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sbishop
join:2014-11-03
El Paso, TX

sbishop

Member

Customer upsells

What are you guys offering to you customers as upsells.

I was thinking
VIOP
Wifi Router
Etc...
Chele
join:2003-07-23

Chele

Member

We're actually really bad about it:) We don't sell routers and we don't get involved with customers' other services. We used to, but our service calls dropped by about 90% since we stopped several years ago. The margin just wasn't worth it for the headaches we had to deal with. Nothing wrong with upselling, it's just not for us.
voxframe
join:2010-08-02

voxframe to sbishop

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to sbishop
We are straight forward internet. Looking at offering VOIP as well since all the other carriers in the area are triple play or at least double.

We didn't offer routers for the longest times, but now we use the Ubnt routers along with Ubnt CPEs and we run the routers in a bridged mode, and allow the CPE to do all the demarcation/routing for the customer.

This allows us to have remote control of the routers, so the service calls are next to null. We can change passwords and channels and SSIDs etc all remotely. So it saves a ton of work. Without it, we wouldn't go near the router market.

warwick
join:2009-06-05
Hollywood, FL

warwick to sbishop

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to sbishop
Look at offering structured wiring services.

I.e. cat5/coax drops.

Or even fiber termination...

Along those lines.
raytaylor
join:2009-07-28

raytaylor to sbishop

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to sbishop
In new homes, we are thinking about offering structured cabling.
With fibre to the home being rolled out in NZ, all new urban houses have a hills homehub being installed.
Hills make an alarm system, multiroom sound, multiroom IR and various other things to put into the home hub box with your router etc.

So we are thinking of offering to install the home hub box, alarm system and structured network cabling, with an AP in the hallway and an AP in the lounge.
sbishop
join:2014-11-03
El Paso, TX

sbishop

Member

be careful many areas require licenses for alarm installs.

WHT
join:2010-03-26
Rosston, TX

WHT

Member

And in Texas, only licensed private investigators can install video systems.
sbishop
join:2014-11-03
El Paso, TX

sbishop

Member

I was also thinking of offsite backup services. Also remote monitoring with virus protection.

When I had my computer repair business we partnered with a company to offer the remote monitoring and virus software. I think it cost us between $1.50 to $3.00 per pc covered.

I know that there are white label solutions for VoIP and online backup.

I am not looking to offer services that require truck rolls or 1 time offers. I am think ovfways to increase the monthly billing to my customers
sbishop

sbishop to WHT

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to WHT
My brother-in-law had to get a locksmith license to install the key less entry. The only thing he had to do was remove 4 screws and remove the old door handle and put on the new one with the keypad and replace the 4 screws, but the state required the license go figure!
prairiesky
join:2008-12-08
canada

prairiesky to sbishop

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only routers, and only the ubnt ones. They've been great.

nothing else is really worth it. We're contemplating partnering with a voip provider and they give us a small cut for everyone we send their way. but there's just so much to go wrong.
dev0
join:2013-05-25

dev0

Member

Which UBNT router are you using? We've tried the AirRouter (orginal) and the failure rate was horrible. I threw at least 50 in the garbage so far out of the 100 or so we originally deployed.

The AirGateway seems to be much better though.
raytaylor
join:2009-07-28

raytaylor to sbishop

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I have used 100+ air routers and found the failure rate to be quite low.
There have been one or two where a port has died (we use them only in bridge mode) so its not really a problem - and I dont use shielded / earthed cat5 so probably our own fault.

Have switched to the AR-LR because it can be screwed to the wall.

My step father has got the security certification to install alarms here.
dev0
join:2013-05-25

dev0

Member

Perhaps its something specific to the power grid in the area or some other odd reason, but we could never get them to stay running.

I do love the AG-LR though. Fantastic little device. Makes for a neat install, provides wifi through most of an average house, and eliminates patch cords. Like voxframe, we route at the radio and bridge the AG. Works flawlessly.

Does anyone offer any sort of "internet security" as an add-on? I'm thinking like parental control, malware and virus protection, etc. I know one SonicWall i installed for a customer did a decent job with it.

Been thinking of something like that to help increase revenue without much in the way of capital investment.
prairiesky
join:2008-12-08
canada

prairiesky to sbishop

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I've been using the air routers and have been moving to the AR-LR. Have had 1 maybe 2 fail. I must have 60 or so out there.

viperm
Carpe Diem
Premium Member
join:2002-07-09
Winchester, CA

1 recommendation

viperm to sbishop

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to sbishop
We use the UBNT uNifi stuff works great and as an added bonus we have the Unifi software running on one of our servers so we can remote configure any SSID's security or diagnose any issues in the house.

We get way better coverage when mounted to the ceiling then stuffed in a cabinet, behind a TV or in the home run box. Most the house we install in are 3000 sq on up.

We also sell Voip serves as a white label from viop.ms has worked well for us but we don't advertise it. We get an additional $25-35 on top of internet service so its a great upsell if they need it.

Prices cost me either $4.95 per number including 3000 incoming min plus E-911 of $1.50 per month and usage at aprox .01 per min USA outgoing.

