Hotel needs help solving connection issues for guests

I work for a 111 room hotel property with two 3Mbps BellSouth DSL lines running through a LinkSys 10/100 16-port VPN Router (model# RV016). The router is dispatched to 7 access points covering the hotel with overlapping zones so that no one should have problems no matter where they are on property. We are still experiencing problems with guest coming up saying that they can not get online. Some of them say that their computer see the DSL signal but they are unable to access it.

Can anyone make any suggestions to me that I might be able to make recommendation to the guest as to how to access the access points?

I do not know what the model number or manufacturer of the 7 access points are but our company requires us to use Cisco Systems products so I assume it is from LinkSys.

Thanks for all of your help in advance.

haroldathampton

 

So, they are getting a IP, but not able to get the re-direction page showing the Terms and Conditions for going online. Most likely the router could be actually Cisco Routers, not Linksys. Who set up your internal WiFi hotspot? Maybe go and get them to come in and test the system to see why things are not up to par.

 

You have to deal with two separate issues.

1. Can they get a viable Wireless signal that allows connection to the Access Point (AP)?

This aspect has nothing to do with the DSL but with the signal strength through the Hotel.

You should make yourself availed to regular Wireless Laptop load on it Netstumbler (free at www.netstumbler.com) and check the signal strength and the capacity to connect to the APs at the rooms, or and the locations that are subject to complains.

The result might indicate that you need more APs.

2. 3Mb/sec. DSL might be too little for so many potential users. I would not be surprise if beyond 20 guests the DSL starts to be painful. In addition, if any of the guests are taking advantage of the free DSL and engage I heavy Downloading they might "Bog" down the line even if only few guests are On.

I would suggest a Business class DSL with a Router that can control bandwidth to each IP through Qos.

 

If you havent changed the default passwords I would suggest checking each access point to see if someone has accessed them and perhaps enabled MAC address filtering. This would allow them to be seen and sometimes even cause the apperance of being connected without actualy having access.