We have tried several vendors over the years but found a few years ago that "standardizing" to one vendor was the best course of action. For us it was Mikrotik. Sure we still have a lot of Tranzeo gear in the field and even a hundred or so CB3's that still go strong on customer's roofs, but everything in the air is MT. It really doesn't matter what brand of gear you go with, but standardization makes things really easy. I do carry a few of each board that I use as spares, but I'd say I have less than a couple thousand worth of backup gear. Regardless of the board actually deployed, I can "get by" temporarily on just about anything in the lineup. Also, virtual AP has saved my but a few times being able to add a VAP to the other sectors on a tower to keep most of my customers up and running. I'd say go with a brand that has a lot of versatility whtether it is MT, Star OS, or whatever and stick with it. Having a hodge-podge of equipment out there is asking for trouble.
Cameron > Although, I think its a good suggestion and relevent thread to discuss > "planning for emergency repair", I think some people forget that all WISPs > are not at teh same level financially. > And the best way to grow financially is to add clients as fast as > possible. > Buying hot spares for everything is not realistic for everyone, with all > the > various products out there that might have been used on a network. And > then > what do you do when multiple radios fail in a short proximity of time from > each other (like a day or two, before having time to reorder). Or what > when > multiple radios on a tower get trashed at once. Is it reality to afford 3 > hot spares of a specific type in case the complete tower gets hit with > Lightning? I'd argue not. > > Lets just look at name brand PtMP APs, if a WISP tried various product > manufacturers at multiple freuencies over the years... I'd be close to > $50K > of capitol tied up with just APs. Thats like atleast quadrupal some WISP's > operating capitol or cash flow. Or then consider OEM systems, where every > MB > is a different size, has a different number of slots, and cases are made > for > minimum fit. > > What we do instead is try to plan for alternate ways to solve the problem. > For example.... > > An antenna change. If you have two 60 deg sectors, a 120 sector antenna > on > hand can allow you to have one AP cover the load of teh other failing one, > in an emergency with a quick antenna change. An antenna spare will work > for > ANY brand manufacturer. > > Or in 3 sector deployments add a fourth that is an Omni. Then some of teh > nearfield customers can use the Omni, and the Omni radio can be > reconfigured > to handle any of the sectors that fail. > (Maybe not all clients from the sector, but atleast some of them with > better > link budgets). > > Or one Tlink45-ext PTP in stock. A Tlink can run on any freq and any pol, > and real good to substitute in for just about link that might fail > creating > an emergency. > > Or we always keep one generic OEM system, that has a large case (like the > Ligowave quad inclosures, forget brand name), that will fit ANY size SBC > Mainboard. > So what ever SBC we can get in a pinch locally, we'll have a way to mount > it, if it doesn't fit in onsite case. > > I try and keep hot spares for my primary products, but thats not always > good > enough. > > Being able to rely on local vendors, quick response remote vendors, and > other neighborly WISPs is key to address this problem. > > Tom DeReggi > RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc > IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Faisal Imtiaz" <fai...@snappydsl.net> > To: "'WISPA General List'" <wireless@wispa.org> > Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:38 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] URGENT need contact for Mikrotik Parts > nearsouthwestOhio > > >> Josh, >> >> What Travis and others are suggesting is really a "Best Practice" issue. >> Keeping Spares on-hand is commonly practiced in the industry (all of >> Telecom)... >> >> Before one does any kind of deployment, one has to consider "How am I >> going >> to deal with Emergency Situations ?". >> >> There are a number of ways to 'skin this cat' !..... >> >> You can always keep exact spares on hand..... (We hardly every buy qty 1 >> of >> anything... ) >> You can always keep 'equivalent' spares on hand... Would allow you to >> swap >> out stuff on a temp or permanent basis. >> >> The key point is to be aware of your 'in-service' equipment, and >> 'spares' >> inventory, and evaluate on a regular periodic basis. >> >> My only other addition would be ...... Test you Spares.....don't assume >> that >> because they are new, they are all working !! >> >> Good Luck. >> >> >> Faisal Imtiaz >> SnappyDSL.net >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: wireless-boun...@wispa.org [mailto:wireless-boun...