The other plan is $1 per month per number, $1.50 E-911 and usage incoming and outgoing at $.01 per min. We have people calling mexico at .005 per min and love it!
leightonmv
join:2004-02-10
Mill Valley, CA

leightonmv to voxframe

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to voxframe
Hey, voxframe, that is a good idea about putting the UBNT AirRouters in bridge mode. Do you do a port forward in the CPE to the AirRouter to allow access? And do the AirRouters show in AirControl - like for ease of firmware upgrades?

I've got some 300 AirRouters in place mostly the HP versions. We have a recurring issue with occasional failures but not enough to be a problem - and the AirRouters are pretty inexpensive.
voxframe
join:2010-08-02

voxframe to sbishop

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to sbishop
We manage them through a port forward. Sadly I don't think it would work with AirControl.

Well it might, actually. If you can specify the web port in AC. I wouldn't see why not. I've stopped using any form of AC for the moment since it's such a crippled pile of shit. If not careful, it will break more than it fixes. Once they come out with the new AC3 (By the time we are successfully landing humans on Mars) it should easier.
wirelessdog
join:2008-07-15
Queen Anne, MD

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I'm going to rain on your parade here.

You are asking elementary questions.

You shouldn't worry about or upsell for that matter until you get up and going. Not just up and going but up and going well for a year or more

Things like VoIP need a stable network. You don't have the working knowledge or the right equipment choices to have a stable network and you've made it pretty clear you're going to have to learn the hard way.

Justin (WHT) has pointed out twice now you don't have a good area to work with, I've pointed out your equipment choice is piss poor.

Those posts you chose to ignore.

I give your "business" six months or less before its out of business unless you start focusing on whats important and listening to those people who don't do this for a hobby and have been in business for a decade or better.

Providing or selling VoIP to customers on an unstable network is dangerous.
voxframe
join:2010-08-02

voxframe

Member

said by wirelessdog:

Providing or selling VoIP to customers on an unstable network is dangerous.

I have to agree.
Not to be harsh, but I think you need to stop and take a step back. You're approaching this from the perspective of a businessman who knows enough about networking to be dangerous. This combination is pretty much deadly.

You need to address the initial technical challenges of what you want to do, before adding anything to it.

Adding VOIP to a WISP is the equivalent of adding NOS to your car. You better be damn sure you're on the ball, otherwise you'll destroy the thing in the blink of an eye. VOIP is a wonderful tool for exposing flaws in a network (using the baptism by fire method). For that matter, PPPoE is too. Which is the style of question you should be asking, customer authentication and control... Not this stuff.

And before ALL of this, you need to map out a solid wireless infrastructure. If you're shooting anything through trees, and this is the PLAN, you need to walk away now. You should always be shooting for LOS situations, if you don't have it, don't deploy.

Seriously, save yourself the headache.
sbishop
join:2014-11-03
El Paso, TX

sbishop

Member

Wirelessdog and voxframe KEEP THESE PUNCHES COMING!!!

This is why I am here. I am dangerous and I know it.

Please do not feel that I am ignoring your comments. I am absorbing everything that I can, and some of it is probably going over my head. I am a quick study and sometimes that gets me into trouble. I am not is this alone. My best friend is the IT/Network specialist. I am self taught in everything I know about IT.

10 years ago we took over a failing computer repair business and turned it around. We make a great team. He talks to computers and I talk to people. He handled the IT/Networking. I handled the marketing/business. I also handled tech calls and repaired computers, but I could always call into my personal tech to walk me though something over my head. Then I fell in love and moved to Texas, leaving him and the business in North Carolina.

So a lot of my questions are business related and marketing related because I have to sell and make profitable the network we build.

So, Please do not think that I expect to through up some towers and make millions. The first step is to get equipment in my hands and start toying with different configs and see first hand what I am dealing with. Second step is to set up a base station and start beta testing with family and friends. I do not plan to start signing up customers until I have proved that we can put up and maintain a stable network.

Once again I very grateful for this forum. I am learning more and more everyday.
sbishop

sbishop to wirelessdog

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to wirelessdog
Just a quick note on voip. I can not stop my future customers from signing up with vontage or some other voip provider, so if I do or do not I sell it my network will have to be ready to handle Voip!
sbishop

sbishop to voxframe

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to voxframe
as far as PPoE we will not be using it. my brother and partner has been working for a call center providing tech support for ISPs all over the country. He is currently a level 2 tech and oversees a team of level 1 techs. He has trained on the systems of over 8 different ISPs including a WISP.
raytaylor
join:2009-07-28

raytaylor to sbishop

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to sbishop
We had a big bridged network up to about 250 customers.
Then i split it into 3 subnets and started selling voip.

It worked real well in some areas, bad in others.
A slight drop in ccq below 98% and voip starts performing like crap.
We put up routers at the high sites, and now almost every site has a subnet.
This improved speeds on the far ends of the network from 2mbits to 10mbits (our advertised "up to" speed)

Anyhow voip at the same time improved, but it is still crap over a couple of hops 30kms long.
I am working on getting some fibre backhaul to within 20km of my 1st set of high sites out of the city where my bandwidth source is (currently 30kms from the city to my first set of high sites - network is in 3 branches) and then air fibre 5 for the rest of those first hops so that i can get data at full duplex and hopefully get 100mbits out to them instead of 80mbits half duplex.

Once i sort that out, then i will push voip again.