I have to say, it had to be pretty exciting being a part of a company that was accomplishing such successful growth. I can tell you first hand, its not easy to grow. When someone is doing it well, they are clearly doing multiple things right. I'm sure Powercode was one of them.
Tom DeReggi RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband ----- Original Message ----- From: "Austin Wright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'WISPA General List'" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 5:48 AM Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds > That is a great point Tom, I definitely agree that "there is a [huge] > difference between a large wisp and a roll up". Don't get me wrong, Digis > had plenty of rollin up goin for them; however, when I was an installer at > Digis we installed over 900 fixed-point customers in one month (all on > Canopy), and that was even during a rough Rocky Mountain winter month, > January '07. Keep in mind that we only had about 10 installers as well. > Most of these new customers came from our 'Crazy' referral program: refer > 5 > friends get FIVE years of internet for FREE! This was accomplished in a > cable dominant market as well THE largest fiber-to-the-home municipal > deployment in the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IProvo). I > don't care how big your investor's pockets are or what equipment is being > used, that shows a lot about Digis as a company. I was there, and it was > more about processes than anything else. It wasn't about new vans/trucks, > it was scheduling smarter to avoid wasted travel time. It wasn't about > aggressive marketing and sales, it was about providing better service so > our > customers would sell for us. As employees, we never saw the money side of > things and we actually cut a lot of our expenses, JAB gave us the > confidence > that we were something worth investing in and we wanted to prove them > right. > > I saw Digis grow firsthand from 1,500 to 25,000 customers in less than two > years and am more than happy to answer any questions off-list regarding my > experience there... > > I would go off on how Powercode helped create, complete, and maintain > these > numbers, but I don't feel comfortable doing that at least until we're > officially a WISPA vendor member in the next couple weeks. Then you'll > get > a nice little WISPA sponsored advertisement telling you all about it :) > (And yes, I am definitely calling out Avansu and Demarc on abusing this > list > to self-promote and help themselves rather than helping the WISP community > as a whole) > > Happy Holidays! > > Austin W. > Product Manager > Powercode > 801.701.6205 > www.powercode.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Tom DeReggi > Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 7:34 PM > To: WISPA General List > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds > > OK, we'll give you JAB, as one of the largest WISPs that uses Canopy. > > However, it should be noted there is a difference between a large wisp > and > a roll up. > Sure if a Roll up just aquired a lot of WISPs, they are going to be a > Large > company of one product line. > Its purely coincidental that it played out that way. Had there been a > Alvarion or Trango roll up, they could easilly scale to same proportion. > Its not necessarilly fair to compare a Roll up venture to original owner > companies. > > Tom DeReggi > RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc > IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Chuck McCown - 3" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 9:11 PM > Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds > > >> JAB? They probably have 50,000 subs by now. Canopy shop. >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Tom DeReggi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 6:16 PM >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >> >> >>> Again... Canopy is a very popular platform, I do not deny that. >>> >>> But I still feel there is no basis to your statement, or statistics that >>> back up your original statement taht Canopy dominates the large provider >>> market. >>> >>> What about Tower Stream? Last I knew they were one of the largest Urban >>> WISPs. They use Aperto. >>> What about AirBand, they had some serious numbers at some time, one two >>> occasions, I was aware of them buying Proxim at one point, then a lot of >>> Alvarion later on. >>> What about Prairie-I.net, one of the larger, I know they used alot of >>> Trango >>> at one point. >>> What about Travis, one of the larger, He's bigtime Trango user. >>> What about Matt Larson (now w/GAB), he had gotten pretty darn big, he >>> was >>> mostly Tranzeo and StarOS. >>> What about Covad/Nextweb, to the beest of my knowledge they were NOT >>> primarilly a Canopy shop. >>> >>> Sure, Canopy is emergencing as a company that is continueing to evolve >>> in >>> compatibility with WISP models to enable expansion to 20mbps and beyond. >>> But to say Canopy owned the large player market is ludicris. >>> >>> You could argue Canopy was a preferred choice for many Muni plays, most >>> all >>> of which went bankrupt or shut down