I would completely agree. We are a small ISP in southern Oregon with four
mountain sites all running Karlnet 4.45 ISP base software. We have a
subscriber base of about 300 subscribers all Karlnet based CPE equipment. We
started in the day of PCMCIA windows based clients, and then moved to
KN-100, then KN-50 and now KN-105 units. So we are running a large mixture
of Karlnet based solutions. We have always had somewhat of a rocky road with
Karlnet from the beginning, starting with the 1.0 to 1.2 firmware revision
issues with the KN-50. But overall it has ALWAYS been a great solution. We
currently have subscriber links over 20 miles with a good signal pushing
over 1,000k each. That's a statistic even on a crowded site with over 70
subscribers (we are running the 100 user versions of the ISP base software),
we also have significant resources deployed to add four more sites all
Karlnet based. We started the deployment of the Karlnet gear this summer. We
are competing with three other wireless ISP's in our area, all offering CPE
equipment under $300.00 (one is custom gear, the other is Brezecom based,
and I am not sure what the 3rd is running) The KN-50 provided us with a
price point of $299.99 for CPE equipment. Since the KN-50 we have been able
to double our subscriber base due to this price point. Now I keep hearing
runmors that Karlnet (Terabeam) is dropping the KN-50 line, and moving to a
mini-PCI platform?
Terabeam PLEASE take this advice:
1. Keep a compatible product with the existing 4.45 base software.
Small ISP's (your customer base) cannot afford to switch out subscribers
gear because the mountain site has changed to accommodate new standards. We
are all limited by the FCC in the ISM band; there are only so many channels
to work with to keep isolation. In 90% of the cases we cannot leave the
existing ISP base in place to accommodate the old equipment then deploy a
second to accommodate the new equipment. There simply are not enough
channels in the band to make that work effectively. If standards need to
change, then please deploy them on the newer frequencies without dropping
the equipment we need to grow the existing 2.4 technology. This allows US as
small ISP's to grow with you instead of getting hit by a title wave of
changes that FORCE us to go somewhere else to get a consistent reliable
supply of product.
2. Keep a product in the existing price point. As small ISP's we
need something a residential customer can afford. We need a product that can
perform reliably in the 2.4ghz band. As you know there are a lot of products
in the 2.4ghz band that have become cheap and readily available. In order to
keep that price point and to drive it down even further we need to stick
with a solution that is 2.4 for residential subscribers. It's easy to sell a
business a 400 or 500 dollar CPE but you completely cut off your residential
customer base with that kind of a price point. This also accommodates the
growth for the EXISTING customer base you already have "US" and every other
ISP etc. out there with existing Karlnet based solutions deployed.
3. A consistent supply of product without change but with
refinement. It seems the moment we get a Karlnet product, learn to use it,
discover its quirks and iron them out the product completely changes
direction? For example the KN-50 with firmware 1.0 supported both intersil
and Orinoco based cards, then boom karlnet released 1.1 that dropped the
intersil compatibility, then with 1.2 its back again with two revisions for
hermies based chipsets? And now the KN-105 and KN-50 line is being dropped
completely? What would have happened to Microsoft if every new version of
windows abandoned all the software that would run on the previous version?
Microsoft as any successful company knows you have to take your transitions
slowly for our customer base to keep up with you, otherwise they will fall
off the boat and you will lose them forever. In addition to that you also
need a consistent supply of product. As small ISP's we typically buy our
equipment in small chunks, ten units here, five here, etc. We cannot afford
to tie up thousands of dollars in equipment. Most WISPS don't have those
resources. We need a supplier that can take the small orders in stride and
not take six months to get here.
4. SOME FORM OF COMMUNICATION. I check all three websites (terebeam,
karlnet, YDI) on a daily basis for information on what is going on. Most of
the updates seem to be for a stockholder rather than a customer. I am making
make or break decisions in my company every day that relies on your product.
Yet I don't even have a clue what equipment I will be using, or what is (or
will) be available? I hear rumors on WISPNotes that is what I am using as my
decision base? Keep the websites updated on WHAT PRODUCT is available and
what WILL BE available, what is it compatible with? What will be the
projected costs? All of these questions could be answered with some updates
to your site. When you let the communication lie, we have to base our
decisions on what might be completely incorrect information. You can loose
your customer base rather quickly without those lines of communication.
