Internet for boarding houses

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#1074163 25-Jun-2014 12:39

chevrolux: I feel like Meraki would just be a bit OTT for this situation.

The reality is there are bugger all copyright notices going around so I really wouldn't worry about it much.

I would just go Mikrotik. Set up the Hotspot and that will give you guest speed/time/quota control. Then if you really want adult filtering use OpenDNS's service but only apply it to the guest wifi network and keep a separate network for your own personal use.

A Mikrotik RB951G-2HnD is only about $120ish. Then you just just use little RB9512n as extra AP's if required. So so so much cheaper than Meraki kit!!

And if you really really want to filter torren applications etc there is the Layer 7 firewall and some other clever things in RouterOS.

OP already has a Fritz!Box for a router, so the only Meraki kit required would be an MR12. Yeah could be OTT but still a valid solution (as is the Mikrotik) - but sometimes people are after the simplicity of plugging in one device, knowing that it is going to be automatically updated, easy to use, have phone support available and a lifetime warranty if anything goes wrong

EDIT - OpenDNS, Google DNS or any other DNS filtering service unless based in NZ can break CDNs so you could end up with slower browsing and using more data which would normally be unmetered over Snap. I'd caution against using unless last resort.

MadEngineer

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#1074343 25-Jun-2014 15:33

Mikrotik would be perfect if someone was to provide support for it, take a bit of work to learn from scratch

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

rayonline

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#1074345 25-Jun-2014 15:34

Yes, the one unit solution is preferred and it sounds like it is cheaper. Works on VDSL with Snap right?

They would go for unlimited so the volume issue isn't a worry. They also don't need multiple SSID one for the owner b/c they are not computer literate so it is really just for the other residents. They had the place with no internet for all these years.

Might be an idea to deploy it out see how it goes and get this one unit better device a bit later on.

They don't have a Frizbox yet. I myself have Snap but they don't have any internet yet. I just thought that they might consider Snap b/c they do $109 per month unlimited VDSL. 2yr contract gets a free router and free installation wiring etc. I could just keep the router for myself, they aren't running away within 2yrs. Might ask them if it is possible to say pay the $50 for the higher model Friztbox and swap it in my place we have the cheaper one so it doesn't have 4x RJ45s.

rayonline

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#1074346 25-Jun-2014 15:37

trig42: With Zenbu, you can set your own pricing.

I think they would be turned away when we do that. They sound like wanting internet to be provided for free or included in the rent.

MadEngineer

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#1074349 25-Jun-2014 15:39

Mikrotiks don't have xdsl interfaces so you'd need to set your existing modem/router to passthrough, effectively turning it into a modem only device. Have someone competent to set it up for you. I wouldn't use the hotspot function as it's better suited for temporary visiting connections, not permanent.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

rayonline

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#1074350 25-Jun-2014 15:39

MadEngineer: Mikrotik would be perfect if someone was to provide support for it, take a bit of work to learn from scratch

I did a quick google. It's just a AP right so I still need a modem/router? Is there a one unit solution? And what do you mean by providing support for it? I am here not there I can set it up as a once off but the owners there are not computer literate. They don't even use the internet or even computers themselves. Hence - they had the place without internet.

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michaelmurfy

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#1074353 25-Jun-2014 15:41

Spend the money and just go towards the Meraki for ease of use. Nothing really comes close to what you can do with the Meraki.

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rayonline

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#1074355 25-Jun-2014 15:43

michaelmurfy: Spend the money and just go towards the Meraki for ease of use. Nothing really comes close to what you can do with the Meraki.

The Meraki needs a router as well right so 2 devices? Just checking.

MadEngineer

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#1074357 25-Jun-2014 15:44

rayonline:
MadEngineer: Mikrotik would be perfect if someone was to provide support for it, take a bit of work to learn from scratch

I did a quick google. It's just a AP right so I still need a modem/router? Is there a one unit solution? And what do you mean by providing support for it? I am here not there I can set it up as a once off but the owners there are not computer literate. They don't even use the internet or even computers themselves. Hence - they had the place without internet.

by competent I mean for example unless you've got plenty of time to learn how to properly firewall it - blocking remote access such as DNS requests and other attacks you'll be best to have someone set it up for you.

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

michaelmurfy

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#1074358 25-Jun-2014 15:44

rayonline:
michaelmurfy: Spend the money and just go towards the Meraki for ease of use. Nothing really comes close to what you can do with the Meraki.

The Meraki needs a router as well right so 2 devices? Just checking.

It is the router. Will need a modem though but that's simple to provide.

rayonline

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#1074359 25-Jun-2014 15:46

Meraki doesn't offer a one unit option?

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jnimmo

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#1074368 25-Jun-2014 15:51

michaelmurfy:
rayonline:
michaelmurfy: Spend the money and just go towards the Meraki for ease of use. Nothing really comes close to what you can do with the Meraki.

The Meraki needs a router as well right so 2 devices? Just checking.

It is the router. Will need a modem though but that's simple to provide.

I was thinking just putting in the MR12 access point, in NAT Mode, connected directly to the modem- no need for a separate router?
They have all the Layer 7 firewalling built in which is really all that is needed here
http://blog.brokennetwork.ca/2013/09/meraki-mr12-initial-setup-and-first.html

rayonline

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#1074455 25-Jun-2014 17:53

trig42: With Zenbu, you can set your own pricing.

The Zenbu website says you can give it to friends and family for free with a username or all those who access it, it is still monitored by Zenbu. Ok - does this relinquish the responsibility off the landlord?

Some of them are students, they won't take it too kind if they are living there for 1yr or more and are asked to pay by the hour.

The website also says it cost the owner $0.10 per MB. If the owner provides free access and they use 200GB for the month. Does the owner need to pay?

bbqroast

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#1074533 25-Jun-2014 20:27

My experience with hotspot providers (Zenbu, etc) has always been absolutely terrible. Often overpriced connections (or just silly design), slow, flaky, etc. Even overseas (UK, Aus, etc) I've had similar issues with their hotspot providers.

Have you considered emailing a small ISP like Kiwilink or similar and asking what they can do for someone in your situation?

If I were in your situation I'd snag a well priced internet plan and stick some WiFi points up (Ubiquiti's UniFi products are cheap and very good quality, from experience their products are also very easy to setup). Note that most unlimited plans will not like you, I'd go for a capped plan as they're less likely to kick you off for high usage. Liability is a complex thing. I can't provide legal advice, but it wouldn't be something I'd worry too much about - if you have a document that you must sign to enter the boarding house you could add a disclaimer to that.

How worried are you about filtering? It's likely to be bypassed anyway, especially if there's no one actively managing it.

jnimmo

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#1074534 25-Jun-2014 20:31

rayonline:

The Zenbu website says you can give it to friends and family for free with a username or all those who access it, it is still monitored by Zenbu. Ok - does this relinquish the responsibility off the landlord?

Responsibility will still lie with the account holder.

The website also says it cost the owner $0.10 per MB. If the owner provides free access and they use 200GB for the month. Does the owner need to pay?

No - the costs are only ever deducted from the earnings on the AP. If you're only providing free access then no charges

bbqroast: stick some WiFi points up (Ubiquiti's UniFi products are cheap and very good quality, from experience their products are also very easy to setup)

Cheap and good yeah but better suited to a bigger deployment - OP could provide the same through Fritz!Box or other ISP router, and avoid the fun that is UniFi management software :)
Believe the question really comes down to making sure that the non-computer person running the place doesn't end up with copyright infringement notices in the post.

OP it is a three strikes law here isn't it, so one option would be to just see how things went- if any issues then could put in a filter

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