Using Raspberry Pi as a wifi hotspot?

Spuddy · 26 Sep 2017 at 19:51

Ok, so I bought a Raspberry Pi 3 some time ago to use as a retro games console. However I never got round to it and no longer have the time for it.

Although now I believe I may actually have a reason to remove the Pi from its pristine packaging. I've recently started a PhD and the NHS building where I work has no wifi as its separated from the main hospital and so we have to rely on ethernet cables plugged into the wall which is pretty impractical. Especially since any phone signal is completely absent within the building and I cant attach my iPhone to the ethernet socket :rolleyes:

Therefore, is there somehow a way I can setup my Raspberry Pi to plug into the ethernet connection within and act as a personal/wifi hotspot for my devices such as laptop, tablet, phone etc that is password protected.

Essentially I just it to mimic what you can do with an iPhone where you setup a personal hotspot and distribute wifi to my devices. Only downside is, I have zero programming experience and ideally looking for a ready-made solution to save a lot of stress and headaches of me trying to figure it out.

Spuddy · 26 Sep 2017 at 20:28

d_brennen said:
Your IT department will tut. Even if you get the Pi to act as a hot spot, how do you plan to traverse the firewall?

The firewall will filter out all connected devices?

Spuddy · 26 Sep 2017 at 20:34

hornetstinger said:
What you're thinking about doing would get you sacked. When I was in IT support and a user did that you'd be out of the building. Especially since you work in NHS.

Dammit, I didn't realise it would be such a problem since we are allowed to connect our laptops directly into the hard wired network etc?

Spuddy · 26 Sep 2017 at 20:41

hornetstinger said:
Are the laptops supplied by the IT dept? I find it unusual you are allowed to bring your own personal laptops and connect to the NHS network (wired or wireless)

What you are thinking of doing is opening up an unauthorised wifi hotspot.

No, the laptops are our own personal machines. For example I take my own MacBook in with me everyday as do most people.

d_brennen said:
"And that's how the malware got in..." Have a chat with your IT and see what they can do. DIY in somewhere like the NHS will only go badly, for multiple reasons (not that I have any faith in either the in house guys or contractors)

Haha yeah it might be best going to chat with them thanks.

d_brennen said:
How will the Pi authenticate?

As far as Im aware it wont need to, our laptops plug into the wired network and just 'work' without any sort of authentication? Perhaps the internet in that building is a separate entity to the main hospital network as I doubt it is ever used for accessing patient records or similar.