To close, I guess I have a love for your product. I have appreciated your
support when we have needed it. I am impressed with the performance and
reliability of the product we have deployed right now. Karlnet has never
fallen short on the technology, just the organization and management of it.
I know if you use the right combination of Karlnet based technology
(provided you can find it) you can produce a faster, more robust, more
reliable, less expensive solution that Motorola ever thought of. The key is
what products, firmware's, and supporting hardware you use. Something
Karlnet should have organized and packaged. To abandon such an awesome
product is the WRONG decision. I want to see Karlnet (Terabeam) succeed. If
small ISP's is not your customer base then let me know and I will move on to
someone else. If it is, you are doing a poor job of keeping that base. For
me to own over 400 Karlnet pieces of equipment with software etc. and not
have a clue if I am even your customer anymore, I have no idea what product
to buy, what my budget needs to be, where I need to be setting my price
point, if I can grow my existing sites or not, do I use karlnet on the new
sites, will product be available, if so what will that product be? I do not
have an answer to these questions and many more. These are all answers I
should have; the situation I (and other Karlnet WISPs) am in is ludicrous.
We work hard enough to pioneer this industry; we don't need this huge
unknown.
Just my 2 cents.
Timothy J. Steele
e-ISCO
tsteele@e-isco.com
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com [mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com]
On Behalf Of karlnet-request@WISPNotes.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 12:44 AM
To: karlnet@WISPNotes.com
Subject: Karlnet Digest, Vol 23, Issue 10
Send Karlnet mailing list submissions to
karlnet@WISPNotes.com
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
karlnet-request@WISPNotes.com
You can reach the person managing the list at
karlnet-owner@WISPNotes.com
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Karlnet digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. RE: Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs (Herzog, Gary (ITC))
2. RE: Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs (Noyan DEDE)
3. Re: Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs (Norm Young)
4. Re: Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs (Bob Hrbek)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 2004 13:30:16 -0600
From: "Herzog, Gary (ITC)" <gh@hctx.net>
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Cc: Support@KarlNet.com, dharman@terabeam.com
Message-ID:
<C126554BF3D3304FB72BA5D390E28D802F82E3@hcmailclustera.hco.hc.hctx.net>
Content-Type: text/plain
I feel your pain in a big way I have been purchasing Karlnet
hardware and software since 2001. I was told back then to find a reliable
and cheep wireless point to point solution for the BIG local government
agency that I work for. After looking at all of the other solutions at the
time the Karlnet was the best fit for us. I have had NO issues with the
hardware or software at all. We have a bunch of these radios installed
here and we have demoed this to other agencies at to the advantage to
wirelessly linking remote sites with Karlnet.
Well with that said I went to place about a $10K order with Demarc
Technology Group for radios that will support my on going agencies projects.
I received an email back from Tony Morella telling me that they were not
able to provide me with this TurboCell equipment any more. After researching
this on the web I found that YDI/Terabeam Wireless had purchased Karlnet and
that Terabeam Wireless with out notice decided to discontinue the boards
that were used in most if not all OEM products. Apparently the venders were
told that they would be able to get the dual port boards for some time and
that never materialized. One of the reasons I went with Demarc Technology
Group is the service they provided and how the radio hardware was setup.
I then contacted a Doug Harman [dharman@terabeam.com] with
YDI/Terabeam Wireless to find out what the deal was with stopping production
of KN series boards. He told me that YDI/Terabeam Wireless thought the KN
boards were inferior and had problems so they were going to a Mini-PCI based
system. Well this system is more expensive and the configurations provided
do not meet my needs like the Demarc Technology Groups solution did. I
informed Doug that I personally thought that YDI/Terabeam Wireless was
running a good thing by discontinue the boards that the OEMs were using.
This ultimately hurts the customer and then YDI/Terabeam Wireless because if
you hurt the customer the customer ultimately will not buy from you.
Well the latest is that Tony with Demarc Technology Group is trying
to help us out and come up with at config that will work for us. This
solution uses a compact flash with Karlnet image on it to boot from and
needs a different boot loader from YDI/Karlnet. From what I understand the
new YDI/Karlnet simply have not been responsive to this request. I sure hope
that YDI/Terabeam Wireless wakes up and starts helping their customers.
