JuanFi Guide: MikroTik Setup, Operator Scripts, and When to Choose It

Up: Platforms Compared · Related: LPB Guide · AdoPiSoft Guide

JuanFi is an open source Piso WiFi system built around MikroTik hardware. This guide is the depth page for JuanFi only. The Platforms Compared pillar gives the comparison across platforms. The Pause Time pillar gives pause rules across platforms. This page does not repeat those guides in full. It explains how JuanFi differs from a commercial platform, how a MikroTik based setup is planned, why pause and portal behaviour vary by build, and when JuanFi is a good choice and when it is not.

JuanFi suits an experienced builder who already uses MikroTik hardware, who is comfortable reading community guides and configuring hotspot scripts, and who wants lower software cost in return for more setup work. It does not suit a first machine owner who wants a supplier to fix problems by phone, and it does not suit an owner who wants a single standard portal and a single support desk.

What JuanFi Is, and What It Is Not

JuanFi is not a single commercial product with one licence, one portal, and one support team. It is a hotspot system that operators configure themselves, often with a MikroTik router as the core, using community guides and scripts. That open nature is both the advantage and the risk. An operator can customise rates, portal behaviour, and session handling to fit a specific location, but an operator must also test and maintain that custom setup, because no company will do it for them.

Open source cost, and the real costs that remain

Open source means there is no single commercial licence fee for the JuanFi software itself in the usual setup. Hardware, internet, electricity, coin slot, enclosure, and your time still cost money. A builder who counts only software cost will underestimate the total cost of a JuanFi machine. Count hardware, a MikroTik device suitable for your user count, a coin acceptor, an access point if needed, a power supply, and the time to set up, test, and maintain the system. If you hire someone to build it, count that labour cost as well. The Business guide covers total cost factors, and this guide adds only the JuanFi point: low software cost does not mean low total cost.

No single support desk

Help for JuanFi comes from community guides, forums, and your own troubleshooting, not from one company. That means a problem at peak time will not be fixed by a support phone call unless you have a local technician who knows your build. Before you choose JuanFi, decide who will maintain it: you, a technician you trust, or a community contact who has built the same setup. Write down that maintenance plan, because a JuanFi machine with no maintainer will stay broken longer than a commercial machine with a support contract.

MikroTik Hardware: Planning the Core

MikroTik hardware is the core of a usual JuanFi build. The MikroTik device acts as the router and hotspot controller, handling user sessions, rates, and portal behaviour, while the coin slot and related hardware feed payment information into the system. The exact MikroTik model matters, because a model that handles a few users in a small shop may struggle with many simultaneous users in a busy location.

Choose hardware for peak users, not for average users

A shop that has 5 users on average but 30 users at peak needs hardware that handles 30 users, not 5. Check the MikroTik model specifications for user count, throughput, and hotspot performance, and test with the peak number of test devices you expect, not only with one phone. If you plan to add a sub vendo or a second access point later, choose hardware that can handle that expansion, rather than buying the cheapest model and replacing it after a busy week.

Network layout for a JuanFi build

A simple JuanFi layout has: internet source to MikroTik router, MikroTik router to access point and to coin hardware, and access point to customer devices. A more complex layout may add a separate access point for coverage, a switch for wired devices, or a second network for shop use. Plan the layout on paper before wiring: which port serves which purpose, which cable goes where, and how you will test each part separately. Label cables during setup, because a swapped cable is a common cause of a build that appears to work for one group and fails for another. Test the layout in stages: internet to MikroTik, MikroTik to access point, access point to customer device, and coin hardware to session credit, each separately, before you open to customers.

Operator Scripts: Why Behaviour Varies by Build

JuanFi behaviour varies by build because the operator configures the hotspot scripts. A script in this context is a set of instructions that tells the MikroTik system how to handle a session: how to start it, how to count time, how to pause it, how to handle a voucher, and how to expire it. Different operators write or adapt different scripts, so two JuanFi machines can behave differently even if they use the same MikroTik model.

Pause on JuanFi: check your own build, not a generic guide

Pause on JuanFi depends on how the operator configured the hotspot script. Some builds offer pause, some do not, and some offer pause with different limits or different button labels. A guide for one JuanFi build may not match yours. The owner action is specific: test pause on your own build as a customer, note whether pause is enabled, what the limit is, whether pause works for coin and voucher sessions, and what happens after expiry. State that tested rule on your sign, and do not copy a pause rule from another JuanFi guide without testing it on your build.

Portal, voucher, and rate behaviour on JuanFi

Portal layout, voucher handling, and rate calculation also vary by build. An operator may set a portal with a simple coin flow, or a portal with voucher, transfer, and other options, depending on the script and the setup. Voucher codes, if used, are set by the operator for that build, and a voucher for one JuanFi machine does not automatically work on another JuanFi machine. Rates are set by the operator, not by JuanFi as a fixed national price. If you buy a second hand JuanFi machine, ask the seller for the script or configuration notes, the rate settings, the pause settings, and the admin login details, and test every behaviour as a customer before you rely on it.

Script changes: test before you deploy

A script change that looks small can change session handling in a way that affects all customers. Before you apply a script change to a live machine, test it on a test setup or during a quiet period, with a small payment and a test device. Check: session start, timer, pause, resume, expiry, and voucher if used. Keep a copy of the working script and settings before you change them, so you can restore the previous version if the change fails. The Software Update post covers backup and rollback in general, and this guide adds the JuanFi point: for JuanFi, the script and configuration notes are the backup, so keep them with the machine records.

