help with internet connection sharing

[okron1k]

hey there..

here's a kind of weird question..
i'm a truck driver and i have a year subscription to flying j wireless internet. the wireless network is not wep or wpa protected.. but as soon as you connect and try to go to a website.. it redirects you to their site where you (i..me) log in. once logged in i can use the net normally.

but i can only log in with one machine.. meaning.. if i am logged in with my mac mini.. i can't log in with my ipod touch.

the way i thought i may be able to do it.. is this:

share internet connection from mac mini to ethernet port of mac
> connect to the internet in port of a wireless router
> have the iphone connect to my wireless network, which should get connection from the mac mini which is sharing it's wireless connection.

so in simpler terms.

internet > wireless > mac mini > internet sharing to ethernet port > ethernet of mac to internet in of router > connect ipod to router > google.com

EDIT: even simpler: mac mini recieves internet through wireless and passes it through the ethernet port to a routers internet in port and the router broadcasts it over the wireless in which the ipod connects to.

but that doesn't seem to work. anyone else have any ideas? i'd also like to use this method of internet sharing with my xbox 360 as i can't open a webpage to log in with it. i figure the same style of wireless internet is also available at some hotels.. namely days inn. but days inn uses one main password for everyone and multiple people can log in all at once with it.

any ideas or suggestions to try out would be greatly appreciated

-kr0n

[okron1k]

wow... no replies??!

hmm..

another way i've been thinking of trying is:

download tomato firmware or something so the router can be used to connect to wireless > ethernet to the mac mini from the router > share mac mini ethernet internet connection over mac mini wireless > google.com on the ipod touch.


i'm not sure that tomato can be used like that.. i've never tried tomato.. or other firmwares for the router. any thoughts? or any other recommended firmware?

tia

-kr0n

[drew and not u]

Hmm, I have no idea, but it almost sounds like it might use cookies to allow you network access, in which case you would only be able to have one machine online at a time. I wish I could provide some useful info, but that's a tricky one.
Good luck!

[PrOLifIC_onE]

Yeah, since we don't know the specifics of how Flying J administers their wireless (and since I don't know anything about Macs) it's a little tough to offer good suggestions...

But just like Drew said, it sounds like it is designed to have each user only be able to be logged in with one device at a time, either with cookies or additional software added to each device. From their end it prevents 5 buddies from sharing the cost of one membership and then trying use it all at once.

I would try to find a tech number from Flying J and see if they can assist you.

[screwballl]

the router bit would only relay the info, not help with logging in... unfortunately they have it locked down for a reason so maybe you can request an additional login name so you can at least have 2 online at the same time?