Gary Herzog
gh@hctx.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Phillips [mailto:alexp@rbns.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 3:43 PM
To: 'Karlnet Mailing List'
Subject: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Guys,
I am not sure what the hell is going on there but I have been trying to
get a simple Key upgrade now for about 3 weeks.
I bought my kn105 from CTI working with Liz Creekmore. This was a
refurb and so had a previously released key. I bought the unit and
purchased a single user key for a customer install. Turns out after I
installed I had other customers who wanted services off this unit. So I
requested a key upgrade like I have done in the past.
My request has turned into a hot potato in that, now no one at
Karlnet/YDI/Terabeam has authority to do such a thing.
So, I am now posting on this list, that I am pretty much done with KN at
this point. I want to say that Ed and Reg have been great to work with
but I just cannot deal with this obvious act of destroying what used to
be a good reliable product.
I will continue to use KN but only used gear I can scavenge and only
until I have had time to phase out 4 networks that have KN.
I want to congratulate the management of Terabeam Wireless and YDI for
killing this product with such haste and determination. I will also add,
that I will NEVER EVER buy products from Terabeam Wireless /YDI ever
again.
Anyone who wishes to chime in at this time is welcome. Also, anyone who
has keyed RG's in good condition feel free to email me off list.
Maybe we should start a list called, "what to do now that karlnet sucks"
Peace out.
Alex Phillips
Rural Broadband Network Services LLC
www.RBNS.net
www.HighSpeedLink.net
540-246-2788
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 09:49:33 +0200
From: "Noyan DEDE" <noyan@onur.net>
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Message-ID: <016166C7776B9C4A85724C5B8A3804B50A6A23@bigboss.onur.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Gary,
We have more equipment running KN software on Soekris boards than
KN10x/20x hardware. The Soekris platform is much more reliable in terms
of temperature issues in weatherproof enclosures. CompactFlash issue
can be a pain but it is not something you can't handle. We've kept
around 10 CFs loaded with KN bootloader just-in-case and we are happier.
The only real pain in CF is that there are note switches to bring the
unit back to factory default. You need to replace the CF in order to do
that. If you are stuck with KN SW this is a safer path for you.
Otherwise, I see that most of the KN customers are switching to Trango
and Canopy based systems.
Overall, I think this latest move from KN/Terabeam/YDI is not very wise
but than again, they don't seem to care about it as the whole idea of
this thing seems to be to wipe out the KN installed base in favor of YDI
solutions. But what they don't see is that after all this commotion,
none of the existing customers of KN will even come close to consider
YDI/Terabeam based solutions.
Too bad.
Noyan Dede
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com] On Behalf Of Herzog, Gary (ITC)
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 9:30 PM
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Cc: Support@KarlNet.com; dharman@terabeam.com
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
I feel your pain in a big way I have been purchasing Karlnet
hardware and software since 2001. I was told back then to find a
reliable and cheep wireless point to point solution for the BIG local
government agency that I work for. After looking at all of the other
solutions at the time the Karlnet was the best fit for us. I have had NO
issues with the
hardware or software at all. We have a bunch of these radios
installed
here and we have demoed this to other agencies at to the advantage to
wirelessly linking remote sites with Karlnet.
Well with that said I went to place about a $10K order with
Demarc Technology Group for radios that will support my on going
agencies projects.
I received an email back from Tony Morella telling me that they were not
able to provide me with this TurboCell equipment any more. After
researching this on the web I found that YDI/Terabeam Wireless had
purchased Karlnet and that Terabeam Wireless with out notice decided to
discontinue the boards that were used in most if not all OEM products.
Apparently the venders were told that they would be able to get the dual
port boards for some time and that never materialized. One of the
reasons I went with Demarc Technology Group is the service they provided
and how the radio hardware was setup.
I then contacted a Doug Harman [dharman@terabeam.com] with
YDI/Terabeam Wireless to find out what the deal was with stopping
production of KN series boards. He told me that YDI/Terabeam Wireless
thought the KN boards were inferior and had problems so they were going
to a Mini-PCI based system. Well this system is more expensive and the
configurations provided do not meet my needs like the Demarc Technology
Groups solution did. I informed Doug that I personally thought that
YDI/Terabeam Wireless was running a good thing by discontinue the boards
that the OEMs were using.
This ultimately hurts the customer and then YDI/Terabeam Wireless
because if you hurt the customer the customer ultimately will not buy
from you.
