[OPLINTECH] wireless network upgrade

[Ken Butler]

Steve, we just switched to Meraki for our wireless access last year and so
far I've been very pleased with it. They were offering a very good deal for
public libraries, which if I recall correctly was 5 years of licensing for
the cost of 1 year. Even with the cost of the new hardware, which was
substantial, this came out to be less than what we would have paid for our
old solution over the next 5 years (cloud management license only).

As for your specific questions:

   - Counting patron usage per location is very easy. Once per month I look
   up our monthly usage per location, both the number of unique clients and
   the total data transferred.
   - Yes, it offers an acceptable use splash screen. We have ours set up
   with a link to a page on our website that defines terms of use. You could
   put your entire terms of use on the splash page, but I didn't like the
   formatting on it, and when I tried changing the formatting, it didn't
   accept all HTML.
   - Since we switched, I have NEVER had to touch the units. The MR26 AP
   units that we have are the most reliable wireless APs I've seen so far, but
   at ~$600 each, they should be.

One thing that bugged me about the Meraki trial and purchase process: they
wanted a credit card on file before they would agree to send us hardware
and set up a trial. I understand the need to have some way to charge
customers for hardware when they fail to return it, but for a public
library or educational institution? I get that it's just their policy, but
it gives off a "we don't trust you to do the right thing if you decide to
not purchase the product" vibe. It ruffled some feathers here enough that
we almost didn't go through with the trial process.

I can't speak for the wireless products from Ubiquiti, but I've been less
than thrilled with the "AirCam" IP security cameras and the accompanying
AirVision software that we purchased from them. The server software falls
over weekly and needs reset, several cameras have died on us and needed
replaced, and on the whole, the entire system seems to have been abandoned
by Ubiquiti after their new UniFi line came out. It's all considered
"legacy" now, and it's less than 5 years old. To their credit, I've heard
good things about UniFi, and their wireless APs are dirt cheap, but with
how important wireless internet access has become to our patrons, I'm
willing to pay a bit more for better reliability and less headaches on my
end.


On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 12:33 PM, Steve Maze <mazest at rodmanlibrary.com>
wrote:

> We are looking to upgrade our wireless network at our main location and
> branch.  What wireless solution is your library using?  Are you able to
> easily count wireless patrons?  Does it offer an acceptable use splash
> screen?  How reliable is your setup?  We currently use a Sonicwall solution
> and are interested in hearing from libraries that use Meraki, Ubiquiti, or
> Aruba solutions.
> Thank you.
> Steve
>
> --
> Steve Maze                mazest at rodmanlibrary.com
> Systems Technician
> Rodman Public Library     voice: 330-821-2665
> 215 E. Broadway Street    fax: 330-821-5053
> Alliance, OH 44601        http://www.rodmanlibrary.com
>
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>


-- 
Ken Butler
hcotech at holmeslib.org
Head of Information Technology
Holmes County District Public Library
3102 Glen Drive
Millersburg, OH 44654
PH: 330-674-5972 ext 224
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