@wispa.org] On >> Behalf Of Josh Luthman >> Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:28 PM >> To: WISPA General List >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] URGENT need contact for Mikrotik Parts near >> southwestOhio >> >> Travis, >> >> Absolutely excellent idea/point. I will definitely use that after this >> weekend... >> >> What happens if you can't buy spares anymore? I'm planning on just >> swapping >> them with all new stuff :( >> >> On 7/12/09, Travis Johnson <t...@ida.net> wrote: >>> I understand, and I've been there before... however, now when we buy >>> anything (new router, core switch, backhaul, etc.) we always buy a >>> "spare" >>> as part of the purchase price. If we can't afford the spare, we don't >>> buy the original part. >>> >>> Travis >>> Microserv >>> >>> Josh Luthman wrote: >>>> >>>> In a perfect world I would definitely do that. We have one service >>>> vehicle, a second soon, but it sure is hard to hold onto thousands of >>>> gear in a truck/shelf =/ >>>> >>>> Josh Luthman >>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>> Suite 1337 >>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>> >>>> "When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however >>>> improbable, must be the truth." >>>> --- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle >>>> >>>> >>>> On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 1:49 PM, RickG <rgunder...@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Amen to that! -RickG >>>>> >>>>> On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 11:34 AM, Travis Johnson<t...@ida.net> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh, >>>>>> >>>>>> You may want to consider having "spares" of this equipment on hand >>>>>> for future problems. We keep enough spares to replace an entire >>>>>> tower >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> (licensed >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> backhaul, AP's, UPS, rebooters, etc.) in our tower truck, and we >>>>>> still >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> have >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> enough extra stuff at the office for more repairs if needed. >>>>>> >>>>>> Travis >>>>>> Microserv >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh Luthman wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Tom at Roc Noc got me taken care of. 13 hours of driving later I >>>>>> got my units ready to be placed on the tower tomorrow. >>>>>> >>>>>> Tom - once again, thank you very very much. >>>>>> >>>>>> I am going to sleep for a couple hours and then fix this >>>>>> catastrophe. >>>>>> >>>>>> P.S. someone crashed and died in the fog just west of Richmond. My >>>>>> heart goes out to their family and friends. >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>> >>>>>> "When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, >>>>>> however improbable, must be the truth." >>>>>> --- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Jul 11, 2009 at 3:01 PM, Josh >>>>>> Luthman<j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> So I wake up with thunder shaking the house and 3 minutes later, >>>>>> text messages start blowing up my phone. I lost two out of three >>>>>> AN50 ODUs and 3 of 3 433ah boards. Two Trango 5800 APs survive >>>>>> (though one needed a new poe). The 493 concentrator/switch lost >>>>>> some >> ports, too. >>>>>> >>>>>> If anyone has mobile numbers for anyone at Roc Noc or Quicklink >>>>>> Wireless I would greatly appreciate you providing me (offlist) with >>>>>> getting a hold of them. >>>>>> >>>>>> I'm about 2 hours from Quicklink and 6 hous from Roc Noc. >>>>>> >>>>>> If anyone knows of a MikroTik vendor near south west Ohio besides >>>>>> these two I would appreciate knowing about them, too, and would >>>>>> love to get a hold of them this weekend. >>>>>> >>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>> >>>>>> "When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, >>>>>> however improbable, must be the truth." >>>>>> --- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>> >>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>> >>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>> >>>>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> ------------ >>>>> >>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>> >>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>> >>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> ----------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> ----------- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>> >>>> >> >> >> -- >> Josh Luthman >> Office: 937-552-2340 >> Direct: 937-552-2343 >> 1100 Wayne St >> Suite 1337 >> Troy, OH 45373 >> >> "When you have eliminated the impossible, that which remains, however >> improbable, must be the truth." >> --- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle >> >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ---- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> ---- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >> >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/
