Hotspot Software?

Hi

Have been approached by a client to take over their Hotel IT Infrastructure inc. coming up with a HotSpot solution. 10 Stories, 67 rooms. They do not necessarily require guests to be able to purchase time / usage using their credit cards, a simple voucher purchased at the from desk from staff is fine.

And have come up the following ideas;

1) Do the install myself (at as close to cost price as possible to the client for about R35K) using Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points (with Instant af POE converters), a Netgear FS726TP 24port POE Switch, and a PC running the Unifi Controller (or other) Software. Then include the running cost into the SLA to look after / maintain. For ISP I would start with a 4MBPS MWEB Business Uncapped / Unshaped Account.

With the above option I have three (that I have come up with) options for billing / monitoring;

1a) The Ubiquiti Controller Software itself can, out the box, print vouchers based on time only, (option to set quotas too looks set to hopefully be released soon) There is a hack that can do this but am reluctant to use in a production environment.

http://www.ubnt.com/unifi
http://forum.ubnt.com/showthread.php?t=50123 (mod)

1b) Antamedia HotSpot Software; a complete package with many options / feature inc being able to create / customize vouchers based on quota's as well as time. $599.00 / R4,952.53 for premium edition. Requires a PC running Windows acting as a Gateway. (Having the entire hotels internet running through / being dependent on a pc running Windows makes me a little nervous.)

http://www.antamedia.com/hotspot/v3/

1c) Mikrotik - I own a RB750GL and an RB411AR that I use for personal use and know my way round MT in a limited way. I believe MT can do all the above but require some in depth know how. (http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:User_Manager) An option I'm prepared to explore further if it proves the best option.

2) Outsource the operation to a company specializing in HotSpot deployment / management. Best Ive come across so far is Always On. http://www.alwayson.co.za/

From what I gather Always On (Internet Solutions) take a 4mbps line, allocate 1mb (or more depending on request) to free use for guests while the Staff / paying guests make use of the remainder of the line. For this they charge the Hotel +- R2000 pm (ADSL line excluded, 24 month contract with Always On required.) This seems a good option for the Hotel as there is no Capital Expenditure required and less to worry about for me in terms of having supporting it.

I like the idea of setting up options 1a,b,c as enjoy a challenge but at the same time need to choose the best option for both the Hotel and myself.

Any thoughts / ideas very welcome :)

Thanks
 
Last edited:
jlct021 said:
Hi

Have been approached by a client to take over their Hotel IT Infrastructure inc. coming up with a HotSpot solution. 10 Stories, 67 rooms. They do not necessarily require guests to be able to purchase time / usage using their credit cards, a simple voucher purchased at the from desk from staff is fine.

And have come up the following ideas;

1) Do the install myself (at as close to cost price as possible to the client for about R35K) using Ubiquiti Unifi Access Points (with Instant af POE converters), a Netgear FS726TP 24port POE Switch, and a PC running the Unifi Controller (or other) Software. Then include the running cost into the SLA to look after / maintain. For ISP I would start with a 4MBPS MWEB Business Uncapped / Unshaped Account.

With the above option I have three (that I have come up with) options for billing / monitoring;

1a) The Ubiquiti Controller Software itself can, out the box, print vouchers based on time only, (option to set quotas too looks set to hopefully be released soon) There is a hack that can do this but am reluctant to use in a production environment.

http://www.ubnt.com/unifi
http://forum.ubnt.com/showthread.php?t=50123 (mod)

1b) Antamedia HotSpot Software; a complete package with many options / feature inc being able to create / customize vouchers based on quota's as well as time. $599.00 / R4,952.53 for premium edition. Requires a PC running Windows acting as a Gateway. (Having the entire hotels internet running through / being dependent on a pc running Windows makes me a little nervous.)

http://www.antamedia.com/hotspot/v3/

1c) Mikrotik - I own a RB750GL and an RB411AR that I use for personal use and know my way round MT in a limited way. I believe MT can do all the above but require some in depth know how. (http://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:User_Manager) An option I'm prepared to explore further if it proves the best option.

