What is PisoFi WiFi software?
PisoFi WiFi software is management software for coin-operated WiFi hotspot machines in the Philippines. It runs on a small board such as a Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi, shows customers a captive portal and tracks every paid minute. Its makers have offered it since 2018 as a free Raspbian image plus a paid license.
PisoFi runs fully offline, and only the license validation goes online. That means the vendo keeps selling time even when the company’s servers are down. All computing happens on the board itself, which keeps the portal fast. We recommend it to owners who want one vendo that also sells charging and eload.
What is the official PisoFi website?
The official PisoFi website is pisofiph.com, spelled with ph before .com. It hosts the PisoFi blog, the PisoFi F.A.Qs, the official distributors list and the download link. Owners sign in to their account at dash.pisofiph.com.
The team also posts updates on its Facebook page PisoFiPh and tutorials on its YouTube channel PisoFi PH. The images, diagrams and sub vendo firmware sit in the PisoFi Release Google Drive folder linked from the homepage. We recommend downloading files only from these official channels.
What can a PisoFi vendo machine do?
A PisoFi vendo machine can sell WiFi, phone charging and mobile load from one coin box. The official feature list covers these tools:
- WiFi time and data lets customers buy minutes or megabytes per coin.
- The desktop (pisonet) client app runs PC rentals from the same vendo.
- A charging station option sells charging time through extra pins.
- Eload via Coins.ph sells mobile load from the owner’s own Coins.ph account.
- Sub vendo / multi-coinslot support adds extra coin slots around the main vendo.
- A bill acceptor takes paper bills with custom pulse settings.
- WiPass vouchers let owners sell printed time codes.
- The sales report shows daily and monthly earnings.
- Client speed limit, chat and client rewards help owners manage their customers.
- Ad blocking, PPPoE, port prioritization, tethering block and a speed test handle the network side.
How do you open the PisoFi portal?
You open the PisoFi portal by joining the vendo’s WiFi network and tapping the sign-in prompt your phone shows. That prompt is the captive portal, a login page that appears before you get internet. On a Raspberry Pi vendo, the default network name, or PisoFi SSID, is PisoFi, although owners can rename it.
The portal shows your remaining time and data, a connection indicator and the owner’s carousel banner. The Insert Coin and Go Online buttons on the same page start your paid session. Your session expiration depends on the owner’s settings, so check the timer after each payment.
Is the PisoFi portal at 10.0.0.1?
The PisoFi portal is at 10.0.0.1 on default setups, because 10.0.0.1 is the gateway IP of the vendo network. If the sign-in prompt does not appear, type 10.0.0.1 into your browser address bar while connected to the vendo WiFi.
Owners can customize the captive portal domain, so some portals show a name instead of the number. On a default setup, the PisoFi IP address opens the same portal behind that name. Type it exactly as 10.0.0.1, because typos like 10.0.0.0.1 or 10.0 0.1 will not load.
Why won’t the portal open?
The PisoFi portal usually won’t open because your phone is on mobile data, has no IP address yet, or uses its own DNS. Work through these fixes in order:
- Mobile data is on: Turn mobile data off so your phone uses only the vendo WiFi.
- Stuck on obtaining IP address: Forget the network and reconnect, since the vendo gives each device an IP lease when it joins.
- Private DNS is on: Switch it off, because the vendo uses its own DNS servers to show the portal.
- Your MAC address keeps changing: Keep the same WiFi privacy setting each visit, since MAC randomization makes the vendo see a new device.
Version 5.2.0 added a feature to auto-synchronize client time, which keeps your credit even when your phone changes its MAC address. Owners on older versions can use IP-MAC binding to hold each device to one address.
How do you insert coins on the portal?
You insert coins by tapping the Insert Coin button on the PisoFi portal, dropping your coins into the coin slot and tapping Go Online.
- Open the portal and tap Insert Coin.
- Drop your coins before the insert coin timer runs out.
- Check that the screen counts each coin, and listen for a sound if the owner turned on audio on insert coin.
- Tap Go Online once you reach the minimum inserted coin amount.
If there is no Insert Coin button, the owner may have switched it off for WiPass-only use, where customers pay with vouchers instead. Some owners also set an insert coin limiter with lock period, which locks the button for a set time. Ghost credits, where time appears without coins, come from wiring or pin settings that only the owner can fix.
