[Herts] Meeting Equipment Improvements?

[ROBERTS, Mike]

> > cleanly or does it just get turned off?
> 
> Erm... it gets cleanly powered off :-)

Ah ha ;) 

> 
> > * The networking "kit": On a couple of occasions finding 
> the HertsLUG 
> > kit for the meetings, in the office, has proved a bit 
> tricky. Mostly, 
> > I suspect, because it is kept in a black bin bag which seems to get 
> > stuffed in a different place each time or gets moved as 
> people may not 
> > realise what it is. How long will it be before someone accidentally 
> > throws the whole lot away?
> 
> Cleaning lady: "Hmmm, what's all this junk...? Olde PIII server?
>                 Aw, chuck it..."

he hee hopefully not ;)

> 
> 
> > * Network cables: We could do with some new ones. At least 
> one is duff
> 
> Well, after the last meeting, I was given the supposedly 
> 'duff' one to throw away, so I brought it back to feed to my 
> cable serpent. But just one last test proves it to be 
> working, by in fact sending this message down it, even 
> jiggling the cable still works.

Hmmm ah well. It deffinitely didnt get a link light up on the router
wehn we plogged it in to the wall socket.


> > which leads to 10 minutes of head scratching each month as 
> we try to 
> > figure out why the interweb doesn't work. The cable from the office 
> > router to the smoothwall  appears to be too short so obstructs the 
> > chair / desk if someone is trying to work at it.
> 
> Nobody works at that desk at night IIUC.

Well there was a chap at it last week.  He let us in to the office to
get the bits. Wouldnt hurt to get a longer more suitable cable anyway.

 
> > * Power: There aren't enough extension leads
> 
> Oops, my bad. I am custodian of one HertsLUG extension lead 
> (18m rotary 2-way), but I often forget to bring it (if I 
> attend). Similarly some PC speakers. There might be a limit 
> on how much stuff we can leave in the building without paying 
> them rent to house our 42U rack ;-)

I think that a cable reel, depending on it's size, and other bits, might
fit in the box I have in mind.
> 
> 
> > and we need a dedicated one
> > for the smoothwall as the socket it uses has now been taken 
> to be used 
> > by some additional kit in the office I think.
> 
> That socket is just for something they only use in the daytimes IIRC.

It was a radion I think, which admittedly wasnt on. I just was just
worried about unplugging someone elses kit without asking first, which
we did in the end ;).

> 
> 
> > I would like to offer the following suggestions / solutions:-
> > 
> > * I will donate a "Really Useful Box" # to put all the 
> networking kit 
> > in. It can be labelled up and will, IMHO ;),  be a better 
> thing to put 
> > the meeting kit in than a bin bag.
> >
> > # For those familiar with "really useful boxes" they now 
> make a more 
> > rugged box in either white or black (recycled plastic) both 
> of which 
> > are opaque so you cant see what is inside.
> 
> Cool! Or a cardboard box is cheaper, and slightly more 
> upmarket than our bin-liner. Bear in mind that in an office, 
> any kind of box with a lid will end up having things stacked 
> on top of it. We should find out how much space (and what 
> shape) there is in the corner of the office, and get their 
> permission before buying/getting a box.

Good point re the checking it is OK first. I will bring an example box
along next time and we can make enquieries


> > * Next meeting I'll take away all the kit check / test the network 
> > cables, get the extension leads PAT tested,
> 
> Does PAT testing cost money?

not if I ask nicely ;)

> 
> 
> > mount the Wireless access point and hub and an extension block on a 
> > "lump of wood" (TM)
> 
> # mount -t ext4 /dev/net /block/wood

very good :0)

> 
> 
> > so that they can be set up and just lifted out of the box 
> and plugged 
> > in for each meeting.
> > 
> > * I have already bought a couple more 6 way extension leads 
> so we have 
> > more sockets. + get one for the smooth wall in the office 
> and possibly 
> > a longer one so that we can get power to the second row of 
> tables in 
> > the middle of the room.
> 
> Well I have the LUG's 18m one - that should do it.

Excellent :)

> 
> 
> > * Label the WAP with it's details so it is easy for first time 
> > visitors to find out what they are.
> > 
> > * It might be an idea to keep a spare keyboard and mouse in the box 
> > "just in case"? (or two? PS/2 and USB of each?) I am sure 
> we can find 
> > a few tucked away in our stacks of redundant kit ;o)
> 
> Good idea, but we must not initiate any kind of "Bring all 
> yer olde junk"
> instuction, else we're going to be deluged knowing our crowd.

Indeed.  The idea was to get a small standard kit of parts of essential
items. Not to start hoarding rubbish. i do enough of that at home ;)

> 
> > * Get some new network cables: one long enough to safely reach the 
> > office router without getting in anyone's way (Label it up 
> so people 
> > in the office don't pull it out); several 1 to 5 m network 
> cables (5 
> > ports on the hub?) so we have known good cables.
> 
> Hopefully, between us, there is no need to pay money for 
> network cables.
> Or any of the above, for that matter.

I agree, dont want to spend anything more than the barest minimum.
Donations of a small number of known good network cables and other bits
welcome but it wouldnt be an excuse for a clearout, unless you want to
see if other LUG members might be interested in finding other folks
"junk" a home ;).

> 
> 
> > What do you think? Worth doing? Anyone got any other suggestions on 
> > how to make things quicker and easier to set up?
> 
> A wiki? :-)

Anyone had a chance to look at other LUGs and see what they use yet? If
Nicolas is willing then we should be able to get something installed on
the lug server. everything I have read so far seems to say that it is OK
to do it as long as we play fair by the LUG hosts.

Mike 8-{>

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