Well the latest is that Tony with Demarc Technology Group is
trying to help us out and come up with at config that will work for us.
This solution uses a compact flash with Karlnet image on it to boot from
and needs a different boot loader from YDI/Karlnet. From what I
understand the new YDI/Karlnet simply have not been responsive to this
request. I sure hope that YDI/Terabeam Wireless wakes up and starts
helping their customers.
Gary Herzog
gh@hctx.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Phillips [mailto:alexp@rbns.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 3:43 PM
To: 'Karlnet Mailing List'
Subject: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Guys,
I am not sure what the hell is going on there but I have been trying to
get a simple Key upgrade now for about 3 weeks.
I bought my kn105 from CTI working with Liz Creekmore. This was a
refurb and so had a previously released key. I bought the unit and
purchased a single user key for a customer install. Turns out after I
installed I had other customers who wanted services off this unit. So I
requested a key upgrade like I have done in the past.
My request has turned into a hot potato in that, now no one at
Karlnet/YDI/Terabeam has authority to do such a thing.
So, I am now posting on this list, that I am pretty much done with KN at
this point. I want to say that Ed and Reg have been great to work with
but I just cannot deal with this obvious act of destroying what used to
be a good reliable product.
I will continue to use KN but only used gear I can scavenge and only
until I have had time to phase out 4 networks that have KN.
I want to congratulate the management of Terabeam Wireless and YDI for
killing this product with such haste and determination. I will also add,
that I will NEVER EVER buy products from Terabeam Wireless /YDI ever
again.
Anyone who wishes to chime in at this time is welcome. Also, anyone who
has keyed RG's in good condition feel free to email me off list.
Maybe we should start a list called, "what to do now that karlnet sucks"
Peace out.
Alex Phillips
Rural Broadband Network Services LLC
www.RBNS.net
www.HighSpeedLink.net
540-246-2788
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 00:11:59 -0800
From: "Norm Young" <lists@applegatebroadband.net>
Subject: Re: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Message-ID: <008801c4c6fc$f4586af0$6501a8c0@Normsdesktop>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
And that is precisely the trajectory my WISP is on. Shifting our high end
connections to Trango, and using KN for residential---as long as they last,
but not building out any more KN WIPOPs---which is a pity, because the
solution is a good fit for resi customers.
I really don't understand the Terrabeam moves so far, because if they think
I'm going to shift my high end efforts over to their other product lines,
they've got another think coming, especially in light of what's happening to
the KN line (---my guess is that I'll probably go out of my way not to,
based on this experience--but fortunately, it's not out of my way).
If Terrabeam wants to destroy the KN product line, for whatever unfathomable
reason, it's their party--just don't expect my company to be a future
customer.
(Now would be a good time for someone from Terrabeam to explain what it is
they are trying to accomplish, hint, hint.)
Norm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Noyan DEDE" <noyan@onur.net>
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 11:49 PM
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Gary,
We have more equipment running KN software on Soekris boards than
KN10x/20x hardware. The Soekris platform is much more reliable in terms
of temperature issues in weatherproof enclosures. CompactFlash issue
can be a pain but it is not something you can't handle. We've kept
around 10 CFs loaded with KN bootloader just-in-case and we are happier.
The only real pain in CF is that there are note switches to bring the
unit back to factory default. You need to replace the CF in order to do
that. If you are stuck with KN SW this is a safer path for you.
Otherwise, I see that most of the KN customers are switching to Trango
and Canopy based systems.
Overall, I think this latest move from KN/Terabeam/YDI is not very wise
but than again, they don't seem to care about it as the whole idea of
this thing seems to be to wipe out the KN installed base in favor of YDI
solutions. But what they don't see is that after all this commotion,
none of the existing customers of KN will even come close to consider
YDI/Terabeam based solutions.
Too bad.
Noyan Dede
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com] On Behalf Of Herzog, Gary (ITC)
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 9:30 PM
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Cc: Support@KarlNet.com; dharman@terabeam.com
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
I feel your pain in a big way I have been purchasing Karlnet
hardware and software since 2001. I was told back then to find a
reliable and cheep wireless point to point solution for the BIG local
government agency that I work for. After looking at all of the other
solutions at the time the Karlnet was the best fit for us. I have had NO
issues with the
hardware or software at all. We have a bunch of these radios
installed
here and we have demoed this to other agencies at to the advantage to
wirelessly linking remote sites with Karlnet.