How do you pause time on PisoFi?
You pause time on PisoFi by opening the portal on the same device you paid with and tapping the Pause button. Your countdown stops and the rest of your time stays saved. Tap resume when you want to browse again. The button only appears when the owner has turned pause on.
Owners switch PisoFi pause time on in the Wifi Options page of the Portal menu. They also set a maximum pause time and a pause time validity, so a paused session can expire if you leave it too long.
Why is PisoFi pause time not working?
PisoFi pause time is not working when the owner has switched pause off, because pause is an owner setting and not a customer feature. In that case the Pause button never shows on the portal, and only the owner can enable or disable pause time in the Wifi Options page of the Portal menu.
If the button shows but your time still runs out, an owner limit is usually the cause. You may have reached the maximum pause time, your paused session may have passed its pause time validity, or you may be using a different device than the one you paid with.
Auto pause works the other way around. When the owner turns on the option to pause users when not connected, your time freezes as soon as you leave the WiFi. Owners can also see the pause count of each client, so ask them to check your session if pause keeps failing.
How do you log in to the PisoFi admin panel?
You log in to the PisoFi admin panel by connecting to the vendo network and opening 10.0.0.1/admin in a browser.
- Join the PisoFi SSID or the renamed vendo WiFi.
- Type 10.0.0.1/admin in the browser address bar.
- Enter the admin username and password.
- Open System Status to check the device and the sales overview.
PisoFi admin login works from inside the vendo network, or remotely through ngrok once the owner sets it up. Owners can add co-admin accounts with their own permissions, so staff never need the main password. Version 5.2.0 also added a show password option on the login screen.
What is the default PisoFi admin password?
The default PisoFi admin password is admin12345, and the default username is administrator. Both details come from the official build guide on pisofiph.com.
We recommend changing the default password right after your first login. Anyone on your WiFi can open 10.0.0.1/admin, so a default password puts your rates and sales at risk. The default username and password are for owners only, and customers never need them to buy time.
How do you reset a forgotten admin password?
You reset a forgotten PisoFi admin password by asking PisoFi support or your distributor, because PisoFi has no official reset guide. If you forgot the password after changing it, message the Facebook page PisoFiPh or call the distributor who sold your license.
The last option is a reflash, which writes a fresh image to the SD card and wipes your settings. A fresh image brings back the default login, but your rates, banners and sales are gone. If you saved a file with backup and restore earlier, import it to bring your data back, then check that the login still works.
How do you change the portal design?
You change the PisoFi portal design from the Portal section of the admin panel, where you edit the site name, tag line and banners. Owners upload custom banners with captions, and the portal shows them as a carousel banner.
A full custom portal uses CSS customization, so you need basic CSS knowledge. You can also turn insert coin audio on or off, and pick admin panel skins that change how your own admin side looks. We recommend keeping the Insert Coin and Pause buttons large, so they stay easy to tap on a phone screen.
How do you change coin rates?
You change coin rates in PisoFi from the Rates menu of the admin panel. There you set the default rate per piso and add custom rates with a description that customers see on the portal.
PisoFi rates come as separate rates for WiFi, desktop and charging, and WiFi rates can sell time and data. Speed sits under Settings, where global bandwidth caps the whole machine and user minimum and maximum bandwidth limits each customer. We recommend setting both a rate and a speed cap, so one user cannot slow down everyone else.
How do you log in to the PisoFi dashboard?
You log in to the PisoFi dashboard at dash.pisofiph.com with your PisoFi account details. The dashboard is online, unlike the 10.0.0.1/admin panel that runs on the vendo itself.
The Devices tab lists every registered vendo, and the licenses section holds every license you bought. Ownership Transfers shows devices you send to or receive from other owners. Images older than 4.2.1 also need the code from the Access Token tab pasted into the vendo.
How do you download and install PisoFi software?
You download and install PisoFi software by getting the image from pisofiph.com, flashing it to an SD card and registering the device.
- Download the image for your board from the PisoFi Release Google Drive folder, which the homepage calls the Raspbian image.
- Flash it to a 16GB SD card.
- Boot the board and join the PisoFi SSID, or your router’s WiFi on an Orange Pi.
- Open 10.0.0.1/admin and log in with the default details.
- Click Register Device and sign in to your pisofiph.com account.
- Click Assign a License, or request the 14-day free trial.
