All posts by Ron Wilhelm

Hotel Wireless Solutions

Hospitality Wireless case study:

Hotel Specs: The property consists of 5 floors, 58 rooms, café bar and restaurant and 2 meeting rooms. Guests were complaining that the wireless coverage was limited, connections and performance was erratic. Adding additional Wi-Fi access points (APs) was not an option because there was no way to extend ethernet cabling throughout the property. The client needed an innovative solution that would satisfy customers without disrupting business or breaking their capital budget.

SF WiFi gets the call – Project Requirements:

Wireless coverage throughout the entire hotel

Minimize the number of access points

Minimize, mitigate RF interference

Install AP’s where Ethernet can’t reach

Centralized and simplified management

Reduce install times

Self-configuring, self-tuning adaptive wireless

Reliable and stable with no support calls

Consistent performance

SF WiFi solution:

To work around and to minimize the need for additional ethernet cabling we designed a wireless mesh network. This design implements a WLAN managed mesh network to extend wireless coverage into difficult areas. This design limited the amount of cable required, reduced costs and simplified the installation.

Benefits:

Reduced capital costs by eliminating the need to run ethernet

Dependable Wi-Fi signal quality

Single Wi-Fi solution for entire hotel

Mesh design simplified AP placement (product feature)

Automatic interference avoidance (product feature)

Automatic failover and resiliency (product feature)

Wi-Fi coverage with fewer APs (product feature)

Utilized Power over Ethernet

One third the cost of “other” wireless product solutions

Contact SF WiFi

Credits: Denise Leong – Marketing

Security camera and wireless network installation

Event: The International Cannabis & Hemp Expo 2010
Project: Client booth setup

Details: SF WiFi installed a wireless network to distribute networking to client devices. We also setup a CCTV system with cameras, DVR and real time video display for the client to highlight specific product features on video display.

Mobile phones with WiFi on the increase

Mobile phones with WiFi capability has increased making up about one-quarter of Wi-Fi devices, and more smart mobile devices will soon offer 802.11n.

The number of smart phones shipped with WiFi jumped to 139.3 million in 2009, up from 92.5 million in 2008. It is expected that by 2014, 90 percent of all smart phones will have WiFi technology.

iPad WiFi: Does not automatically rejoin known WiFi networks

Symptoms:
Under certain conditions, iPad may not automatically rejoin a known WiFi network after restart or waking from sleep. This can occur with some third-party WiFi routers that are dual-band capable when:

* Using the same network name for each network
* Using different security settings for each network

More Info:

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS3304

Note: Always ensure that your WiFi router firmware is up to date.

SF WiFi April Newsletter

“By the time March turned into April, the whole woodland was dancing around to celebrate the new spring season – especially the lamb-like spring breeze that had once blown fierce as a lion in winter”. 

Noteworthy news this spring:

• Bandwidth capacity is becoming an issue. Application bandwidth hogs such as: streaming video, music and even the efficient user (actually doing work) are increasing demands on Internet bandwidth. Solution is simple – add bandwidth!! SF WiFi has worked on many new T1 installs, upgrades or bonded T1’s and we have contacts that will help clients receive best pricing for a new service. Contact SF WiFi for more information.

• Clients are beginning to replace legacy wireless gear and improving speed, signal coverage and reliability with 802.11n. SF WiFi is pleased to see the new Apple iPad utilizes 802.11n. It maybe a good time to upgrade your wireless to 802.11n. Ask SF WiFi how 802.11n dual band can improve your wireless network.

• It maybe time to think about Microsoft Office 2007/2010. Pick up a copy of Office 2007 between now and September 30, and you’ll be eligible to get a free upgrade to Office 2010 with the Microsoft’s Technology Guarantee Program. Contact your Microsoft reseller or SF WiFi for more information.

• Marketing trends via WordPress and blog pages: Shaw Web Designs is designing web pages almost exclusively with WordPress allowing clients to easily edit and add content themselves as often as required. Updating web site content is great way to improve search engine discovery and improve marketing.

• And always make sure you have some sort of file backup running!!

You can follow SF WiFi on our blog site “Coverage” where we promote the flow of information about products, support info, geek jokes and announcements. We can also be found on Twitter

Geek chortle for April: Adding software patches too soon after being released and then worse yet – not installing patches at all.

SF WiFi would like to thank you for your business.

Ruckus Wireless 7300 Series ZoneFlex Access points

Ruckus Wireless 7300 Series ZoneFlex Access points

High Performance, 802.11n Mid-Range Smart Wi-Fi Access Points with Dynamic Beamforming

Now cost-minded enterprises have a sleek and low-profile purpose-built AP for delivering high-performance and reliable 802.11n wireless networking at the industry’s most affordable price point. The ZoneFlex 7300 series includes both single-band (7343) and dual band (7363) products. Maximum 802.11n capacity of 300Mbps (single band) or 600Mbps (dual band), makes the ZoneFlex 7300 the industry’s lowest cost, highest performing line of 802.11n mid-range access points available. The aesthetically-pleasing design is ideal for a variety of enterprise and hotspot environments including hotels, schools, retail outlets, branch offices and public venues.

Ruckus ZoneFlex 7363:

Ruckus ZoneFlex dual-band (5 GHz and 2.4 GHz concurrent) 802.11n Wireless Access Point, multi-element smart antenna, dual ports, PoE support

Ruckus ZoneFlex 7343:

ZoneFlex single-band (2.4 GHz) Entry-Level 802.11n Wireless Access Point, 8-element smart antenna, three ports (1GE + 2FE), PoE support

Contact SF WiFi for more information and pricing.

 

USPH – San Francisco

Great new web site at the Union Square Plaza Hotel !! Designed by Shaw Web Designs. New look with the blog, language translator, weather and updated services.

 http://www.usphotel.com/

Shaw Web Design and SF WiFi have now teamed up on many projects offering clients, web design, network installations and IT support.

Wireless network installation at the Union Square Plaza Hotel provided by SF WiFi. In most hotels, the main concerns in designing a wireless solution are wireless signal coverage, network user capacity, user applications and of course budget. SF WiFi specializes in hospitality wireless solutions by installing faster, more reliable Wi-Fi services at a lower overall cost of ownership. SF WiFi designs, installs, and continues to support the wireless networks that keeps guests happy and satisfied. A number one complaint of hotel guests is the lack of available and dependable Wi-Fi coverage. Wi-Fi has become an essential element and a major draw within the hospitality industry.

BlackBerry data issue

Wed March 10

Some BlackBerry users are complaining of an inability to use data services for two days in a row. It appears that the issue could be related to two separate problems. While some users seemed to be back in business late Tuesday, others were still having problems. One of the problems seems to be affecting some users of BlackBerry phones that have Wi-Fi capability, although the problem does not affect those users when they are connected to Wi-Fi networks. Instead, those users have trouble us