LaFonera

How to make La Fonera connect to the Internet via WLAN (Wi-Fi) instead of an Ethernet cable.

First, the FreeWLAN software add-ons must be installed. Then, new options in the settings of the web interface allow us to choose the WLAN port for the internet connection.

By default, FON does not want us to modify their software, and they're actively working on preventing it by releasing new software versions that fix any holes.

However, we need to exploit a security hole in the Fonera software (firmware) so that we can install the add-ons. Current Foneras provide no such security holes, but there are tricks to get around this. The one that usually works the easiest is described here:

Assuming you have never "flashed" your unit, i.e. uploaded new firmware manually, you can simply reset the unit to run an older firmware which still has the needed security hole.

How to reset the unit to have it run an older firmware

1. Make sure La Fonera is turned on and operating normally (i.e. you can access it via WLAN)
2. Open this webpage in another window and keep it for later: http://trac.freewlan.info/wiki/Documentation/Installation
3. Visit the web configuration page of La Fonera (connect to the Fonera's private network, then open its IP address in a web browser, it's usually http://192.168.10.1.
4. Check the Firmware Version on the Status page. If it's already 0.7.1r1, you've already got the right firmware running and you can proceed to the next chapter.
5. Pull out the Ethernet cable to make sure it can not connect to the Internet
6. Press the reset button on the underside of the unit with a pen for 15 seconds, then let go of the button again.
7. Now the unit will reset itself, meaning it will not be available on WLAN for a while (the LED will go off)
8. Wait until the unit is available via its WLAN again (this can take several minutes, give it an hour before you give up by pulling out the power and then retry from start).
9. Log in to the web configuration page of La Fonera again and check the firmware version. It should be 0.7.1r1 now. (Note that, due to the reset, all your settings are gone. The WLAN SSID you have to connect to is named "MySpace" and the login for the web interface is user: root, password: admin.)

How to install the FreeWLAN add-ons

1. Make sure you have the firmware version 0.7.1r1 running on your Fonera and that the unit is still disconnected from the internet (i.e. the Ethernet cable is not plugged in) in order to prevent it from updating itself automatically to a newer firmware.
2. Then go ahead with Step 3 in the previously loaded Installation page (http://trac.freewlan.info/wiki/Documentation/Installation#Step3).
3. Some notes on those instructions:
4. • Reboot means to unplug and replug the power so that the unit restarts. Wait a few minutes until the unit's WLAN is usualy again.
5. • In Step 4 you're supposed to wait for the page to finish loading, but depending on your browser, it might time out. If this happens, simply repeatedly go back to the normal Fonera's web configuration page (http://192.168.10.1) until it appears again.

How to enable the WLAN internet connection

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