Wireless network

[foodconsult]

Just joined and I have a question????


If I am looking to put in a Wireless network in an 1800 sq ft restaurant, What am I looking to spend? ? I technology and everything else.

I want my staff to take orders at the table and punch in the orders as the customer is ordering. This will increase in efficiency and cut back on labor. I price the systems currently for sale and the prices are unbelievable www.pokky.com (22,000.00 and then some)
So I approached a pc tech. and they recommended that we buy Pocket pc’s and have them code the necessary software to interface the pocket pc to the point of sales system (ODBC Database).

I want to know what I am looking at spending??

Thanks in advance,

Alan Araghi
food_consult@yahoo.com

[zap203]

It is really hard to guess how many access points that you will need to use becuase of attenuation with the walls and reflections of everything else in teh resturant. The main weak point in the network is the client device that you are using and it's antenna. Mostly those devices have a real short range. Becuase of that you also need to look at the bandwidth that the application you are using requires. If it is low, then I would start off with two Access points towards the middle of the building so that the RF does not go outside too much.

You may need to fill in with a third if you find a shadow.

Hope this helps.

[foodconsult]

Thanks for the well informed input! But do you really think we need more than 2 access points.... The space is relativly free of obstruction and I think it is very small(actual seating space 1000 sq ft).

Thanks Again,
Alan
food_consult@yahoo.com

[FishTank1701]

Depending on dimensions, two might not even be necessary. Couldn't hurt though, given the access critical nature of the application. Access points are relatively inexpensive, compared to the hand held units you'll need for the table staff and the custom programming.

The odds of needing more than two are relatively nil. My AP is located in the basement of my home, and I can reach it with the 802.11b card in my iPAQ from the 2nd floor, while on the opposite side of the house. A wide open eatary should be a piece of cake.

You might want to consider configuring the access points to only allow explicit mac address to associate. It will take an extra 2 minutes to configure the AP's for each new PDA in service, but will keep out the neighbors and pesky customers.

[foodconsult]

Fish Tanks thanks for the input!!

Now Do you guys know how much the coding will cost??

Or will it be the coding --interface with the point of sales that might cost a large sum??

ANY IDEAS!!

Alan

[zap203]

I dont' know much about programming or what is available on the PPC for applications, I work for a wireless broadband company and have been building large and small wireless networks for the last 9 years.

Good luck on the application and remember, the cost of the access points is not as important as making sure that the people using the system can use it everywhere they need to.

[manato]

Hi. I actually work with a networking firm that has 802.11b stuff. Of you need some information i will be glad to help out. we are located in industry.

[foodconsult]

Manato, Send me an email food_consult@yahoo.com


Alan

[pnpd]

has a range of 300 feet radius in open space, that is about 282,743 sq ft. Your 1800 sq ft resturant should be OK unless you have a long narrow dining hall. Say your resturant is about square, so the corner to corner is about 60 feet, without any obstructions, that should be OK.

Of course, that is theoretical specification, if it is not good enough, you can consider a signal booster that costs about 150 bucks from LinkSys just for the sake of it.

I also think you might have to use wired cabling (not wireless) for your kitchen because of metal-wares in the kitchen for your order screen for kitchen staff.

Just a thought.

[foodconsult]

Good Advice Thanks!

The kitchen and the back will all be on hard lines. It is only in the front of the restaurant that the wirless handhelds will be used.

Once I put this one together I am going to package it and sell it to our sister company! The only problem has been the guy who was going to do the coding has vanished...


Alan Araghi
food_consult@yahoo.com

[pnpd]

I believe. It needs to integrate with your accounting system, at least for inventory (how many times that a waiting staff took an order and then come back to customer and say, sorry, some ingredient is out of stock?), display orders back in the kitchen that probably needs touch screen based hardware so the chef can take the order out of queue, putting recipes on PDA, display pictures . . . on and on . . . or let customer order it themselves, much like taking a menu . . .

But it is a great idea :-) If you know any resturant doing it, post it here please, I will go there and dine if I have a chance, just for the fun of it

Good luck.

[Pete_Zaria]

There are three popular types of wireless internet:

802.11B is the most common. This is for a household or office network. It only works when you're within 100 yards or so of the access point (Which is usually near your main computer). It's dirt cheap in comparison to other types though; the card that goes in the PDA runs about $30-40, and the access point $100-150. Although I just saw a 2.4 Ghz (high-frequency, this is good) access point advertised in MacMall catalog (Which is also PC/PDA compatible) for $39. This is the type of network I use.

BlueTooth is the new guy on the block, I don't know much about it. From what I understand, it's also a short-range network like 802.11B, just fancier.

Then comes the cellular type. It uses a cellular modem (Like a cell phone, but made specially for internet), and dials up (like a cell phone) into a service provider (llike AOL [ugh] or something like that). With some companies, you pay by the minute, others you get unlimited. It should run you about $50 a month for unlimited time, or around $30 for a 3000 minute per month plan or something like that.

Research your options.

I'm curious what type of software you plan to use, to allow the waiters/waitresses to communicate with the kitchen team wirelessly, without outside interfeirance. You might just make a website with a fourm like this, but password protect it. You could also use an instant messanger, and make sure that the screen names stay private.

When it comes time to buy the PDAs, check out Ebay. I just saw a full warehouse-pallet of Ipaqs for $8000 on there, so you could sell the leftovers and make some profit.

If you want more info, post back.
Hope this helps!

Peace Out,
Nick.