- Reload the Device tab to see your portal buttons.
PisoFi setup needs a free account at pisofiph.com before step 5. The trial has no limits, so you can test every feature and your wiring before you pay.
How do you flash the PisoFi image to an SD card?
You flash the PisoFi image to an SD card with Win32DiskImager, the tool named in the official build guide.
- Insert the microSD card into your computer with a card reader.
- Open Win32DiskImager and select the image file.
- Choose the drive letter of your SD card and click Write.
- Put the card in the board and power it on.
Raspberry Pi Imager also works, and Makerlab uses it in its Raspberry Pi 4B build guide. To reflash, repeat the same steps, but back up first because a fresh image wipes your settings. If you keep getting a corrupted SD card, the PisoFi F.A.Qs suggest switching to a brand-new SanDisk Ultra card.
Which boards does PisoFi run on?
PisoFi runs on Raspberry Pi B models, the Raspberry Pi 4B, the Orange Pi One, the Orange Pi PC and the Orange Pi 5, based on the official build guide and release notes.
| Board | Supported | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi B models | Yes | Built-in WiFi can act as the access point |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | Yes | Uses a dedicated Raspberry Pi 4 image |
| Orange Pi One | Yes | Needs a USB-to-Ethernet adapter and an external access point in AP mode |
| Orange Pi PC | Yes | Same setup as the Orange Pi One |
| Orange Pi 5 | Yes, since 4.8.8 | Uses a dedicated image released separately |
| Custom board | Depends on the build | Quality varies by maker |
The Raspberry Pi 4 and Orange Pi 5 need their own image files, so check the file name before you flash. A custom board joins the coin slot and the Pi through one board, but the PisoFi F.A.Qs link bad board designs to repeated SD card damage.
What does the PisoFi wiring diagram show?
The PisoFi wiring diagram shows how the coin acceptor, power supply and board connect, and the official PisoFi Drive shares it as a PDF. The build guide lists these parts:
- #### A coin acceptor (universal or single coin) reads each coin.
- #### A 12V 2A power adapter, as a minimum, powers the coin slot.
- #### A 5V 3A buck converter steps the 12V line down for the board.
- #### Dupont wires carry the signals between the parts.
- #### A 330 ohm resistor and an optional 5mm LED complete the parts list.
After wiring, open the Pin Configuration tab in the Settings menu and match each GPIO pin to your real connections. Click Reset Pins if the settings do not match the diagram.
Each coin problem has its own wiring fix in the Pisofi FAQ. Ghost credits come from a coin slot not set to normally open (NO) or from loose connections. Coins that do not credit come from missing common ground between the coin slot and the board. A coin slot that accepts coins without a tap comes from the wrong relay module active low or high logic.
How do you set up the VLAN ID?
You set up the PisoFi VLAN ID in the network interface manager, which arrived in version 5.0.0. There you create a VLAN on the vendo’s network port. The same VLAN ID must also exist on your VLAN-capable switch, so each access point joins the right network.
The manager handles four interface types, which are bridge, VLAN, LAN and WLAN. VLAN setup is useful for auto select sub-vendo, and the PPPoE feature also needs VLAN support on your switch. We recommend writing down each VLAN ID and the access point it serves before you start.
How do you update to the latest version?
You update PisoFi to the latest version from the Update menu in the admin panel, which installs each release as an OTA update. It previews the changes first. The newest full release on the PisoFi Releases page is version 5.2.0, from November 2024, and the same page holds the changelog for every release.
| Version | Date | What it added |
|---|---|---|
| 5.2.0 | Nov 7, 2024 | Auto-synchronize client time, show password on admin login |
| 5.0.0-Beta | Dec 3, 2023 | Auto select sub-vendo, network interface manager |
| 4.8.8 | Mar 28, 2023 | Insert coin logs, IP-MAC binding, Orange Pi 5 support |
| Lite 3.8.1 | Jan 11, 2022 | Device ownership check, session synchronizer |
| 4.8.7 | Nov 7, 2021 | Client rewards, eload promo top-ups |
Make a backup before any firmware change. Small fixes arrive through the Patch Manager, and the System Checker in the Tools menu installs the latest system patch.
How do you set up a sub vendo?
You set up a PisoFi sub vendo by loading NodeMCU firmware onto an ESP8266 module and wiring it to a second coin slot. Then you manage it under Vendos in the admin panel, where you name it, set its pins and enable it. A sub vendo is the multi-coinslot feature, which places extra coin slots or charging stations inside the main vendo’s WiFi range.
