You can do just billing but that would be too expensive versus Quickbooks in my opinion.
At this time you can not do PPPOE but I've asked them to do this several times. They're "looking in to it". 50% chance for it to work. To me, from a network looking glass, it would be MUCH easier then their current method. Currently they use iptables to redirect http/drop other traffic. The best part is a customer can log in and see their balance/bandwidth usage at any time and add their own cards/bank accounts. I don't want to do this, but you can have them add their own computers' MACs and such (this could lead to one account getting multiple neighbors if you don't NAT your radios). Josh Luthman Office: 937-552-2340 Direct: 937-552-2343 1100 Wayne St Suite 1337 Troy, OH 45373 “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” --- Winston Churchill On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 1:48 PM, Paul Gerstenberger <pa...@hrec.coop> wrote: > How does the PowerCode network management... work? I've already started down > the Mikrotik PPPoE/Radius path, would it be interoperable? > > Is it a modular package? We do billing alongside the electric utility billing > (which has it's pros and cons), but I'd really like something that could > handle the CRM and Operations features listed on the PowerCode site. > > -Paul > > On May 2, 2010, at 2:56 PM, Josh Luthman wrote: > >> Did you guys change your redirect page very much? I changed it in two >> ways. I made the reasons and fixes line up and make sense (because removing >> a virus would never update their account) and added the IP address at the >> bottom so I can simply add their new computer/router/etc to their account >> without having them go through Windows. >> >> Josh Luthman >> Office: 937-552-2340 >> Direct: 937-552-2343 >> 1100 Wayne St >> Suite 1337 >> Troy, OH 45373 >> >> “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue >> that counts.” >> --- Winston Churchill >> >> >> On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 6:52 PM, Mark Nash - Lists <markl...@uwol.net>wrote: >> >>> One thing that is saving us alot of time is dealing with delinquent >>> accounts. >>> >>> Used to take about a couple hours each month to actually shut off CPEs for >>> non-payment. Then each would have to call in, arrange for payment or make >>> a >>> credit card payment over the phone, bitch at the agent on the phone, etc. >>> >>> Now, with the combination of the Billing Server/BMU/Customer Portal, that >>> activity has dropped to next-to-nothing. BMU redirects the "Delinquent" >>> user's browser to a "delinquent" page and offers to connect them to the >>> Customer Portal on the billing server. Customers can now re-activate >>> themselves with their credit card, and don't have to go through the >>> embarrassment of talking with someone at our office, and we don't have to >>> deal with them either. And to boot, Powercode v9 now can automatically >>> charge a "Reconnect Fee" to turn service back on. >>> >>> With shutoffs happening more rapidly and automatically, people are getting >>> used to it and paying us more regularly. The usual suspects that seem to >>> always be late are learning, too. It used to be that we could turn them >>> back on until their "check came in the mail". Now we say, "I'm sorry, the >>> system won't let you back on until I clear the late portion of the >>> account". >>> That's kinda true, too, because you can manually change the customer's >>> status from "Delinquent" to "Active", and it will let them back on. Until >>> 3am the next morning when the routine hits again to change the account BACK >>> to "Delinquent". Poof! >>> >>> This "having to deal MORE with the people who AREN'T paying on time" used >>> to >>> really irk me. Now, with this system in place, I make about $250/mo from >>> reconnect fees. Hardly have to deal with them at all, and money is coming >>> in much more efficiently. >>> >>> BTW... Higher-end business clients have a HUGE grace period before they >>> turn >>> to "Delinquent". Didn't want those guys getting shut off just because the >>> A/P clerk took a few days off and got behind on paying the bill! >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Josh Luthman" <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> >>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 3:39 PM >>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Powercode WAS: Overage thresholds and penalties >>> >>> >>> Not sure if it deletes the account. I doubt it and hope it doesn't, >>> though. >>> >>> On 4/30/10, Mark Nash - Lists <markl...@uwol.net> wrote: >>>> OK, but at least, if the account was actually CREATED in Powercode, it is >>>> accounted for in the billing program and cleaned up (removed) when the >>>> account is set to "Not Active"? >>>> >>>> That's a huge step in the right direction for cleaning up email accounts. >>>> >>>> Since there's no cross-reference now, I have no way of knowing who owns >>>> hundreds of our email addresses. You get people putting in email >>> accounts >>>> without a first & last name that identifies the Powercode customer, and >>>> email addresses like just2d...