Well with that said I went to place about a $10K order with
Demarc Technology Group for radios that will support my on going
agencies projects.
I received an email back from Tony Morella telling me that they were not
able to provide me with this TurboCell equipment any more. After
researching this on the web I found that YDI/Terabeam Wireless had
purchased Karlnet and that Terabeam Wireless with out notice decided to
discontinue the boards that were used in most if not all OEM products.
Apparently the venders were told that they would be able to get the dual
port boards for some time and that never materialized. One of the
reasons I went with Demarc Technology Group is the service they provided
and how the radio hardware was setup.
I then contacted a Doug Harman [dharman@terabeam.com] with
YDI/Terabeam Wireless to find out what the deal was with stopping
production of KN series boards. He told me that YDI/Terabeam Wireless
thought the KN boards were inferior and had problems so they were going
to a Mini-PCI based system. Well this system is more expensive and the
configurations provided do not meet my needs like the Demarc Technology
Groups solution did. I informed Doug that I personally thought that
YDI/Terabeam Wireless was running a good thing by discontinue the boards
that the OEMs were using.
This ultimately hurts the customer and then YDI/Terabeam Wireless
because if you hurt the customer the customer ultimately will not buy
from you.
Well the latest is that Tony with Demarc Technology Group is
trying to help us out and come up with at config that will work for us.
This solution uses a compact flash with Karlnet image on it to boot from
and needs a different boot loader from YDI/Karlnet. From what I
understand the new YDI/Karlnet simply have not been responsive to this
request. I sure hope that YDI/Terabeam Wireless wakes up and starts
helping their customers.
Gary Herzog
gh@hctx.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Phillips [mailto:alexp@rbns.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 3:43 PM
To: 'Karlnet Mailing List'
Subject: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Guys,
I am not sure what the hell is going on there but I have been trying to
get a simple Key upgrade now for about 3 weeks.
I bought my kn105 from CTI working with Liz Creekmore. This was a
refurb and so had a previously released key. I bought the unit and
purchased a single user key for a customer install. Turns out after I
installed I had other customers who wanted services off this unit. So I
requested a key upgrade like I have done in the past.
My request has turned into a hot potato in that, now no one at
Karlnet/YDI/Terabeam has authority to do such a thing.
So, I am now posting on this list, that I am pretty much done with KN at
this point. I want to say that Ed and Reg have been great to work with
but I just cannot deal with this obvious act of destroying what used to
be a good reliable product.
I will continue to use KN but only used gear I can scavenge and only
until I have had time to phase out 4 networks that have KN.
I want to congratulate the management of Terabeam Wireless and YDI for
killing this product with such haste and determination. I will also add,
that I will NEVER EVER buy products from Terabeam Wireless /YDI ever
again.
Anyone who wishes to chime in at this time is welcome. Also, anyone who
has keyed RG's in good condition feel free to email me off list.
Maybe we should start a list called, "what to do now that karlnet sucks"
Peace out.
Alex Phillips
Rural Broadband Network Services LLC
www.RBNS.net
www.HighSpeedLink.net
540-246-2788
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
_______________________________________________
Karlnet mailing list
Karlnet@WISPNotes.com
http://lists.wispnotes.com/mailman/listinfo/karlnet
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 02:34:46 -0600
From: "Bob Hrbek" <bhrbek@jagwireless.net>
Subject: Re: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Message-ID: <004801c4c701$65173150$85bf60cc@americas.cpqcorp.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
And Doug Karl is laughing all the way to the bank...... ;)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Noyan DEDE" <noyan@onur.net>
To: "Karlnet Mailing List" <karlnet@WISPNotes.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2004 1:49 AM
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Gary,
We have more equipment running KN software on Soekris boards than
KN10x/20x hardware. The Soekris platform is much more reliable in terms
of temperature issues in weatherproof enclosures. CompactFlash issue
can be a pain but it is not something you can't handle. We've kept
around 10 CFs loaded with KN bootloader just-in-case and we are happier.
The only real pain in CF is that there are note switches to bring the
unit back to factory default. You need to replace the CF in order to do
that. If you are stuck with KN SW this is a safer path for you.
Otherwise, I see that most of the KN customers are switching to Trango
and Canopy based systems.
