UBNT gear definitely survives way better with shielded cable, it's not worth messing with unshielded.
On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 7:52 PM, Josh Luthman <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> wrote: > I can say Ubnt survives a LOT better with shielded cable. The last two > years went waaay better for customer gear. > > Josh Luthman > Office: 937-552-2340 > Direct: 937-552-2343 > 1100 Wayne St > Suite 1337 > Troy, OH 45373 > On Jan 6, 2015 8:41 PM, "Jeremy" <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> If you say so. As I said...there is a lot of debate on this subject. If >> you get an ESD it follows the path to ground through the POE and to earth >> ground. >> >> On Jan 6, 2015 6:34 PM, <cstann...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >>> Shielded cable is for protection against high-power RF interference, it >>> does not correctly protect from ESD as it leads inside the house. The >>> grounding on your tripod or mast is the protection from ESD and keeps >>> surges outside the house. >>> >>> ------------------------------ >>> *From: * Jeremy <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> >>> *Sender: * "Af" <af-boun...@afmug.com> >>> *Date: *Wed, 7 Jan 2015 01:29:25 +0000 >>> *To: *<af@afmug.com> >>> *ReplyTo: * af@afmug.com >>> *Subject: *Re: [AFMUG] New WISP >>> >>> Shielded cable with shielded connectors on every install. I recommend >>> Shireen on towers and installs. A lot of the guys use UBNT tough cable. >>> Whatever, just shield and ground. If you cut in wallplates (you >>> should...it is more professional), use shielded keystone jacks and shielded >>> patch cables. I use unshielded patch cables from the POE to the router. >>> This has saved a ton of routers and NICs from ESD because the path to >>> ground does not extend to the router. You may spend a bit more on supplies >>> but you will have less service calls. Opinions cary on this subject but I >>> have worked for a very large company that we all know and this practice >>> probably cut service calls after lightning storms by 20%. >>> >>> On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 6:24 PM, Jeremy <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I explain it like this: "Routers are made like light bulbs. They are >>>> pretty much engineered to fail. If you get one that lasts three years you >>>> are lucky. All routers lock up and need power cycled once in awhile. As >>>> they get older they start to need it regularly. When it gets to the point >>>> that you are power cycling your router all the time it is time to buy a new >>>> router. Don't spend $250 on a router because it will likely fail just as >>>> quickly as the $70 router." This has saved me so many issues. >>>> >>>> On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 6:21 PM, Jeremy <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>>> pwer? "power cycle" their router! >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 6:20 PM, Jeremy <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Yeah, seriously though. Cash flow statement is essential. MOST >>>>>> WISPs fail within three years because they don't make it to cash flow >>>>>> positive before they run out of operating capital. Do not underestimate >>>>>> your expenses. Track everything. TRAIN YOUR CUSTOMERS. If you have >>>>>> overages, bandwidth limitations, ect. let them know up front. Tell every >>>>>> customer to pwer their router if they don't have Internet (show them >>>>>> how), >>>>>> THEN call you if that doesn't work. This will save close to 90% of your >>>>>> calls. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Jan 6, 2015 at 6:13 PM, Ken Hohhof <af...@kwisp.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Not totally joking. Undercapitalization is a major mistake of >>>>>>> most startups including WISPs. You need money to make money. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Make a month-by-month plan for your first 2 years and do a cashflow >>>>>>> spreadsheet. Set targets for how many installs you plan to do each >>>>>>> month, >>>>>>> how much you revenue you will generate, how much you need to spend on >>>>>>> equipment and recurring expenses. Set milestones for when you can fund >>>>>>> growth from cashflow, when you have repaid your initial investment or >>>>>>> loans, when you need to add staff and will the money be there, etc. >>>>>>> Review >>>>>>> progress each month and adjust as necessary. But this will help you >>>>>>> avoid >>>>>>> being underfunded to achieve your goals, or not reaching profitability >>>>>>> in a >>>>>>> reasonable timeframe. It’s too easy starting out to use a simple >>>>>>> calculation like I’m paying $500/month for bandwidth and I charge $50 so >>>>>>> once I get to 10 customers I’m profitable. Then a year later you’re at >>>>>>> 100 >>>>>>> customers which seems like success, but you have maxed out your credit >>>>>>> cards and aren’t drawing a salary and can’t hire a full time installer, >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> you need major network upgrades and don’t have the cash. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Also while you don’t need to budget every penny, you need realistic >>>>>>> estimates of all your costs, not just the big, obvious ones. Like >>>>>>> assuming >>>>>>> you take credit cards, some of the revenue will go to processing fees >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> “discount”. You will have some bad debt from customers who don’t pay, >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> you will have some churn if only because people move, get divorced, and >>>>>>> die. You will go through supplies like cable and hardware for >>>>>>> installations, and you will spend a certain amount on maintenance. You >>>>>>> will have costs like insurance and lawyers and accountants and postage >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> utilities. At least come up with a rough number for these, and refine >>>>>>> based on experience. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> If you use your own vehicle, at least pay yourself the IRS standard >>>>>>> amount for mileage. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Find another WISP nearby and make an arrangement to cover for each >>>>>>> other in case of sickness or just so you can get away for a few days. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Decide what your business hours are and how to handle calls outside >>>>>>> business hours. Also decide on a way to notify customers if you have a >>>>>>> major outage so you aren’t answering the phone when you should be >>>>>>> working >>>>>>> on a problem. For example, a message on your voicemail. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Train your customers from day one. For example, let calls go to >>>>>>> voicemail after hours and call them back, or they will assume they can >>>>>>> call >>>>>>> any time of day or night. Or if you say you will suspend service when >>>>>>> payment is X days late, do it. If they never get to expecting things, >>>>>>> they >>>>>>> won’t be pissed off when you take them away. Like Trevor used to answer >>>>>>> his cellphone at all hours, now I have to call the office and leave a >>>>>>> message. Or the service has really gone downhill, I used to get 20 meg >>>>>>> speeds now I only get 10 (even though they are on a 5 meg plan). Or I >>>>>>> used >>>>>>> to wait 3 months and then pay up, now if I’m 5 days late, they cut me >>>>>>> off. >>>>>>> Better to set their expectations early. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> *From:* Jeremy <jeremysmi...@gmail.com> >>>>>>> *Sent:* Tuesday, January 06, 2015 6:34 PM >>>>>>> *To:* af@afmug.com >>>>>>> *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] New WISP >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Have a million dollars. Cash. >>>>>>> On Jan 6, 2015 5:23 PM, "Josh Luthman" <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Get a billing system. Powercode or whatever. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Don't finance customers that can't pay up front, wastes billing >>>>>>>> time instead of installing more customers. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Don't use your cell phone for the office. Get a hosted PBX. Close >>>>>>>> the shop so you don't get burnt out, have other people and or a call >>>>>>>> center. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>>>> On Jan 6, 2015 7:21 PM, "Trevor Bough" <trevorbo...@gmail.com> >>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Hi guys, long time listener, first time caller. I'm looking at >>>>>>>>> starting a new rural WISP and was wondering if you guys could share >>>>>>>>> some of >>>>>>>>> the things you wish you had known when you started out. Things to >>>>>>>>> absolutely stay away from, things that you didn't think of first, but >>>>>>>>> made >>>>>>>>> your life 10x easier, etc. Any info would be greatly appreciated! >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>
