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A Guide to Understanding Piso WiFi: Important Things To Learn About Piso WiFi

By len.javeloza

Piso WiFi is very popular in the Philippines right now. Piso WiFi is a unique business model that lets you share your extra Internet connection with others who cannot afford a personal connection, such as internet plans or mobile hotspots. It can be very profitable, but it's important to understand how this system works before investing in one. 

For those who still don't know what piso WiFi is or how it works, this guide will help you understand piso WiFi better so that you can decide if it's the right fit for your business too!

What Is Piso WiFi?

The term Piso WiFi is a portmanteau of "Piso," which means one peso in the Philippines, and "WiFi."

The Piso WiFi business model allows customers to pay for internet access with a small amount of money rather than making them subscribe to expensive plans offered by telecommunications companies like Globe Telecom or Smart Communications. Customers can purchase internet access for as little as 20 pesos, granting them unlimited data usage until midnight that day.

Piso WiFi, a revolutionary internet access solution, has rapidly gained popularity, especially in the Philippines, offering affordable and easily accessible internet connectivity to the masses. This innovative service operates on a pay-per-use model, allowing users to connect to the internet by inserting coins into a vending machine, making it both user-friendly and accessible.

The concept of Piso WiFi is rooted in the idea of democratizing internet access, breaking down barriers and providing connectivity to even the most remote and underserved areas. It has become a staple in public spaces such as malls, transportation hubs, and community centers, ensuring that internet access is no longer a luxury but a service available to all.

Definition and Purpose

The purpose of Piso WiFi is to provide a convenient and budget-friendly internet access option to the public, especially in areas where personal internet subscriptions are costly or impractical.

The main features of Piso WiFi include:

  • Affordability: It offers internet access at a very low cost, making it accessible to a wide range of users, including those with limited financial resources.
  • Accessibility: These services are usually located in public places like malls, stores, or in standalone kiosks, making them easily accessible to the general public.
  • Ease of Use: Users can simply insert coins to gain access to the internet for a predetermined amount of time, without the need for complex subscriptions or setups.
  • Flexibility: Piso WiFi allows users to pay for only the amount of time they need, making it a flexible option for sporadic or short-term internet usage.

The primary purpose of Piso WiFi is to bridge the digital divide by providing affordable and accessible internet to a larger portion of the population. This is particularly important in regions where regular internet access is not widely available or is too expensive for average consumers. By doing so, Piso WiFi supports digital inclusion, enabling more people to participate in the digital economy, access educational resources, social media, news, and other online services.

How Does Piso WiFi Works?

The service operates through vending machines, known as Piso WiFi vendo machines, which are strategically placed in public spaces. Users can connect to the internet by selecting the Piso WiFi network on their device, navigating to the login page, and inserting coins into the machine. The user is then granted access to the internet for a predetermined amount of time based on the amount of money inserted.

Below is a sample table that illustrates the relationship between the amount of money inserted into a Piso WiFi vendo machine and the corresponding duration of internet access time. Please note that the actual rates and time allocations can vary depending on the specific service provider and location.

Amount Inserted (PHP)

Internet Access Time

1

10 minutes

5

1 hour

10

2 hours

20

5 hours

How to Connect to Piso WiFi

Connecting to Piso WiFi is a straightforward process, designed to be user-friendly and accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise. In this section, we will guide you through the steps to connect to Piso WiFi, provide troubleshooting tips for common issues, and share advice for ensuring a stable and fast connection.

Installing Piso WiFi

Installing a Piso WiFi system can be a lucrative venture, providing communities with affordable internet access while generating income for the operator. In this section, we will guide you through the installation process, discuss the required equipment and technical specifications, and offer tips for optimal setup.

Equipment and Technical Specifications

To set up a Piso WiFi system, you will need the following equipment:

Piso WiFi Vendo Machine: This is the main unit that users interact with. It includes a coin slot, Wi-Fi router, and control system.

EAP110-Outdoor: help you spread your WIFI with your customer.

Internet Connection: A stable and reliable internet connection from a local ISP.

Power Source: Ensure a reliable power source to keep the vendo machine operational.

Secure Location: Choose a location that is accessible to users while ensuring the security of the machine.

For rate limit through EAP controller, you can follow on this step.

For Voucher

1. Click Settings icon on the upper right corner of the management interface. Go to Wireless Control > Portal to load the following page.

2. Click  to configure the corresponding Voucher Portal. Click Voucher Manager to manage the vouchers.

tp link piso wifi configuration

3. On the Management page, go to Voucher and click  to create vouchers and specify the download limit and upload limit. Click Apply.

For Local User

1. Click  on the upper right corner of the management interface. Go to Wireless Control > Portal to load the following page.

2. Click  to configure the corresponding Local User Portal. Click User Management to manage the users.

3. On the Management page, go to User and click  to create local users and specify the download limit and upload limit. Click Apply.

Piso WiFi As Your Small Business In The Philippines

It's possible to operate a Piso WiFi for just 2,000 pesos a month as capital, and it could already generate up to 40,000 pesos in revenue. As a business owner, you have to have enough capital so you can scale your Piso WiFi business by installing more computers in public locations and charging for WiFi use.

Operating Your Piso WiFi In Accessible Locations

You will need a building or accessible location where you can put some network equipment and computers for your customers to use. They can also use their smartphones when connecting to the internet using your Piso WiFi machine. If you don't have any space available on your property and don't want to build anything from scratch, you can find an existing location elsewhere and rent it out for this purpose.

Having a great location is crucial for any business to survive. Make sure that there is enough foot traffic in the location where you will put your Piso WiFi device. It will do well in markets, jeep or bus stops and even in schools.

With an operational Piso WiFi business on an accessible area that modem WiFi can cover, there is unlimited potential for growth. 

Do Your Research 

The beauty of Piso WiFi is that it can be used at any location with an electrical outlet. But the more people using your service, the more electricity you need. In addition, many other factors come into play when determining how much money you will make with Piso WiFi. There are some risks, however, like your devices being stolen.

Make sure you do your research well before deciding where to put your Piso WiFi machine.

Can I Make My Own Piso WiFi Machine?

You certainly can. But, there are already a lot of vendors and suppliers who are making plug and play piso WiFi devices. It's a wise move to choose a reputable vendor that offers on-site support in case your piso WiFi machine has an issue.

But, if you want to make your own piso WiFi machine, you'll need to prepare materials mentioned above such as coin slot, router, single board computer (like Raspberry Pi3 B+ or Orange Pi One), wire cables, network adapters, SD card and power supply. While it's optional, you can prepare an Outdoor/Indoor Access Point that supports Bridge Mode with DHCP disabled.

Here are some recommended Wireless N Outdoor Access Point from TP Link:

EAP110-Outdoor
EAP225-Outdoor
LS105LP
LS1005

For instructions on how you can make the machine and what software is needed, you can also visit this page.

Expertise In WiFi With TP Link

The Piso WiFi business model is a great way for people to earn income without investing in expensive equipment or technology. It's also very easy for anyone who wants to start up their own business from home or anywhere else where there's access to electricity and space for computers.

When it comes to reliable WiFi, TP Link comes to mind. With over 10 years of experience in serving WiFi and technological solutions, TP Link is the world's #1 provider of consumer WiFi networking devices.  Get online with TP-Link now!

len.javeloza