Overall, I think this latest move from KN/Terabeam/YDI is not very wise
but than again, they don't seem to care about it as the whole idea of
this thing seems to be to wipe out the KN installed base in favor of YDI
solutions. But what they don't see is that after all this commotion,
none of the existing customers of KN will even come close to consider
YDI/Terabeam based solutions.
Too bad.
Noyan Dede
-----Original Message-----
From: karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com
[mailto:karlnet-bounces@WISPNotes.com] On Behalf Of Herzog, Gary (ITC)
Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2004 9:30 PM
To: Karlnet Mailing List
Cc: Support@KarlNet.com; dharman@terabeam.com
Subject: RE: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
I feel your pain in a big way I have been purchasing Karlnet
hardware and software since 2001. I was told back then to find a
reliable and cheep wireless point to point solution for the BIG local
government agency that I work for. After looking at all of the other
solutions at the time the Karlnet was the best fit for us. I have had NO
issues with the
hardware or software at all. We have a bunch of these radios
installed
here and we have demoed this to other agencies at to the advantage to
wirelessly linking remote sites with Karlnet.
Well with that said I went to place about a $10K order with
Demarc Technology Group for radios that will support my on going
agencies projects.
I received an email back from Tony Morella telling me that they were not
able to provide me with this TurboCell equipment any more. After
researching this on the web I found that YDI/Terabeam Wireless had
purchased Karlnet and that Terabeam Wireless with out notice decided to
discontinue the boards that were used in most if not all OEM products.
Apparently the venders were told that they would be able to get the dual
port boards for some time and that never materialized. One of the
reasons I went with Demarc Technology Group is the service they provided
and how the radio hardware was setup.
I then contacted a Doug Harman [dharman@terabeam.com] with
YDI/Terabeam Wireless to find out what the deal was with stopping
production of KN series boards. He told me that YDI/Terabeam Wireless
thought the KN boards were inferior and had problems so they were going
to a Mini-PCI based system. Well this system is more expensive and the
configurations provided do not meet my needs like the Demarc Technology
Groups solution did. I informed Doug that I personally thought that
YDI/Terabeam Wireless was running a good thing by discontinue the boards
that the OEMs were using.
This ultimately hurts the customer and then YDI/Terabeam Wireless
because if you hurt the customer the customer ultimately will not buy
from you.
Well the latest is that Tony with Demarc Technology Group is
trying to help us out and come up with at config that will work for us.
This solution uses a compact flash with Karlnet image on it to boot from
and needs a different boot loader from YDI/Karlnet. From what I
understand the new YDI/Karlnet simply have not been responsive to this
request. I sure hope that YDI/Terabeam Wireless wakes up and starts
helping their customers.
Gary Herzog
gh@hctx.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Alex Phillips [mailto:alexp@rbns.net]
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 3:43 PM
To: 'Karlnet Mailing List'
Subject: [Karlnet] Attention to the Karlnet Big Wigs
Guys,
I am not sure what the hell is going on there but I have been trying to
get a simple Key upgrade now for about 3 weeks.
I bought my kn105 from CTI working with Liz Creekmore. This was a
refurb and so had a previously released key. I bought the unit and
purchased a single user key for a customer install. Turns out after I
installed I had other customers who wanted services off this unit. So I
requested a key upgrade like I have done in the past.
My request has turned into a hot potato in that, now no one at
Karlnet/YDI/Terabeam has authority to do such a thing.
So, I am now posting on this list, that I am pretty much done with KN at
this point. I want to say that Ed and Reg have been great to work with
but I just cannot deal with this obvious act of destroying what used to
be a good reliable product.
I will continue to use KN but only used gear I can scavenge and only
until I have had time to phase out 4 networks that have KN.
I want to congratulate the management of Terabeam Wireless and YDI for
killing this product with such haste and determination. I will also add,
that I will NEVER EVER buy products from Terabeam Wireless /YDI ever
again.
Anyone who wishes to chime in at this time is welcome. Also, anyone who
has keyed RG's in good condition feel free to email me off list.
Maybe we should start a list called, "what to do now that karlnet sucks"
Peace out.
Alex Phillips
Rural Broadband Network Services LLC
www.RBNS.net
www.HighSpeedLink.net
540-246-2788
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End of Karlnet Digest, Vol 23, Issue 10
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