@whatever.com. >>>> >>>> Currently, I just have a policy of removing accounts that have not been >>>> accessed in any way within the last 6 months (deleted about 120 the other >>>> day). We pay 3rd party host for email, and we give some away and take in >>>> about $1k/mo for hosted email. So cleaning up unused accounts for our >>>> "provided-free" domains saves us $$. >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Josh Luthman" <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> >>>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:46 PM >>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Powercode WAS: Overage thresholds and penalties >>>> >>>> >>>> I see what you're getting at. I don't think the two tie together but >>>> I've not looked at it that way. I made sure the account existed, >>>> that's all. We don't chargew for email. >>>> >>>> On 4/30/10, Mark Nash - Lists <markl...@uwol.net> wrote: >>>>> Does it actually count up the number of email addresses you have and put >>>>> those on a billing line item, or account for them as part of a package? >>>>> >>>>> For instance... Customer is given 5 email addresses as a monthly service >>>>> within their package called "Wireless Internet Service". Then we sell >>>>> them >>>>> 10 more "Email accounts" for a total of 15... Does Powercode bill from >>>>> those >>>>> email addresses? Are the actual email addresses tied to the "Package" >>> or >>>>> "Monthly Service"? Or are they just managed? >>>>> >>>>> Do my questions make sense to you? >>>>> >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "Josh Luthman" <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> >>>>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>>>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:24 PM >>>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Powercode WAS: Overage thresholds and penalties >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> That one VERY SMALL and ANNOYING bit...perfect. >>>>> >>>>> Email address is managed inside an account so you know who's it is >>>>> (you can look an account up by it for example). Simply fill out the >>>>> form and his submit. You can change their password for them if they >>>>> forget it, too. >>>>> >>>>> On 4/30/10, Mark Nash - Lists <markl...@uwol.net> wrote: >>>>>> Hey, I'm not using email integration. >>>>>> >>>>>> How's that working for you (the "changepassword on log in to new Gmail >>>>>> accounts" issue aside)? >>>>>> >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: "Josh Luthman" <j...@imaginenetworksllc.com> >>>>>> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 2:09 PM >>>>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Powercode WAS: Overage thresholds and penalties >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> I agree it's overall positive but for the life of me I can't get them >>>>>> to add changepassword on log in to new Gmail accounts. >>>>>> >>>>>> Such a tiny thing and I keep mentioning it, but it's the "I'll have to >>>>>> ask ______" who has to ask someone else. >>>>>> >>>>>> On 4/30/10, Mark Nash - Lists <markl...@uwol.net> wrote: >>>>>>> It's been love-hate. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> We've actually been using it since January 2008, for billing and >>>>>>> scheduling, >>>>>>> tracking leads, etc. We purchased the Imagestream Rebel router to >>> work >>>>>>> as >>>>>>> the Bandwidth Manager Unit (BMU) later that year, but never put it >>> into >>>>>>> place. This was primarily because we didn't trust Powercode tech >>>>>>> support >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> help us when we had a problem with it. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Things were dicey & sketchy with Powercode for awhile. We think the >>>>>>> tide >>>>>>> has turned with the company, being bought out by Bertram Wireless. We >>>>>>> like >>>>>>> better what's going on with them now, and we have upgraded to their >>>>>>> version >>>>>>> 9 with a substantial increase in monthly cost. We did this because we >>>>>>> wanted the bandwidth management integrated with our billing platform, >>>>>>> so >>>>>>> that a low-cost customer service agent could pretty much help a >>>>>>> customer >>>>>>> with whatever their needs were. We felt that it was time to "make or >>>>>>> break" >>>>>>> with Powercode, or switch to another platform (painful but maybe >>>>>>> necessary). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Powercode, the company, has been working well with us to resolve our >>>>>>> problems. They seem to care about having our business more than they >>>>>>> used >>>>>>> to, as they are responding to us and addressing our concerns. In >>> fact, >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> other day, I requested a new feature...seemed like a simple one but >>>>>>> most >>>>>>> times feature requests fall on deaf ears. Powercode has built-in >>>>>>> troubleshooting utilities like ping-flood (web-interfaced billing >>>>>>> server >>>>>>> initiates the command and the BMU runs it and reports back the results >>>>>>> to >>>>>>> the billing server then back to your web browser). Well, I wanted >>>>>>> those >>>>>>> results to be logged in the customer account (PC has EXTENSIVE >>>>>>> logging). >>>>>>> A >>>>>>> week later, that feature was released on an update. Now, whenever any >>>>>>> customer service agent runs a troubleshooting utility in Powercode, it >>>>>>> is >>>>>>> logged on the customer account and stored forever. So, we immediately >>>>>>> began >>>>>>> having our installers running their tests from within Powercode before >>>>>>> they >>>>>>> leave the install. Now we have 3 tests logged for initial performance >>>>>>> of >>>>>>> the connection. Anyway... pretty good turn-around on my request. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I was at a turning point a few months ago, sending out an email to >>>>>>> everyone >>>>>>> to begin searching for a new OSS because we weren't 100% on our >>>>>>> features. >>>>>>> Being 100% on features, I felt, will save us about .5 FTE. If we >>>>>>> aren't >>>>>>> there, and are paying the high price of v9 Powercode...not worth it. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> They're working with us and I hope to be 100% in a week or so. Their >>>>>>> new >>>>>>> pricing has good economy of scale, too...affordable from day >>>>>>> one...expensive >>>>>>> in numbers but advanced features will save you people time at this >>>>>>> point. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> All-in-all, still I think it has been a positive adventure with >>>>>>> Powercode. >>>>>>> I'm glad the product has a better managed company behind it now. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>>> From: "Mark Dueck" <m...@netking.bz> >>>>>>> To: <wireless@wispa.org> >>>>>>> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 12:50 PM >>>>>>> Subject: Re: [WISPA] Overage thresholds and penalties >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> How is your experience with Powercode? I once considered putting in >>>>>>>> Powercode, but it looked to be a little used product, so decided >>>>>>>> against >>>>>>>> it. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On 04/30/2010 10:24 AM, Mark Nash - Lists wrote: >>>>>>>>> We use Powercode to shape bandwidth and to track bandwidth usage, >>> and >>>>>>>>> when >>>>>>>>> the customer goes over the limit, they are throttled down very hard, >>>>>>>>> like >>>>>>>>> 64k. Powercode has a Customer Portal feature that lets them login >>>>>>>>> and >>>>>>>>> check >>>>>>>>> their usage any time they want. Also, they can set up daily emails >>>>>>>>> from >>>>>>>>> their Portal so that they can get an email each day about their >>>>>>>>> monthly >>>>>>>>> usage. We have about 20 customers that do this. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Took us a while to get the Powercode system to work, and it's still >>>>>>>>> not >>>>>>>>> 100%, but I would say that putting in these usage thresholds and >>>>>>>>> tracking >>>>>>>>> has helped us identify who our heavy users are and to deal with them >>>>>>>>> appropriately. Doing this has generated about $500/mo in additional >>>>>>>>> revenue >>>>>>>>> as customers move up to higher speed packages with higher monthly >>>>>>>>> limits. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>>> >>>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>>> >>>>>> “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to >>>>>> continue that counts.” >>>>>> --- Winston Churchill >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>> >>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>>> >>>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>>> >>>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>>> >>>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Josh Luthman >>>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>>> Suite 1337 >>>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>>> >>>>> “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to >>>>> continue that counts.” >>>>> --- Winston Churchill >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>> >>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>> >>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> >>>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>>> >>>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>>> >>>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Josh Luthman >>>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>>> 1100 Wayne St >>>> Suite 1337 >>>> Troy, OH 45373 >>>> >>>> “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to >>>> continue that counts.” >>>> --- Winston Churchill >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>>> >>>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>>> >>>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Josh Luthman >>> Office: 937-552-2340 >>> Direct: 937-552-2343 >>> 1100 Wayne St >>> Suite 1337 >>> Troy, OH 45373 >>> >>> “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to >>> continue that counts.” >>> --- Winston Churchill >>> >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>> >>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>> >>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >>> http://signup.wispa.org/ >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> >>> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >>> >>> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >>> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >>> >>> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ >>> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> WISPA Wants You! Join today! >> http://signup.wispa.org/ >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org >> >> Subscribe/Unsubscribe: >> http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless >> >> Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > WISPA Wants You! Join today! > http://signup.wispa.org/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org > > Subscribe/Unsubscribe: > http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless > > Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WISPA Wants You! 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