Hi Wilmington and admin staff.
I'm having exactly the same problems.
Basically, I have the WRT54GL (with HotspotWRT), plugged into another router (lets call this the primary router). Nothing different done on the primary router… just a cable running from it to the internet port of the WRT54GL.
I followed the installation instructions on this website, upgraded the firmware, installed the neccessary files, waited a few minutes and the hotspot started working. Everything was able to connect without difficulty, both paid-for and master accounts.
Then 48hrs later I got my first telephone call from the office next door. They had no wifi access. Basically they can connect to the Hotspot, but it shows as having “no internet access, local only”. I'm then looking at my laptop, which is connected fine to the same hotspot. So I disconnect my laptop, restart, rejoin the hotspot, and now its the same problem as in the office next door. I can connect but no internet access and therefore no splash page.
This problem persisted for about an hour, and eventually I reset both routers and about 10 minutes later it all started working again.
A couple days later (today) and its the same problem again. I cannot connect. The office next door cannot connect. If I plug a cable directly into the WRT54GL then I have internet access. All the lights on the WRT54GL suggest everything is OK.
What is incredibly strange is that my iPhone can connect every single time without any problems whatsoever, so I know its all working. Its as if something is blocking the laptops from connecting (but yet not other times). A restart of both routers did nothing this time.
Surely I shouldnt have to tell everyone who connects to open up certain ports on their firewall, as the above solution suggests?
What could possibly be happening to allow the iPhone to work every time, but the laptops only occasionally?
Any help would be appreciated, as I can hardly take money from customers for the terrible service I am offering them.