Potential Work for a WIFI provider

[Shayd]

I am a trustee on our body corporate and we are looking to have a Wifi network put into our building.

We would be looking for a company to build a network within the building that would enable us to share a couple of bonded ADSL lines.
The network would be owned by us but we would sign some sort of support contract for managing the network.
We are not going to be reselling the network as it would be provided "free" to the tenants of the building.

The building is in the Northcliff area. If you know anyone who can do this or are a company who can provide this service please PM me with your details and we can arrange a meeting.

The building takes up approximately 3 acres is 286 units and has lots of foliage so this won't be a simple job.

 

[ambo]

Can I make a suggestion?

Why not fibre/CAT5?

Much of the hardware will cost the same, the installation will only be a slightly more labour intensive. The big difference is that you will probably spend a faction on support and callouts, your tenants will have much better quality of service and the infrastructure will have almost 100 times the available speed.

 

[Shayd]

The layout of the building doesn't lend itself to wired connections, we have already considered this.

 

[Shayd]

Was just thinking, pretty much any networking company who have wireless knowledge would be able to do this work.

 

[iCubed.Saajid]

Have you considered power line communications, where the electrical cabling is used to simultaneously carry data and normal electricity? Might be worth considering.

In an case, even with a wireless network, you're still gonna have to lay out some form of cabling for the backbone, unless you're planning to use wireless (WDS - bad idea!) for the backbone. I wouldn't get 286 units to run on a wireless backbone - you're looking for major headaches going forward.

Whichever (decent) supplier you get, they are going to push you to roll out fibre optic cabling for the backbone as a minimum, which I completely agree with.

I'd still recommend wired. Use fibre for the backbone network, and CAT5e for the internal wiring to each apartment. It WILL cost, but it will definitely be worth it. Especially in the long run. Eventually you will be able to replace the bonded ADSL lines with a high capacity fibre optic link, from either Telkom, Vodacom, MTN, iBurst or another provider. You could then neogotiate with your provider provider to get DSTV, IPTV, VoIP services, etc into the complex. Also, it would be awesome to play games on a wired network with people within the same complex.

Think long term. Don't go cheap - you'll just end up regretting it after a short while.

I don't believe you when you say the layout of the building doesn't lend itself to wired connections. Any decent networking company will be able to find a solution that works, and is neat.

If people then want wireless access within their own apartments, they can set up their own individual private wireless networks. The building-wide network and the ethernet point coming into each apartment will be viewed as a WAN connection.

I also think going for a free model is not going to work. You will get a few bandwidth hogs constantly hammering the connections, either downloading porn, music or videos. This will cause the service to become slow and poor for other users.

You need to think of a comprehensive solution. The initial capital outlay should come from levies, collected over a few months or a year. 286 units times R1000 = R286,000. A decent amount to start off with, but not nearly enough, IMO.

If you're gonna do it, do it properly first time, and think of a funding model. Call in the experts to help you out with this - get several different providers to meet with you, propose solutiosn, and present quotations, and take a decision from there.

Wireless is K*K. Try to avoid it, especially for such a big development.

 

[ambo]

Wireless is K*K. Try to avoid it, especially for such a big development.

You will loose more money from unhappy users and support costs than you will ever save by going for wireless.

 

[Shayd]

Guys I appreciate the advice but giving advice without seeing the complex isn't going to help. The building is 2 stories and spread around a massive grassed area. At this point I just want somebody to contact me re the network itself.

I am happy for them to provide us advice but only after seeing the layout of the structure.

 

[iCubed.Saajid]

Guys I appreciate the advice but giving advice without seeing the complex isn't going to help.... .... I am happy for them to provide us advice but only after seeing the layout of the structure.

Well what do you expect when asking on an online forum?

Good luck. And we'd appreciate it if you post your findings here, so we can all learn from it. Community is about giving back as well...

 

[Shayd]

No problem... if someone can recommend a wifi networking company that would be great.

 

[UnUnOctium]

Can I make a suggestion?

Why not fibre/CAT5?

Much of the hardware will cost the same, the installation will only be a slightly more labour intensive. The big difference is that you will probably spend a faction on support and callouts, your tenants will have much better quality of service and the infrastructure will have almost 100 times the available speed.

The layout of the building doesn't lend itself to wired connections, we have already considered this.

Can I make another suggestion... Do you guys not have antenna outlets in every flat? I was thinking how it would be a nice solution to effectively develop a DOCSIS type of system but for LANs. Obviously if I it was viable and I had the time & capital I'd do it, but I don't

 

[Nerfherder]

We had a guy do this for out complex, the same area as you. Wireless is best in terms of initial cost and risk.

PM me and I will give you his details.