we give an aire router right now, trying to find a comparable cost mikrotik since we went mikrotik on the network and theyre more versatile. We don't give them anything other than the essid and passkey We did just change the dump file to have a dmz assigned with a predefined reply giving them instructions for getting their device on the dmz the mikrotik user thing will be nice for giving them access to handle their own wireless and port forwards.
Otherwise theyre told to get their own router, we don't offer a recommendation because revisions break so much. And we tell them its their responsibility to contact the vendor or the retailer for configuration/installation/troubleshooting I wish devices were always sold with the same shipping revision firmware, then it would be easy to help, but with the bajillion revisions on the shelf, the last thing I want to ever do is walk a customer through loading a stable firmware into their gear On Wed, Oct 7, 2015 at 1:40 PM, Brett A Mansfield < li...@silverlakeinternet.com> wrote: > While that is true, it can be installed on a PC and is a LOT easier than a > web GUI. And it can configure many at once or one at a time. It can also > auto configure an extender for you in just two clicks. > > Thank you, > Brett A Mansfield > > On Oct 7, 2015, at 12:21 PM, Ken Hohhof <af...@kwisp.com> wrote: > > My guys hate the Apple routers because they can’t be configured from a web > GUI, you need the AirPort software on your computer. At least that’s what > they tell me. > > > *From:* Brett A Mansfield <li...@silverlakeinternet.com> > *Sent:* Wednesday, October 07, 2015 1:08 PM > *To:* af@afmug.com > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Consumer routers? > > For my customers that want me to sell them or manage their solution I > charge an extra $25 install fee and $5/mo. I use edgerouters as the router > and an airport express in bridge mode for the wireless. I can throw on as > many of the airports as needed to get the job done for an extra fee. > > It works really well. I haven't had any customer complaint with it. They > don't have to power cycle anything ever either. > > I buy the airport express in bulk refurbished direct from Apple. If they > don't have them refurbished I just buy new, but that hasn't happened yet. > > Thank you, > Brett A Mansfield > > On Oct 7, 2015, at 11:49 AM, Sterling Jacobson <sterl...@avative.net> > wrote: > > This is my biggest gripe right now. > > > > The more internet you provide to them, the worse this problem is. > > > > I think my contractors are selling mid-range $100 linksys routers. > > I’m not sure that’s the best thing. > > > > I too need to find a handful of routers that really get the job done right. > > > > I’ve noticed the Apple routers tend to be pretty good, especially if they > have Apple Ecosystem/devices. > > And apple extenders seem to work better with their apple environment and > are way easy for the customer to set up. > > > > Other than Apple, I usually recommend a router with external antennas. > > And TRY to get our people to NOT install the routers in the basement under > all the metal ducting, lol! > > > > Ideally they are installed on the main floor in a somewhat central > location. > > > > What I am considering is selling a NON-wireless router for our end point > inside the house near the clustered wiring. > > Then programming any router they get in BRIDGE mode. > > > > I still don’t like doing that because the router features are something > most of these people want anyways. > > > > But with my speeds I would almost just rather make sure they have a wired > Gigabit Ethernet router that I can manage and I know is capable, then let > them buy however many wireless routers they need to fill in gaps all over > their house (or, preferably, ONE powerful wireless router). > > > > I just don’t want to be stuck changing port forwarding crap etc. > > > > What I really wish was that a separate company would do this for a one > time, or monthly charge and handle all their router woes. > > > > > > > > *From:* Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com <af-boun...@afmug.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Glen Waldrop > *Sent:* Wednesday, October 7, 2015 11:39 AM > *To:* af@afmug.com > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Consumer routers? > > > > Thanks for the input guys. > > I was mostly looking at what to recommend. I'd rather help on occasion, > but my responsibility ends at the CAT5 coming out of the POE. > > I've been bouncing around the idea of a $5 a month managed RB951 2HnD or > something. > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Justin Wilson - MTIN <li...@mtin.net> > > *To:* af@afmug.com > > *Sent:* Wednesday, October 07, 2015 11:51 AM > > *Subject:* Re: [AFMUG] Consumer routers? > > > > My take on this is you have to look at what supporting a customer router > costs you in support and service calls. We have several clients who are > doing one of a couple things. > > > > Some are selling a managed router service for $X a month. This is > typically a Mikrotik the ISP has access to. The ISP sets up the wireless, > manages the router, and other such functions. This allows for a reference > point on the customer side for testing, etc. > > > > The other way to approach this is if you don’t want mess with router > configuration some folks are including a “modem” that is essentially a hAP > or 750. This is just in bridge mode or is the PPPOE client. The customer > then is free to plug in their own router if they so desire, but you still > have a reference point from the customer side. If you need a customer to > bypass their router you simply ask them to plug into port5 or whatever on > your “modem”. That port can be setup to do DHCP or whatever. > > > > You have to look at how much support consumer routers is costing you. > Many folks look at the cost of the routers and the cost to install them or > replace them. But if it cuts your support calls by 30% that might mean the > difference between hiring another person, or other “soft” costs. > > > > > > Justin Wilson > > j...@mtin.net > > > > --- > http://www.mtin.net Owner/CEO > > xISP Solutions- Consulting – Data Centers - Bandwidth > > http://www.midwest-ix.com COO/Chairman > > Internet Exchange - Peering - Distributed Fabric > > > > On Oct 7, 2015, at 11:58 AM, Glen Waldrop <gwl...@cngwireless.net> wrote: > > > > Are there any consumer routers that don't suck these days? > > I used to recommend Linksys/Cisco, but since the Belkin buyout quality > seems to be going down. They jink with teh firewall and I can't block > specific outgoing traffic, can't remote admin anymore, etc... > > > > -- If you only see yourself as part of the team but you don't see your team as part of yourself you have already failed as part of the team.
