Homeplugs - "Business spec"

[mrapoc]

Hi

I for one don't like them. They are convenient but the speed difference etc. is horrible.

Anyway. Got a care home who want to expand their wifi for the new cloud based drug management suite they are now going to be using. They need wifi everywhere they will be dispensing drugs. Easiest option will be homeplugs (if they work on the mains there). I would like to put in Ubnt units but cabling will be a pig with their setup.

Are there such things as homeplugs/powerline units that handle seamless handovers on wifi points (I have found a lot of them are "sticky" when it comes to roaming between points on same SSID/security).

There are the Ubnt picos that have a 5ghz link but I have no experience in how well these actually fare.

Thanks

 

[HCHTech]

I wouldn't do it for a business customer. I'm there all day for residential applications, but mission-critical stuff for business needs enterprise equipment. Run some wires and get some sonicpoints in there, or ubiquitys, something of that caliber.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I feel the same as HCHTech said....for home..they're fine.

For business....I'd try to stay away from them unless it was just for some extension of the building that needed a few computers to get internet access, non-critical.

For a healthcare business client that needs access to an app all day...I'd find every way possible to get them to run ethernet cable.

For residential or very small business use...typically a single AC panel..maybe two, and relatively light loads on the electrical system. They can tolerate the one or two "reboots" a year that powerline adapters sometimes need

But in a larger business building...sprawled out, a 24x hour operating like a nursing home or whatever I'm picturing your client being...I envision many electrical panels, and heavy AC loads over that wiring. Just not a good scenario for powerline bridges. I can't see them being reliable.

I have used Ubiquiti gear to do point to points to connect buildings in a CAN (campus area network)...and they work well, very well. But again...in some nursing home environment....spawled out, tons of electrical interference....I would be trying to avoid this also.

I strongly recommend you push/sell running copper.

 

[mrapoc]

That was my gut feeling - I'll chat to their sparky and see what he can do in regards to cabling. I have a reel of cat5e but it isn't non smoke so that's another purchase. Ah well - I would feel better doing it properly

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

That was my gut feeling - I'll chat to their sparky and see what he can do in regards to cabling. I have a reel of cat5e but it isn't non smoke so that's another purchase. Ah well - I would feel better doing it properly

Yeah just specify what you want and, guessing your reference to "their Sparky" means their in-house facilities guys....let them run it. It's his job to ensure it's wired up to code (re: plenum). The cost of a spool of cable is nothing compared to the price of the job (labor).

 

[HCHTech]

I'll chat to their sparky

It's a shame that term never caught on here across the pond - I like it.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

It's a shame that term never caught on here across the pond - I like it.

Oh it's popular here...we've used it for years, I've heard many say it.

 

[mrapoc]

They have an electrician they use for all their wiring jobs - I can get him to wire up to the top office where the router is and I can do the rest.

You reckon just let him source the cable then? Fair enough. I can do the rest

 

[HCHTech]

I've got an electrician visiting my place tomorrow to put in some dedicated circuits and whole-panel surge suppression - I'm going to work that into the conversation to get his take on it.

 

[Thedog]

Homeplugs are really trial and error, Ive seen old electrical systems where they work perfectly and new ones where they have very low throughput... Although if I were to guarantee let's say 23/7 upkeep of the network I would do physical cabling only.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You reckon just let him source the cable then? Fair enough. I can do the rest

Depends on the electrician...some of them don't get much of it, end up getting it from local suppliers at high prices.
Others may do quite a bit of volume with it, and know where to get it much cheaper than you can purchase it for.

 

[fencepost]

If it's a bad location for cabling, I'd go ahead and go with Cat6 and not bother with 5e. As noted, the price (or price difference) for the materials are minor compared to the cost of actually running the cable.

 

[krtechsolutions]

Work with the electrician tell him exactly where you want the drop at, have him test the cables and then go in an install the APs of your choice, I would take a look at ignitenet sparks or ubiquit unifi (i would not use Pico5s they are old and no longer sold by ubquiti)

 

[Jon Bennell]

In my opinion, HomePlug devices are only suitable for temporary connections (they are completely unreliable as you can't control the mains environment), or you have a client who doesn't mind rebooting the units when it inevitably fails. Having said that, units such as those from Devolo have a utility which indicate link speed between nodes. On the occasions where HomePlug was a last resort (always due to limited budgets), after an installation, we take a screenshot of the reported link speeds and compare them when the future support call comes in. This serves to validate your work in the first instance and then help identify the point(s) of failure thereafter.

Really though, if you're providing a business service and the client baulks at cabling costs, ask them what the cost is to them when the service is disrupted and your additional labour cost to apply any (temporary) remedy.

We've found that partnering with a decent electrician (one who does tidy work and is considerate to client's environment) is a much better use of our time and the client's budget. Otherwise we'd become a very expensive cable puller.

As with many things in business, delegate your weaknesses and play to your strengths. Everyone will be much happier with the results.

 

[marley1]

Yes have the local facilities manager or electrician run all the lines and even mount the equipment.

You terminate and setup.

This in house guy is most likely not getting the $100/hour or higher rates that you are getting and the client will like saving the money.

We do this with many clients and IP camera installed

For EMR clients you may want to push a more robust wireless like Ruckus.

Last thing you want is for them to be pushing the computer cart and it dropping connection when it swap access points

Ruckus will seamlessly roam