Alaska Heritage Tours brings easy Internet option to Lodges

Although Alaska is known for its scenic beauty and outdoor activities, the guests at Talkeetna, Seward and Fox Island still required internet connectivity.

With its heavily wooded layout and multiple buildings the Talkeetna lodge created a challenge for IT manager Scott McDonald as he looked to provide wireless access across the grounds. McDonald ran into difficulties getting a network up and running when he first installed other gear that failed to provide adequate signal strength. In May on the recommendation of a trusted reseller, Tranzeo Wireless equipment, he purchased six Meraki mini's and within a few hours had created a mesh network stretching from the main lodge to other surrounding room lodges. "I've been amazed some of the places that the Meraki signals reach, they have a way of getting where I would have never thought possible," McDonald said.

McDonald was so pleased with the performance of the Meraki Minis that he bought more in the coming months. The inherent scalability of the Meraki's network allowed him to add Meraki Mini and Outdoor repeaters as needed until the Caletna lodge and its multiple buildings were fully connected, providing reliable wireless access to all employees and guests. The mix of Indoor and Outdoor repeaters work seamlessly together even in heavily wooded terrain. "We are real happy with the way that the antennae mesh and give overlapping coverage at the two lodges, it is amazing how the antennae's see each other even in some strange locations," said McDonald.

McDonald was also able to set up networks at the Seward lodge as well as Fox island 15 miles off shore. At Seward lodge under Scott's direction the maintenance manager, with a laptop, was able to set up the network with no problems. Guests who arrive by boat at Fox Island find wireless connectivity waiting for them thanks to the 2 weatherproof outdoor repeaters that blanket the island.

Once the network was in place McDonald sought a way to set up a billing system where the guests could pay for the internet they use by entering their credit cards or using PayPal. After trying to install some outside software, he instead utilized Meraki's integrated billing system. By the end of the day the system was in place. "It was the simplest thing ever, I just changed a few settings on the dashboard and decide what I wanted to charge people and it was up and ready to go," commented McDonald.

"Meraki makes make my life easier I will tell you that."