Frequently Asked Hotspot Questions:
Technical Support for Hotspot Customers:
Technical Support for Hotspot Operators:
HotSpotPA hotspots accept:
|
Free/Prepaid Account Types and Courtesy Renewals
Thanks for choosing HotSpotPA for your Internet WiFi hotspot!
The following information is intended for operators of HotSpotPA WiFi hotspot equipment.
If you are a hotspot customer,
please contact your local hotspot operator for assistance with setting up your computer or WiFi device.
|
A Free/Prepaid Account Type allows an operator to provide authenticated hotspot access to a customer or employee
without requiring them to use the hotpot's built-in payment system.
Customers with a Free/Prepaid account still login through HotSpotPA's authentication servers,
which allows operators to retain control of access and bandwidth.
HotSpotPA charges a small monthly fee to operators for Free/Prepaid Accounts beyond the 1st five customers,
to cover the cost of using the authentication servers.
|
| Free/Prepaid Account Fees |
| 5 Free/Prepaid Accounts | No Charge |
| 10 Free/Prepaid Accounts | $25/month |
| 50 Free/Prepaid Accounts | $100/month |
| 100 Free/Prepaid Accounts | $189/month |
| 500 Free/Prepaid Accounts | $879/month |
|
To create a Free/Prepaid Account Type:
- Log into your HotSpotPA operator account.
- Click "Account Types" in the left-side nav panel.
- Click "New Account" in the left-side nav panel to create a new Free/Prepaid Account,
or click "Edit" next to an existing Account Type to convert it to a Free/Prepaid Account.
This should bring up the Account Type Configuration page.
- If you are creating a new Account Type,
enter all of the parameters you would normally add for a new account.
(You may skip this step if you are changing an existing account.)
- For Free/Prepaid Accounts only, you may optionally create a permanent account,
an account with unlimited time and which never expires.
Simply use "0" for both the ONLINE TIME and the EXPIRES values.
- Since this will be a Free/Prepaid Account, enter "0" for the PRICE.
- Free/Prepaid accounts should usually have the Status changed from the default "Active" setting
to the "Locked" setting.
This will lock-out customers from being able to select the
Free/Prepaid Account during account setup or renewal.
Only you, the operator, will be able to select this account for a customer.
- In order to assign a Locked Free/Prepaid Account Type to a customer,
follow the directions for Courtesy Renewals below.
- Warning: If the Account Type Status is set to "Active",
the Free/Prepaid Account Type will be selectable by any hotspot customer for new accounts or account renewals.
|
 |
| |
|
A Courtesy Renewal allows an operator
to assign an Account Type (Free/Prepaid or Paid) to a customer,
or allows an operator to renew an existing customer account.
A Courtesy Renewal bypasses the hotspot payment system,
and no charges are made to the customer's credit card or PayPal account.
Courtesy Renewals must not be used to circumvent HotSpotPA Free/Prepaid Account fees.
|
|
To generate a Courtesy Renewal for a new customer:
- Log into your HotSpotPA operator account.
- Click "Customers" in the left-side nav panel.
- Click "New Customer" in the left-side nav panel.
- Select a Login Id and Password for the new customer.
- Select any account type.
It does not matter what account type you select,
as it will not be saved.
- Click the "Continue" button.
- DO NOT choose a payment type.
- Click the LOGOUT button in the upper right hand corner.
- Continue below under To generate a Courtesy Renewal for an existing customer.
|
 |
To generate a Courtesy Renewal for an existing customer:
- Log into your HotSpotPA operator account.
- Click "Customers" in the left-side nav panel.
This will take you to your Customer Summary page
which displays a list of your customers.
- Click "Edit" next to an existing customer.
- Click COURTESY RENEWAL.
- Select the Account Type.
Both Active and Locked Account Types will be available for selection.
Free/Prepaid Account Types will not be shown if all available Free/Prepaid accounts have already been assigned to active customers.
All operator accounts have at least 5 Free/Prepaid accounts available without any additional monthly fees.
- Click COURTESY RENEWAL again.
|
 |
|