their networks, creating one of the >>> largest availability stockpiles of second hand used product for WISPs to >>> now >>> buy at discount, compared to any other brand. I find it interesting that >>> Alvarion and Trango still hold their value higher on Ebay. >>> >>> I'll also argue that what is considered preferred choice gear is a leap >>> frog >>> game. Ironically, I personally have been using some Canopy recently, >>> because of a unique value proposition it offers for specific application >>> on >>> this given day. However, there are many new players, which very well may >>> bring the next best product line to the market. A perfect example are >>> new >>> products like Redline, Aperto, Alvarion dominating the new 3650 markets. >>> >>> And the comment "are swapping out their Trango gear anyways.", that's a >>> croc. If they are swapping them out, they are fools. Eight years later, >>> my >>> Trangos are as strong as the day they were installed. >>> >>> I'd actually argue the opposite of your comment. Alvarion always had the >>> reputation as the choice for the larger VC funded companies that could >>> afford the best. Canopy is more destined to be a preferred choice for >>> "small >>> operators." To Canopy's luck, Trango, the price and engineering leader, >>> and >>> favorite to many medium size providers, decided not to continue down the >>> path to evolve PtMP solutions into the next generation 20-30mbps >>> capacities, >>> therefore leaving the door wide open for Canopy to work its way into >>> winning >>> business from smaller market providers. If a WISP wants 20mbps, and >>> doesn't >>> want to mess around with OEM style gear, its one of the solution left >>> that >>> can do it at near the same price point. >>> >>> >>> Tom DeReggi >>> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >>> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "3-dB Networks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> To: "'WISPA General List'" <[email protected]> >>> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 8:16 AM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>> >>> >>>>I guess we need to define large... :-) >>>> >>>> You also need to look at the region I know best... for WISP's over say >>>> 1000 >>>> customers in the State of Colorado... only one WISP operational in say >>>> 2006 >>>> on had over 1000 customers and was using anything but Canopy... and now >>>> they >>>> are swapping out their Trango gear anyways. >>>> >>>> I think large for a WISP has to be at the 5000 sub or higher mark. I >>>> for >>>> one can only think of three or four companies at that mark... and they >>>> all >>>> use Canopy... >>>> >>>> Since I don't get out to the East coast... I know I can be very very >>>> wrong >>>> :-) I should have put that disclaimer on that statement (so I >>>> apologize!) >>>> >>>> Daniel White >>>> 3-dB Networks >>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> On >>>>> Behalf Of Tom DeReggi >>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 11:43 PM >>>>> To: WISPA General List >>>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>>>> >>>>> > the really big WISP's all deploy Canopy I think for a reason >>>>> >>>>> Canopy makes a real nice platform now, and some large companies may >>>>> use >>>>> Canopy.. But that comment is in no way true. >>>>> >>>>> I can name just as many large companies that deploy, Trango, Alvarion, >>>>> StarOS, etc. >>>>> >>>>> Tom DeReggi >>>>> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >>>>> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "3-dB Networks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> To: "'WISPA General List'" <[email protected]> >>>>> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 8:47 AM >>>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> > Steve, >>>>> > >>>>> > I think Mesa Networks former CEO (if your not familiar with our >>>>> > company >>>>> we >>>>> > are a spin off of Mesa Networks) Todd Bergstrom attributes part of >>>>> > our >>>>> > success by leasing equipment early on as a WISP. He wrote an >>>>> > article >>>>> here >>>>> > about leasing that might change your mind. >>>>> > http://tinyurl.com/5uowsx >>>>> > >>>>> > Basically look at it this way. If you lease your equipment, it >>>>> > allows >>>>> you >>>>> > to build that next tower site, get customers installed, increase >>>>> > your >>>>> > revenue. You end up paying more in the long run because of the >>>>> interest, >>>>> > but you may also save money by being able to buy in bulk from your >>>>> vendor >>>>> > instead of individual or 5 packs. Todd probably explains it better >>>>> > in >>>>> the >>>>> > article. >>>>> > >>>>> > Other than this, I've been racking my brains on things that another >>>>> > WISP >>>>> > can >>>>> > replicate to expand... and the only thing I can think of is >>>>> > equipment >>>>> > related... I know we couldn't have built our network using an >>>>> 802.11a/b/g >>>>> > solution (although our networks first couple hundred customers were >>>>> > on >>>>> > KarlNet) because you hit an oversubscription on the AP really fast. >>>>> > We >>>>> > had >>>>> > many many AP's with 50+ customers... we would not have been >>>>> > successful >>>>> > without timing and the ability to place so many customers on an AP. >>>>> > Our >>>>> > WISP almost failed back in 2002 (before I joined Mesa) because we >>>>> > hit >>>>> the >>>>> > limitations of the KarlNet system. My experiences with a Tranzeo >>>>> network >>>>> > in >>>>> > 2006/2007 lead me to believe things really haven't changed that much >>>>> (its >>>>> > all still 802.11 and its hard to make significant improvements to >>>>> > it). >>>>> So >>>>> > while this is probably along the lines of rip out your network and >>>>> > start >>>>> > over... the really big WISP's all deploy Canopy I think for a >>>>> > reason. >>>>> > >>>>> > My 2 cents, take them for what they are worth (which 2 cents isn't >>>>> > worth >>>>> > much anymore) >>>>> > >>>>> > Daniel White >>>>> > 3-dB Networks >>>>> > >>>>> >> -----Original Message----- >>>>> >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >> On >>>>> >> Behalf Of Steve Barnes >>>>> >> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 3:53 AM >>>>> >> To: WISPA General List >>>>> >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>>>> >> >>>>> >> I guess maybe I am old school but leasing the CPE just makes it so >>>>> >> that >>>>> >> the monthly fee has to pay the CPE cost instead of the install. >>>>> >> You >>>>> >> still have to pay for it. It may make cash flow easier but the ROI >>>>> >> takes longer due to interest rates and labor dealing with lease Co. >>>>> >> Can you help me with that one. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Steve >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>>> >> On >>>>> >> Behalf Of Travis Johnson >>>>> >> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:45 PM >>>>> >> To: WISPA General List >>>>> >> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Honestly, the fastest way to grow is to lease your CPE. Then the >>>>> install >>>>> >> fee covers your cost on every install, and you aren't "upside down" >>>>> >> on >>>>> >> every new customer. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Travis >>>>> >> Microserv >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Chuck McCown - 3 wrote: >>>>> >> >>>>> >> You are doing it. Just keep bootstrapping. Once you get 1000 >>>>> >> subscribers >>>>> >> things will be a bit better. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> >> From: "Steve Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>> >> To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]> >>>>> >> <mailto:[email protected]> >>>>> >> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:32 PM >>>>> >> Subject: [WISPA] Client Speeds >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> I have read many post on this list about how much bandwidth >>>>> >> different >>>>> >> WISP offer. I want to discuss that as well as the recommended >>>>> >> equipment >>>>> >> that is so often discussed on this list. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> I am a startup. Little to no startup capital. I had to pinch >>>>> >> each >>>>> >> penny to get as much as possible out of it. My goal was to >>>>> >> service the >>>>> >> clients no one wanted in a county that had no Fiber or DSL other >>>>> >> that >>>>> >> what Verizon holds hostage. So now after 2 years I have 8 >>>>> >> towers with >>>>> >> 320 clients. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> The service I offer is a $39.99 basic level 640k x 256k and a >>>>> >> $59.99 Pro >>>>> >> Level 1M x 512k. You guys are talking about 10Mb. If I turn >>>>> >> off the >>>>> >> speed control on AP's and let people play I don't get over 3.5M >>>>> >> on any >>>>> >> of them. ( 2.4 MT or StarOS, and Tranzeo CPE's) I use a StarOS >>>>> >> Full >>>>> >> Duplex Link to Backhaul to a Fiber connection that I Share cost >>>>> >> of with >>>>> >> another WISP my size. The investment I would have to make to >>>>> >> achieve >>>>> >> 10MB to each client is financially Impossible. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Surely some of you big guys out there have been in my shoes. >>>>> >> What do >>>>> >> you recommend a small WISP in my situation to do in the future. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Please don't start with the statement, "How you should have >>>>> >> started you >>>>> >> service". I was providing a solution. So this is what I have >>>>> >> and I >>>>> >> know of at least 6 other small WISP's on this list who are in >>>>> >> the same >>>>> >> boat. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> So BIG GUYS think back. How do I grow into new BROADBAND >>>>> >> definition >>>>> >> without rebuilding my network from the ground up. What is >>>>> >> everyone >>>>> >> charging and what does the client get for that price. Financing >>>>> >> is not >>>>> >> readily available and the Boss hopes to one day get some ROI. >>>>> >> No >>>>> >> Grants available and no big group wanting to invest or challenge >>>>> >> Verizon. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Steve Barnes >>>>> >> >>>>> >> RC-WiFi.com >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> - >>>>> >> -------- >>>>> >> WISPA Wants You! 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