Documentation for every step of your hotspot journey

From sign-up to your first paying customer, one step at a time.

1. 1

   Sign up and get a free trial

   Where: siscohotspot.com → Start Free Trial

   • Fill in your name, business name, email, phone number and a password.
   • Under "What will you use the WiFi system for?" choose "Selling internet (hotspot)".
   • Create the account. You go straight to your dashboard; there is no e-mail to wait for.

   Tip: The trial is on the Starter plan (1 router). Pay for a plan before the trial ends to keep using the system.

2. 2

   Prepare your MikroTik router

   Where: On the router (WinBox)

   • Use a MikroTik with RouterOS 7 and the correct date and time.
   • Plug the internet cable into ether1 (WAN). Access points and switches for customers go on ether2 and the other ports.

   Tip: The connection command makes its own backup, then rebuilds the customer side (ether2 onwards): DHCP, DNS, hotspot and portal. Using TP-Link Omada (EAP) instead of MikroTik? Follow "TP-Link Omada Integration" below.

3. 3

   Add the router to the system

   Where: Dashboard → Add Router (or Routers → New)

   • Give the router a name, for example "Kariakoo shop".
   • Vendor: MikroTik. Leave the API fields empty; the next step fills them.
   • Press Create.
4. 4

   Connect the router with one command

   Where: Routers → your router → Connection Center

   • Press "Generate Complete Automatic Command", then "Copy command".
   • Open WinBox → New Terminal, paste the command and press Enter. Wait for it to finish (1 - 3 minutes).
   • Back on the website press "Verify Installation Completion" until you see INSTALL_COMPLETED.

   Tip: The command belongs to that router only, works once and expires after 15 minutes. If it expires, generate a new one.

5. 5

   Bring in the hotspot profiles

   Where: Routers → your router

   • Press "Sync All" (or "Sync Hotspot Profiles").
   • Check that a profile shows under Hotspot Profiles.

   Tip: The "Getting started" list on your dashboard ticks this step once a profile is found.

6. 6

   Create your packages

   Where: Packages → New

   • Name (e.g. "3 Hours") and type: time or data.
   • Selling Price, Duration, and Download / Upload Speed.
   • Shared Users / Devices: 1 stops people sharing one code.
   • Turn on "Package Active" and save.

   Tip: With "Start on First Login" on, the time starts when the customer first logs in, not when the voucher is printed.

7. 7

   Connect mobile money (optional)

   Where: Payment Gateways → New

   • Choose your provider: DaliPay or PalmPesa (both in daily use). ClickPesa, Selcom and AzamPay are also available; talk to us before you switch one on.
   • Enter the keys the provider gave you and save.
   • The portal now shows "Pay with these networks"; when a customer pays, their code switches on by itself.

   Tip: You can skip this: customers can still use the vouchers you print.

8. 8

   Create and print vouchers

   Where: Voucher Batches → New

   • Choose the Router, the Package and the Voucher Quantity, then save.
   • Open the batch, press "Print Vouchers" and pick a layout: A4, A5, thermal 80 / 58 mm or card.
   • Each voucher has the code on the left and the QR on the right. Cut them and sell them yourself or through agents.

   Tip: A4 suits a normal printer; thermal is for a receipt printer.

9. 9

   Make the portal your own

   Where: Menu → Portal look, and Menu → Announcements

   • Add a header photo, your colours, the portal name, a welcome message and your support phone.
   • Post an announcement (with a picture if you like); customers see it on the portal and on smart TVs.
10. 10

    Test as a customer, then start selling

    Where: Your phone

    • Join the hotspot WiFi; the portal opens by itself.
    • Type a voucher code (or pay for a package by phone) and press the connect button.
    • Your dashboard shows "Online Now", vouchers left and today's sales.

    Tip: If the portal does not open, visit http://neverssl.com in the browser.