2) Outsource the operation to a company specializing in HotSpot deployment / management. Best Ive come across so far is Always On. http://www.alwayson.co.za/

From what I gather Always On (Internet Solutions) take a 4mbps line, allocate 1mb (or more depending on request) to free use for guests while the Staff / paying guests make use of the remainder of the line. For this they charge the Hotel +- R2000 pm (ADSL line excluded, 24 month contract with Always On required.) This seems a good option for the Hotel as there is no Capital Expenditure required and less to worry about for me in terms of having supporting it.

I like the idea of setting up options 1a,b,c as enjoy a challenge but at the same time need to choose the best option for both the Hotel and myself.

Any thoughts / ideas very welcome :)

Thanks













Thanks
Click to expand...

67 rooms on a 4Mbps connection is a tall order. Maybe bridge a couple of 4Mbps connections and see how that goes - what is the occupancy rate of the hotel? If it's more than 75% you want 4 x 4Mbps connections at least, or if the areas has it, a couple of 10Mbps connections.
 
FlatspinZA said:
67 rooms on a 4Mbps connection is a tall order. Maybe bridge a couple of 4Mbps connections and see how that goes - what is the occupancy rate of the hotel? If it's more than 75% you want 4 x 4Mbps connections at least, or if the areas has it, a couple of 10Mbps connections.
Click to expand...

Actually I was considering Neotels NeoBroadband Fibre 5MBPS for R5100 for which (Neotel) say they can provide to the location in question. http://www.neotel.co.za/wps/portal/n...broadbandfibre

However have heard / read mixed reports re their support (still best efforts / no SLA) so thought of going with MWEB Business Uncapped / Unshaped 4MBPS to start with and up it to 10MBPS (R3359) if need be. Occupancy is not generally above 75% though if going to go ahead with this I'd rather do so with an ISP solution that can handle anything that may be thrown at it. (or not at all)

At R5100 (fibre) am not sure the Hotel will go for it with "all in one" options such as those offered by Always On etc, same (price wise) goes for bonding 4 or more ADSL lines I reckon...

Though it does make me wonder how Always on are so confident 1x4MBPS line will suffice for their setup...
 
Last edited:
jlct021 said:
Actually I was considering Neotels NeoBroadband Fibre 5MBPS for R5100 for which (Neotel) say they can provide to the location in question. http://www.neotel.co.za/wps/portal/n...broadbandfibre

However have heard / read mixed reports re their support (still best efforts / no SLA) so thought of going with MWEB Business Uncapped / Unshaped 4MBPS to start with and up it to 10MBPS (R3359) if need be. Occupancy is not generally above 75% though if going to go ahead with this I'd rather do so with an ISP solution that can handle anything that may be thrown at it. (or not at all)

At R5100 (fibre) am not sure the Hotel will go for it with "all in one" options such as those offered by Always On etc, same (price wise) goes for bonding 4 or more ADSL lines I reckon...

Though it does make me wonder how Always on are so confident 1x4MBPS line will suffice for their setup...
Click to expand...

I have done work for hotels and they are very cost conscious. Bonding a few 4Mbps uncapped DSL lines is going to be your best bet. As for 'always on', forget it. Don't even think about business DSL - rather get the line direct and choose the home package from Mweb. It's a hotel - is it 5 star? If it's 5 star you want the best, but anything less and you can get away with downtime because of where we live. In general your normal ADSL service runs 95% of the time, so don't fork out the extra for the other 5%.
 
FlatspinZA said:
I have done work for hotels and they are very cost conscious. Bonding a few 4Mbps uncapped DSL lines is going to be your best bet. As for 'always on', forget it. Don't even think about business DSL - rather get the line direct and choose the home package from Mweb. It's a hotel - is it 5 star? If it's 5 star you want the best, but anything less and you can get away with downtime because of where we live. In general your normal ADSL service runs 95% of the time, so don't fork out the extra for the other 5%.
Click to expand...

Yes cost is a factor here.

May I ask why you say forget Always On as an outsourced option and Business DSL if doing it myself?

I only see option for bonding under business section (MWEB), can one use home uncapped on bonded lines?

Its 3 star so yeah, could get away with more given this I guess.
 
Cost is your main consideration, and from what I know about hotels you need the most cost effective solution.

Your router determines your bonding capabilities, not your ISP.

To make it simpler, why not split your DSL modems across the floors - No bonding required?

I know we would all like to offer the Rolls Royce, but practicality forces us to institute measures that save money. The cheaper you make the solution that is out of your hands, the more you can charge for the service that is in your hands.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X