The firmware sits in the Sub Vendo Firmware folder of the official Drive. Each sub vendo needs a ₱300 sub vendo credit on top of the main license. Version 5.0.0 added auto select sub-vendo, which works with VLANs on the network.
How much is a PisoFi license?
A PisoFi license costs ₱1,000 for each main vendo, based on the official SRP in the PisoFi F.A.Qs. Sub vendo and desktop credits cost ₱300 each.
| Item | Official SRP |
|---|---|
| Main vendo license | ₱1,000 |
| Sub vendo credit | ₱300 |
| Desktop credit | ₱300 |
| Trial | Free for 14 days |
| Charging and eload | Included with the license |
The license price at a distributor can differ from the SRP, so we recommend buying only from the official distributors list on pisofiph.com.A genuine license appears in your pisofiph.com account, and at least one official distributor sends it before you pay.
What is the difference between PisoFi Lite and Standard?
The difference between PisoFi Lite and Standard is which image each license works on. The Lite license works only on the Lite image, while the Standard license works on both the Lite image and the full version.
| License | Works on | Version line |
|---|---|---|
| Lite license | Lite image only | Lite 3.8.x |
| Standard license | Lite image and full version | Lite 3.8.x, full 4.8.x and 5.x |
Some features, such as PPPoE, are only in the full version. We recommend the Standard license if you plan to move to version 5 later, because a Lite license cannot run on the full image.
How do you buy and activate a license?
You buy a PisoFi license from an official distributor or the Facebook page PisoFiPh, then activate it from your pisofiph.com account.
- Contact a seller from the official distributors list, or message the Facebook page.
- Confirm the license appears in your pisofiph.com account.
- Click Register Device on the Device tab in the vendo admin panel.
- Open the device in your account and click Assign a License.
- Pick the right license type from the license picker and click OK.
The license and the device must sit in the same account. To test first, click request trial instead, and remove the trial license before you assign the paid one.
How do you transfer a license to a new board?
You transfer or revoke a PisoFi license by removing it from the old device with a revocation token, then assigning it to a new board in the same account.
- In your account, open the old device and click Remove License.
- Copy the revocation token.
- On the old vendo, run the System Checker in the Tools menu and open the Device tab, but do not click revalidate.
- Click the Revoke button and paste the token.
- Assign the license to the new board.
The Revoke button only appears on version 4.8.7, or Lite 3.8.1, and later, after the System Checker patch. Without the token, the license enters a 30-day temporary status, and revocations have a 5 devices per day limit.
A license from a defective board can still go to another board in the same account during that period. To sell a vendo, use Device Transfer of Ownership, which moves the device and its license to the buyer’s account once they confirm the email.
FAQs
Is there a PisoFi app?
There is no PisoFi app for customers, because the portal opens in your phone browser. Owners running PC rentals use the Desktop Client App for Windows.
Does PisoFi WiFi have a password?
PisoFi WiFi usually has no password, because customers pay at the portal instead. Owners can set or unset an internal AP WiFi password in settings.
How do you use a voucher code?
You use a voucher code by entering your WiPass code on the PisoFi portal. Some vouchers need a password, which the owner prints with the code.
Can you access PisoFi remotely?
You can access PisoFi remotely through ngrok remote access, which is the officially supported method. Each vendo needs its own ngrok account, set up at ngrok.com.
Is PisoFi free?
PisoFi is free to download and test for 14 days with full features. After the trial, each vendo needs a ₱1,000 license.
Final Thoughts
PisoFi software gives customers a simple portal at 10.0.0.1 and gives owners full control at 10.0.0.1/admin. Customers insert coins and pause time from the browser, while owners set rates, pause rules, licenses and updates from the admin panel.
Several questions in the PisoFi F.A.Qs on pisofiph.com come from owners dealing with hardware, such as ghost credits and corrupted SD cards. Careful wiring and a quality SD card prevent much of that trouble. When you buy, stick to the official distributors list, use the ₱1,000 SRP as your price check, and confirm the license appears in your pisofiph.com account.
If you own a vendo, change the default admin password today and check the Wifi Options page of the Portal menu so customers can pause. If you are building one, start the 14-day free trial before you buy a license.