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Utilize wireless(wi-fi) type products for customers? |
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Written by Kory Mohr
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Friday, 02 March 2007 |
"I've encountered several obstacles where clients wish to use their wireless equipped laptops, or other desktop machines, with their new Internet connections throughout the homes. I've mostly wired these types of setups but some are just not realistic or the owner doesn't want any additional holes etc. My initial network is built on 802.11b/g. I already see alot of these types of soho routers/APs in homes from my own APs. Is it a bad idea to install a soho type router/AP at a clients home to share the connection? I obviously choose a different channel than the CPE installed but the devices do propagate fairly well?
Any thoughts?
Oh and in addtion, I stopped by RadioShack the other day for some other supplies and noticed a 15dbi "corner" antenna system.  This operated in the 802.11b/g arena and equated to a small sector like antenna. This could be a huge issue to come???"
ponline:
I had few clients that wanted wireless in their home so they can have mobility with their laptops, or they didn't wanted wholes in their house.
I sold them an extra AP, and connected it to the CPE.
From the first day i only had only problems with those clients. Different issues, lap top wireless disabled, wrong ssid choose etc etc etc.
Its difficult to deal with those incapable costumers. I had them bring to me his lap top twice to enable his wireless nic.
I had a thousands of calls from those costumers, and when i couldn't take it anymore, I told them the AP i sold you is BAD, bring it to me and i will refund it.
I recommended them to buy wireless routers somewhere else, and since then they complain to the store where they bought the wireless routers.
Since then i never do this service for my users, I they wish wireless mobility in their house install them the CPE test it with my laptop and recommend them to go by wireless routers somewhere else.
I like to keep it simple.
I have enough stupid clients that disable the LAN card on the regular basis, and they call because the internet is not working, I have to deal with them and walk them through the phone to enable their LAN, if they are really stupid it might cost me a truck roll just to go and enable them the LAN (they don't pay for this because they did nothing wrong as long as they are concerned). Imagine adding to this situation extra material where they can screw it up. No thanks.
Chele:
This is truly a double edged sword! If you DO NOT set up their wireless network, clients will do the most stupid things out of ignorance. Some think that more is better and crank up the power creating problems for you and themselves. The other side of the coin is, you set up their network. You have far more understanding than the average customer and realize that you need to use "just enough and maybe a tad more" that's it. With the latter scenario, ANY AND EVERY problem they have is yours. After all, YOU are the whiz that set it up  We do not use channel 6 in our POPs because that's the one set by default by most manufacturers, needless to say it's very contaminated in our area.
We have gone with the first scenario. We tell customers what brand of routers we have had good luck with and to secure the wireless, and we walk away! Our service calls have dropped drastically. We do help customers with any questions they might have, but they do realize we didn't set it up and as such, it's their problem not ours.
John Galt:
I would suggest PRINTED materials that instruct the sub how to do these things.
It is a bit of work to do so, but remember you only have to do it once and then it is "copy time".
Oh...don't forget to include a paragraph on there that spells out that if YOU have to do a truck roll to fix THEIR equipment, its gonna cost 'em.
Chele:
Yes, and staple it their foreheads 
Life is so much simpler now that we don't do local wireless networks!
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