FlowBox Solo is an all-in-one guest WiFi appliance. It broadcasts its own WiFi network, runs the captive portal, and captures guest emails without needing any existing network infrastructure. If you have a router with a spare Ethernet port, you're ready to go.

Before you begin

You'll need:

Your FlowBox Solo device, USB-C power supply, and the Ethernet cable supplied in the box
A spare LAN port on your internet router
The device key from your welcome email or the setup card in the box (starts with FLOW-)
About 10 minutes

Step 1: Choose where to put it

Because FlowBox Solo broadcasts the guest WiFi itself, placement matters. A few tips:

Keep it close to your internet router (you'll need an Ethernet cable between them)
Position it near the seating area for the best guest coverage. Range is roughly 10 to 15 metres in typical indoor spaces
Avoid placing it inside a metal cabinet or behind thick walls
Off the floor is better than on the floor. A shelf, wall mount, or under-counter spot works well

Step 2: Plug it in

Connect the Ethernet cable from the FlowBox to a spare LAN port on your router
Plug in the USB-C power supply
Wait 2 to 3 minutes for the device to boot. You'll know it's ready when the green LED stays solid

Once it's booted, a new WiFi network will start broadcasting. The name was set before we shipped your device, so check your welcome email or setup card for the exact SSID. If you'd like it changed, contact support.

Step 3: Activate your FlowBox

Open the welcome email from CaptiveFlow and click the activation link, or go to captiveflow.co.uk/get-started and enter your device key manually
Create your CaptiveFlow account with an email and password
Confirm your email address by clicking the link we send you. That takes you back into the setup flow

Step 4: Complete the setup wizard

The wizard has four quick steps:

Organisation: the name of your business (e.g. "Blue Moon Hospitality")
Venue: the specific location this FlowBox is for (e.g. "Blue Moon Café, Derby")
Device confirmation: your FlowBox is detected and linked automatically
Done: you land on your dashboard

Step 5: Customise your portal

From the dashboard, open Portal Settings. You can:

Upload your logo (it's cached on the FlowBox, so it loads even before guests are online)
Set a welcome message and connect button text
Choose colours to match your brand
Choose what happens after a guest connects: nothing, a redirect, or a promo page with your social links
Turn on "Remember returning guests" to give repeat visitors a one-tap reconnect

Changes sync to the FlowBox within 5 minutes.

Step 6: Test it with a phone

On your phone, open WiFi settings and connect to your guest network
The portal should appear automatically within a few seconds
Enter an email address and tap Connect
Open a browser and check you can load a website

Back in your dashboard, the new guest will appear in Guests almost immediately.

Troubleshooting

The guest WiFi network isn't showing

Give it a full 3 minutes after powering on
Check the green LED is solid, not blinking
Move closer (within 5 metres) to rule out a range issue with your phone

Connected to the WiFi but the portal doesn't appear

Some devices don't trigger captive portal detection automatically. Open a browser and visit any non-HTTPS site (for example http://example.com) and the portal will load.

Portal appears but "no internet" after connecting

Check the FlowBox's own Ethernet cable is firmly seated at both ends
Try a different LAN port on your router
In the dashboard, check the FlowBox status shows as active

Device shows offline in the dashboard

Confirm Ethernet and power are both connected
Wait up to 5 minutes for the next heartbeat
If still offline, power cycle: unplug power for 10 seconds, then plug back in

"Device key not found" during activation

Double-check the key starts with FLOW- followed by 32 characters. Copy it directly from your welcome email to avoid typos.