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Guest WiFi using a QR code

blog.jgc.org

61–70 of 284 posts

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#61

Please do not only offer qr codes. Some people might not have (working) cameras.

Or they could just be trying to connect from a laptop! Or a mobile device that doesn't understand how to parse this sort of WIFI connection code. Is this any sort of standard? Do Kindle devices support it?

https://github.com/zxing/zxing/wiki/Barcode-Contents#wi-fi-n...

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#62
I tell guests its a long, complex password (it is, and it is on a separate VLAN where all my IoT resides, too). I then ask them to hand over their device so I can enter the password. There's a trust thing going on there, but this is deliberate as the trust goes both ways (my internet connection). If they don't trust me to fill in my password on their device (they may of course watch me do it), I wouldn't want them on my network. That never happened but I don't run a bnb.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#63
Even more handy when you're using enterprise auth and just add a user for each guest (that's were I'm eventually going, but first the self hosted stuff gets SSO).

A made-up word also works well and even thwarts a dictionary attack (which is a real issue).

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#64

A QR code by itself is completely unreadable to a human. Can't this have the SSID / password too? All too often you see what should be simple textual data wrapped in this obtuse form which only specific machines can read. Text and a QR code can be read by everyone. See: https://twitter.com/adambowie/status/1521078234057695233 > for context

>Can't this have the SSID/password too?

Already linked by people in this topic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code#Joining_a_Wi%E2%80%91F...

>All too often you see what should be simple textual data wrapped in this obtuse form which only specific machines can read.

>See: https://twitter.com/adambowie/status/1521078234057695233> for context

This is misuse of QR code; QR codes should be used to encode large data or some other clunky data that is hard for people to process that's why it is easier to look up such data/information with QR code and process/read it digitally. After all you have a camera in your pocket and a preinstalled QR code scanner(at least all new Android phones have). The main use case of QR codes that I see is simply linking you to a website. For example your favorite food brand links you to their website to explore their offering.

>Text and a QR code can be read by everyone.

Yea I agree with you that both plain text and a QR code should be shared so people can use what suits them the best at that particular moment.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#65

I print wifi QR codes on wood signs and on cork coasters for Airbnb/VRBO hosts. It's a good little side business. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ligninandlight?section_id=28828952

Nice, but I don't like such being forced to be a static PSK.

Instead, could also make an e-paper device for this. Perhaps it would work on badgerOS?

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#66
I have a qr code on my wall, with the guest wifi password written below the code and an nfc tag sticked on the back. I think so far most people just typed it

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#67
Sure a QR code is cool, but it's pointless for getting laptops onto a network and for the most part isn't that the main usecase for needing to get onto someone's 3rd party wifi (eg at an office, airBnB, etc?).

My phone has existing connectivity most of the time and it's rare that I need to connect it to wifi. Or that wifi would be preferable over my own 5G (or LTE) data connection.

Not hating, this is neat, but it seems low value. Certainly printing _only_ a QR code feels sub-optmial as it doesn't cover the laptop usecase.

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#69
This is super cool and would be awesome for situations where your guests are familiar with QR codes. But from my experience the process would go something like this:

Visitor: What's your wifi password?

Me: No password needed! We have a cool QR code you can scan that will auto-join you!

Visitor: Oh cool, how do I use a QR code? Do I need an app?

Me: Nope, just point your camera at it.

Visitor: Like .. .take a picture of it? And then what, do I...

Me: No just point your camera at it.

Visitor: Ok let me try it ... oh cool it's prompting me to join your wifi network? what do I do now

Me: Yes Yes, just proceed, that's what it's for.

Visitor: That's soo cool, thanks.

Vs

Visitor: What's your wifi password?

Me: ShinyTortoise78

Re: Guest WiFi using a QR code

#70
This weekend I went to my dacha neighbor to ask a wifi password. All I had is a laptop with half-tuned Debian (do not use no smartphones). He gave me that QR and I could not read it because QR is not text. He is not a technician and I did not want to persist in my ask, so the situation ended up with no internets for me :( Please stop using human-unreadable protocols if opposite is possible.
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