overview
- gotchas
While providing high-speed Internet access service (HSIA) shouldn't be rocket science, there are some things customers need to be aware of that affect how service could be installed. While not the most technical term, at the end of the day, they're "gotchas." Here are some of the more common ones.
Quicklinks: Wiring Hardware Costs Wire Length Power Requirements Wireless Cheap Solutions
One of the most costly mistakes integrators and operators make is assuming that one server managing several properties over a frame-relay connection is cheaper than buying individual Egress™ Servers for each property. The issue is more than simply spreading out the costs of the server hardware, it's the additional cost for each frame-relay connection to each property, which gets overlooked. Those costs can be significant.
For example, if you have five properties to manage, with an average distance between each property and your Network Operations Center (NOC) of 90 miles, the cost per frame-relay connection between the NOC and each property will be approximately $1,500 per month (wireless may be an option, but it requires line-of-site and curvature of the earth also raises significant problems). In addition to that, you have the costs of the data line into the NOC, which has to support the five properties. Assuming a 1.5Mb connection to each property, you're going to need a T3 at the NOC to provide that bandwidth. The average cost in the U.S. for a T3 is $5,500 per month. So, in order to support the five properties, your monthly bandwidth costs are $7,500 (5 times $1,500 for the dedicated frame-relay) plus $5,500 for a total of $13,000 per month ($156,000 per year). That doesn't even begin to address server hardware and software costs. Where is the cost efficiency?
You also run the risk of network outages. With single connections to single properties, if the network connection goes down, then just a single property goes down. However, in the case of one server handling many properties, if the NOC goes down, ALL the properties go down. How is that a better option?
The real purpose behind one server-many properties is to spread the costs of the server hardware out over many properties. Why? Because competing products are very expensive. Reality is that while your hardware costs may be spread out, you still need the connectivity to make it work. Unfortunately, that can still be very expensive.
Infrastructure is everything. The total costs of your solution are largely based on what type of network hardware can be used to run the network within the property. The most inexpensive solutions are those which work on Category 3 wire or better. Hardware costs are always higher with DSL-based solutions. This is because additional hardware in required at the connection point, which is not required with a pure Ethernet solution.
The following is a list highest to lowest bandwidth for hardwired networks.
- Category 5e: supports bandwidth speeds of 100Mb of bandwidth over two pair, 1000Mb over four pair
- Category 5: supports bandwidth speeds of 100Mb/second over two pair
- Category 3: supports bandwidth speeds up to 10Mb over two pair
- Category 2 or Category 1: cannot support Ethernet networks of any speed. To use this type of wire, you must use DSL-based solution (e.g., HPNA, SDSL, HDSL or VDSL).
If you're looking to provide new Internet-based services, then you will need all of the bandwidth your network can support. As part of our basic service, Viator Networks will assess your infrastructure and explain the differences and costs associated with choosing these solutions.
Generally speaking, the better the wire, the lower the hardware costs. Those solutions that require more hardware to make connections cost more. It is a common misperception that using two wires is cheaper that using four, where four are available. Usually, the exact opposite is true. These are just a few of the common "gotchas" confronting HSIA customers and service providers.
Below is a generalized cheapest to most expensive hardware. Your mileage may vary.
- Cheapest: Category 3 or higher with four wires available (two pair)
- Midrange: Combination Category 3 or higher and wireless
- Most expensive: Category 2 or worse wire running a DSL solution
The distance from the phone closet (which is where the hardware is usually installed) to the wall jack can be an issue. Ethernet networks, which provide the highest bandwidth, can only run a given number of feet from the original connection. The bad news is this distance is 100 meters (328 feet) including all Ethernet hardware, jacks, etc. The good news is that with proper planning, it won't become an issue in most properties. The standard patch cable length from the wall jack to the PC is 10 meters (9.8 feet), although longer cables could be used if the total length from the PC to the switch is less than 100 meters.
Electrical power can be an issue in settings where DSL solutions are installed because all DSL modems require some electrical power in order to operate. If you are considering a DSL solution, you need to be cognizant of the location and availability of electrical outlets that you will use to power these devices.
Wireless is increasingly being considered in hotel and residential properties. New technologies and the inclusion of wireless hardware in laptops are forcing more property owners and system integrators to pitch wireless as a solution. The problem is wireless isn't as easy as it sounds and practical application of the technology often runs contrary to product performance and security claims.
- It is a common misunderstanding that wireless means no wires anywhere. This simply isn't the case. While it does allow PCs to connect to the network without using wires, it requires cabling to connect the access points to the network and electricity to power the access point.
- Wireless has distance limitations. This is due to the simple fact that radio waves do not travel consistently through walls, glass, concrete, drywall, or other materials. This means that when you see literature that states wireless connectivity "up to 1,000 feet," that is under optimal conditions with nothing interfering with the radio signal. The bottom line is you will have to purchase many access points (the device the wireless NICs connect to) to provide total coverage indoors.
- Data transmission speeds are also drammatically affected by distance. Many new wireless access points are rated at 54Mb/sec, which sounds fast. Unfortunately, your computer must be within 25 feet of the access point with nothing blocking the signal to reach that speed. Be sitting behind a wall, window, or other obstruction and your speeds drop drammatically--often to less than 1Mb/sec.
- New 802.11g access points claims speeds of 54Mb/sec and backward compatibility with 802.11b, which is true. This means that anyone with a 802.11b wireless card can communicate with an 802.11g access point. The problem is that if any PC with an 802.11b card connects to an 802.11g access point, ALL user data rates will drop to 11Mb/sec or lower. The 802.11g access point radio cannot support multiple cards using different protocols at the higher rate.
- Home access points should not be used in commercial locations. They are often low-powered (and will have difficulty passing signals through glass, doors and walls), cannot handle more than a few users per channel, and have limited security functionality. As a general rule, if you've paid less than $200 for a single access point, it's probably not made for commercial deployments.
Everyone knows someone who knows someone that can install networks or run cable. While many may be competent telephone system installers, they may not have the relevant experience designing and installing Ethernet-based networks. While the primary goal may be to save money, it may be well worth the extra few dollars to ensure that you wind up with a supportable and upgradeable Ethernet network that can be serviced by other technicians in the future.
Please call +1 480 704 4909 or send an e-mail to: sales@viatornetworks.com for personalized assistance.