Installing Wi-Fi into a hotel

[Mokmo418]

I work in a little hotel (50 rooms) tat has mostly a business clientship. Biggest problem is getting them high speed internet access (currently the only ways to get on the net is either plugging yourself in in the hallway or the main conference room, or plugging into a phone plug when there's not too much interference in the old wiring and a access number that's not long distance)
Solution: Wi-Fi
This hotel has, as i said, 50 rooms on 2 stories (and a few on a third one near reception desk) Distance between first and last room is about 500 to 600 ft (haven't measured) and the structure is mostly wooden (old building dating back to the 50's had 20 rooms)

Anyone has experiences on installation of such a system ?
I heard that I-Hotel has a deal with our chain, are they any good ?
How about cost, range and security?
Could it be extended to the users of the hotel's restaurant?

 

[Special1Sauce]

You can use Access points all over the place to get everyone the internet where they want it.

 

[Wahsapa]

im sure you can very well blanket your hotel in wifi without having to bring ihotel in but its probably better that you use a service like ihotel.

the cost will be high because your bringing an outside company to set it up for you and not doing it yourself(im betting they just set up an AP with repeaters every couple hundred feet). and as far as security you shouldnt kid yourself, almost anybody can break into a wifi network. and yes, just ask for them to repeat the single into your restaurant.

 

[Mokmo418]

Of the few companies i've seen (There's even one selling card you scratch to get an access code) They seem to be able to lock computers from seeing each other.
There isn't much population in the vicinity of the hotel just a small long term care center (translating this right ?), a gas station and 4 homes from which you could get a clear signal.

I believe my boss wouldn't mind if one of our employees did the installation. The choice is easy between a minimum wage employee and a guy flown in from the States you have to lodge amongst other things.

 

[Mokmo418]

Is it possible to lock computers from seeing each other on a wireless network ?
We can't even do that on the wired part ...

 

[sharkeeper]

Text

Cheers!

 

[Mokmo418]

ok sounds nice
little expensive though
25¢ per room per day x 50 rooms x 30days = 375$ per month
the price of a set of routers and access points and a few hundred feet of wires
but then there's no hassle with customer support...
Most desk employees here can barely make hotel operations on the computer... can't imagine them doing network support...
So the price makes a little sense.

 

[dmw16]

I think you could do this with a bunch of access points. Esspecially if you already have CAT5 running through parts of the building. I dont think you would need to bring in an outside service. Do some research on google and such and find a WAP that has good range and get some of those and put them in the walls or cieling panels. As for security, you may want to advise your guests to be careful about sending very private info unless you are going to use WEP, but that can be a pain in the a$$ with people coming and going. Also, if you are going to limit service to people who pay the extra, you will need to use MAC filtering, but that is easy enough, just need to make sure you can adminisrate everything from a central point.
-doug

 

[IPLaw]

I've done similar work for small biz, and all I can say is BE CAREFUL. If anything ever happens to the network, either while or after you have quit employment there, YOU are going to be the person they call. In the long run, its probably better to get a contractor or company that will be around in a few years, because the costs of customer service eventually BITES you hard. If you do it, I would adivse drafting up, or having drafted, a simple contract saying that you are not responsible for service, maintenance, repair, warranty, or replacement after X months. I cannot over emphasize this point enough. If someone's virus infected Pentium 90 laptop wont connect because they are using VHF rabbit ear antennas, they will complain to management, and want the rear of the 'geek' who obviously setup the system wrong.

Caveat - Just from my years of IT consulting experience.

 

[Glich]

Originally posted by: Mokmo418
Is it possible to lock computers from seeing each other on a wireless network ?
We can't even do that on the wired part ...

1 word vlan's

better ap's can seprate each user into its own personal vlan. You may want to look at a turn key solution like Boingo or Wayport.