Cheap WiFi <=> WiFi / LAN gateway

[jimjohn]

Hi,

when on the road (hotels, café, etc.) there is "free WiFi" or LAN everywhere. I am looking for a small device running OPNsense which I can connect to the "free WiFi" and open up my private WiFi / LAN to connect all my devices to (smartphones, laptop, etc.). The OPNsense shall then tunnel all packages to my home OPNsense via a VPN tunnel.

Any hardware recommendations? I think the tricky part is the WiFi gateway. Is it technically possible to make the OPNsense work with these webpages where you have to accept terms and enter vouchers?

[bartjsmit]

I would combine a RPi based VNP uplink with a travel router such as these: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/3g-usb-adapter/tl-wr902ac/

I've used its predecessor in exactly the situation you outline - enter login/voucher details under the router's WiFi MAC and connect everything else through it. My phone connects to VPN automatically whenever it's off the home SSID. No reason why the Pi can't dish out DHCP with a DG through the tunnel while connected with ethernet or WiFi. You obviously lose the single little box concept but the costs are still low.

You could base it on OPNsense if you have requirements you haven't mentioned that need it. Otherwise Raspberry Pi OS will do fine for VPN, routing and DHCP.

Bart...

[jimjohn]

Not sure if this thingy is capable of fulfilling my use case. Can you explain better why I need a RPi PLUS that router?

However, I need a device which is capable of connecting to one WiFi on the "hotel" side and providing another "private" one.

I would like to avoid multiple pieces of hardware as i.e. RPi + WiFi USB Stick and such. Best would be all in one box, kind of rugged.

But anyway thanks for your proposal.

[lilsense]

you can use the device's 2.4 for free Wifi and 5 for your laptop. Use the RPi for pihole.

[jimjohn]

you can use the device's 2.4 for free Wifi and 5 for your laptop. Use the RPi for pihole.

OK, that's a good solution, but I need 2x 2.4GHz for range. I would use the OPNsense's DNS via the tunnel.

[lilsense]

Range???

Are you. gonna place your router in Starbucks and go out to eat the makkie D's???

[bartjsmit]

Can you explain better why I need a RPi PLUS that router?

The TP-Link has no option to run a VPN client (as far as I can tell). You would need the Pi (or a similarly low-priced computer) to run your end of the tunnel.

However, this travel router seems to do both: https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-ar750s/

Bart...

[jimjohn]

Range???

Are you. gonna place your router in Starbucks and go out to eat the makkie D's???

No, but if you have a larger house at vacation, you may want to do some video calling in the garden. Or if you are in a city, lots of 5GHz networks may cause interferences ... I made very poor experiences with 5GHz WiFi in terms of range. Everything >5m was instable, >10m with 1-2 walls in between was unusable.