Admin Access on JuanFi

Admin access on JuanFi varies by build, because the admin panel, login method, and default credentials depend on how the operator set up the MikroTik system and the portal. This guide does not state a universal JuanFi default login, because no single default applies to all builds. Some operator reports give admin for some builds, but that is a build specific report, not a universal JuanFi default, so check the seller notes for your own build. That is deliberate, and it is different from commercial platforms where a default is reported in guides.

First steps for a new JuanFi owner

If you built the machine yourself, you already know the admin login you set. If you bought a machine from someone else, ask the seller for: admin login details, MikroTik login details if separate, script or configuration notes, rate settings, pause settings, and any backup files. Change admin passwords on first takeover, do not leave a previous owner password on a live machine, and do not write the new password on the machine. The Admin Login guide covers general admin safety and recovery, and the JuanFi specific point is: without the script and configuration notes, recovery after a reset will be harder, because you will need to rebuild the setup from scratch, not only restore a commercial platform backup.

Security for a MikroTik based hotspot

A MikroTik based hotspot needs the same basic security as any admin system: strong admin passwords, changed defaults, firmware updates where applicable, and limited access to the admin panel. Do not expose the admin panel to the public internet without a clear reason and proper access controls. Do not share admin access with staff who only need to check sales, unless your setup provides a limited access role for that purpose. Keep a note of who has admin access, and change passwords when a staff member or previous owner no longer needs access.

Building Versus Buying a JuanFi Machine

A JuanFi machine can be built from parts, or bought from a builder who has already configured it. Each path has a different risk.

Building it yourself

Building it yourself gives you full control and lower software cost, but it requires time, MikroTik knowledge, coin hardware knowledge, and testing. Budget time for: hardware assembly, MikroTik configuration, script setup, coin calibration, rate and pause testing, and a quiet period of test operation before opening. If you skip the test period, the first busy day will become the test period, with real customers affected.

Buying a prebuilt JuanFi machine

Buying a prebuilt machine saves setup time, but it creates a dependency on the builder for support and for script updates. Before you buy, ask the builder for: a written list of what is included, what is covered by support and for how long, whether script updates are included, whether the admin login will be handed over, and whether rates, pause, and voucher settings will be documented. Test the machine as a customer before you pay in full, with a small payment, a pause test if pause is offered, and a voucher test if vouchers are offered. A prebuilt machine without documentation is a risk, because a future problem will be harder to diagnose without knowing how it was configured.

When JuanFi Is the Right Choice, and When It Is Not

JuanFi is the right choice when: you already use MikroTik hardware, you are comfortable with community guides and script configuration, you want custom control over rates and portal behaviour, you have a maintenance plan, and you accept that support comes from community and your own skills, not from one company.

JuanFi is not the right choice when: this is your first machine and you want a supplier to fix problems by phone, you need a standard portal that customers already recognise, you need desktop timers and sub vendo features as the main reason for buying, or you do not have time to test and maintain a custom setup. In those cases, read the LPB guide, the AdoPiSoft guide, or the PisoFi guide, and compare them in the Platforms Compared pillar.

Frequently Asked Questions About JuanFi

Is JuanFi free?

The JuanFi software itself is open source in the usual setup, so there is no single commercial licence fee for the software. Hardware, internet, electricity, coin hardware, and your time still cost money, and a prebuilt machine from a builder will include labour and hardware costs. Do not judge JuanFi cost by software cost alone.

Why does my JuanFi machine behave differently from a JuanFi guide online?

Because JuanFi behaviour depends on the operator script and configuration for that build. Pause, portal layout, voucher handling, and rate calculation can differ between builds. Test your own build as a customer, and use the script and configuration notes for your machine as the source of truth, not a generic online guide.

Can I use JuanFi without any MikroTik experience?

You can learn MikroTik basics, but a live shop machine is not the best place to learn from scratch. Learn on a test setup first, or choose a commercial platform with support for your first machine, and return to JuanFi when you have the skills and a maintenance plan. A machine that is down during a busy period will cost more in lost customers than the time saved by skipping learning.

How do I back up a JuanFi machine?

Back up the script, the configuration notes, the rate settings, the pause settings, the admin login details in a safe place (not on the machine), and any MikroTik configuration export your setup provides. Test the backup by restoring it to a test setup or by checking that the notes are complete enough to rebuild the machine. The Software Update post covers backup and rollback in general.

Can I switch from JuanFi to a commercial platform later?

Yes, in general, by reinstalling software on the control board or replacing the control hardware, and setting rates, WiFi name, passwords, and pause rules again on the new platform. There is no universal migration tool that moves JuanFi script settings, vouchers, and sales history into a commercial platform in all cases. Back up your current settings and sales records before switching, and test the new platform with a small payment before opening.

Who do I contact if my JuanFi machine stops working?

Contact the person who built or maintains your machine first, because that person knows your script and configuration. If you built it yourself, use community guides and your own configuration notes to diagnose it, starting with the Troubleshooting guide. There is no single JuanFi support desk to contact for all builds.

What to Read Next

If you want the wider comparison, go to the Platforms Compared pillar. If you want to compare the main commercial platforms, go to the LPB vs AdoPiSoft post. If you need pause rules in full, go to the Pause Time pillar. If you need admin safety and recovery, go to the Admin Login guide. If you need update, backup, and rollback steps, go to the Piso WiFi Software Update post. If you need machine setup and parts, go to the Vendo pillar.