspotOS
You can use the HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmware.
Alternatively, use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Power the device with reset button pressed, the modem LED will start blinking slowly and after 3 seconds, when it starts blinking faster, you can release the button.
2. Setup static IP 192.168.1.2/24 on your PC.
3. Go to 192.168.1.1 in browser and upload HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network R36A
Download HotspotOS
You can use HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmware.
Alternatively, you can use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Configure PC with static IP 192.168.1.2/24.
2. Connect PC with one of RJ45 ports, press the reset button, power up the device, wait for the first blink of all LEDs (indicates network setup), then keep the button for 3 following blinks and release it.
3. Open 192.168.1.1 address in your browser and upload HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network R36M-E4G
Download HotspotOS
You can use the HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmware.
Alternatively, use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Power the device with the reset button pressed, the modem LED will start blinking slowly and after ~3 seconds, when it starts blinking faster, you can release the button.
2. Setup static IP 192.168.1.2/24 on your PC.
3. Go to 192.168.1.1 in the browser and upload the HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network Tube-E4G
Download HotspotOS
You can use the HotspotOS image directly in vendor firmware.
Alternatively, use web recovery mode in U-Boot:
1. Power the device with the reset button pressed, the LAN LED will start blinking slowly and after ~3 seconds, when it starts blinking faster, you can release the button.
2. Setup static IP 192.168.1.2/24 on your PC.
3. Go to 192.168.1.1 in the browser and upload the HotspotOS image.
ALFA Network Tube2H
Download 8M HotspotOS
Download 16M HotspotOS
ALFA Network Tube2HP
Download 8M HotspotOS
Download 16M HotspotOS
ALFA Network Tube2HP-F
Download 8M HotspotOS
Download 16M HotspotOS
If you need help with configuration, please go to starthotspot.com and contact our tech support. We’ll be glad to help you.