Tech Forum

I seriously doubt we would get any preferred treatment over the other Stakes under the purvue of my FM Manager. Assuming an MR33 costs $600, that would be roughly $15000 for my FM manager to issue an extra WAP for regular buildings and two for Stake Centers. If we change the mix to four WAPS for regular buildings and six for Stake Centers, we're now talking nearly $53000. Obviously, that doesn't include the cost of professional installation in "commercial" environments. It also assumes the initial MR33s provided to replace the embedded WAPs in the Cisco881ws being replaced, come out of the ICS budget. Then, since it's the Area Authority, we're talking at least 5 additional FM Groups, each with similar if not more buildings to "feed."

At least in Sin City, I seriously doubt there is a lack of qualified people ready and willing to serve as Technology Specialists, I'm sure there are at least 50 in my stake alone, all more qualified than I am. I also have tried to tear down the walls of stake boundaries and get nearby STSs to render assistance and even equipment from time to time. This anachronistic, insular, idea of each Stake standing on its own (technology wise) is frustrating and expensive. I would think a Stake President, in consult with his High Council would be a better judge about fearing the "next guy" quandry, than anyone else. Even IF a Stake's own WiFi deployment fell down, would it be worse than conditions now? The GSC can't support a lack of WAPS either.

Regardless, I only report, and let my Stake President decide. I do believe it important to present all sides of a decision, rather than my own opinion, and will do so regarding WiFi, YouTube, Audio, and everything else.

All I know is that I've not had any problems getting more WAPs when I have the stake presidency's support.

Store.lds.org has WAPs for $273.00

Hagothsen wrote:The FM group cannot do anything for us, they've told me that directly numerous times. Our FM manager even readily admits he doesn't like taking my calls, or seeing my emails, because he's tired of telling me No!

I'll make sure my Stake President knows of the "next guy" argument when I propose spending Stake funds to improve WiFi. It's my SPs decision to address the problem, not me. I, and many other people just use our cell phone's wireless data if we need wireless internet access. FWIW, during a recent discussion with my SP, I told him I advise we wait and see what happens with the Meraki roll-out. But I want to have a solution ready when history repeats itself and we receive a single WAP.

Been there... seriously, but you will not be within the realms of your calling by going around the process and putting in your own system. I dealt with a particularly finicky FM - Here is a trick you might try out. Most FM I know only want to deal with the Stake PFR (the high councilman) and when you go around that person the FM guys get a real bee in their bonnet. My problem kept being that each time we'd work through the PFR then I'd start dealing directly with FM, so when something came up I would directly contact him. Well - Then he'd get all bugged again, so I just started to always have the PFR. It's a bit humiliating IMHO, but you have to understand the FM has at least 8-10 people they're talking to in all those stakes, and if you add another 8-10 it apparently drives them well out of their abilities to handle customer service (spoken tongue-in-cheek) - But as has been said, if you can work within the process (like has been suggested, each year a budget is submitted for the next year). I always found much more success if I was asking them NOT to make surprise budget purchases for this year, but HOW can we plan for next year. We did have to call a special meeting with the Stake Presidency to ensure we were all on the same page with the budgeting for next year.

When submitting work to the FM Group and budget is involved we must know that the FM budget for a year is submitted in the middle of April for the next calendar year. So if you wanted something to be included in the budget for 2018 it would have be submitted to the FM Group before April 2017 for their submission to headquarters in mid April 2017 for the 2018 budget.

I see in the Meraki Documentation (https://documentation.meraki.com/MX-Z) there is a usb port for cellular data card.

I have a meeting house where the local ISP has poor performance at best. Due to the nature of the area, ALL stake conferences and such meetings are streamed to the building.

There is a new cellular tower in the area and now provides 4G service. What would I have to do to get a USB Data adapter to be attached? Has anyone tried it? This would improve the quality of the delivery of the stream, thus making more enjoyable for attendees.

bhorsley wrote:What would I have to do to get a USB Data adapter to be attached?

You'd need to work with the FM group to get switched to 4G cellular. The new service may or may not use that USB port.

I have one unit in my stake on 4G LTE. It might have improved, but for awhile, it was unusable on Sundays. Too erratic.

The church never really liked the idea of hotspot wireless for wan/internet. However I think the documents exist, my guess is you'll need a router that takes wireless fur the internet connection then feed it into the Meraki.

Then pray that FM is cooperative.