1. Bob Willis National Technology Committee
Wireless Networks and Routers
Bob Willis
National Technology Committee

2. 2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis
Public WiFi Usage
Prior to this past tax season AARP Tax- Aide Sites were permitted to use a site’s unsecured Public WiFi Network.
Using a Netis WISP Router was one of last year’s recommendations to create a Secure network at these sites.
Unfortunately using the Netis WISP Router proved troublesome.
In spite the Netis issues, compliance was 90% last year.
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

3. Secure Network Progress
In TY % of Tax-Aide networks were secure networks
Network Agent data
13% of Survey Addendums mentioned setting up secure networks, 50% of those failed due to Netis issue with WISP.
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

4. Unsecured Network usage
314 Tax-Aide sites identified as using insecure Wireless access during tax preparation (Network Agent data)
280 identified to a “site” listed in the Portal (cross match agent geographic data to portal address)
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

5. 2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis
What is WISP?
Wireless Internet Service Provider
A wireless router that can attach wirelessly to a wifi network, to obtain internet access.
That internet connection is then distributed wirelessly to the client computers via a secured Tax-Aide network.
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

6. 2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis
Netis Router
500 Netis routers were used this season, 300 used regularly during tax season
Few successfully used the Netis in WISP mode. Numerous others failed trying to use WISP mode
Many successfully used the Netis with a wired internet connection to create a secure private network
For Next Season Netis Router will only be recommended for Wired Internet connections
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

7. Netis router is not a “standard”
NTC does NOT create “standards”
NTC documents best practices and recommendations
TCS and TCs can choose their own router. The Netis router works well when used with a wired internet connection. It does not work well in the WISP mode with a wireless internet connection.
The TP-Link Wisp routers have proven successful in Tax-Aide use when a wireless internet connection is needed.
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

8. Allowed/Encouraged -Public WiFi Usage
Internet
Personal Systems
Library/Building Public Wifi
Wisp Router, Extender, PC
Public Library Systems
Tax-Aide Laptops
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

9. Connecting to a Public WiFi
Assume the Host site provides an insecure wireless network
Use IAC (Windows 10) Computer
Additional computers may be requested via your TCS and OneSupport
Use a WISP TP-Link router (Model 802M or 810M).
Use a Range Extender with a Router
You can use a Hotspot (This should be a last resort)
Hotspots are easy to use but in numerous cases are not the best solution
Hotspots are last on this list due to cost
We need to find less costly options as much as possible to cut back on their usage
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

10. NTC Recommended Site Configurations
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

11. Most Common WiFi Setup - with Wired Site Connection
Site Network
Modem
Wireless Laptop
Wireless Network Printer
Wireless Router
Wireless Laptop
Network Printer
USB cable
Wireless Laptop
Printer connected to single laptop
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

12. Public WiFi with Windows 10 “IAC Laptop”
Site Public Wifi
Wireless Printer
Laptop that Supports Hosted Networks
Wireless Laptop
Wireless Laptop
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

13. Public WiFi with WISP Router
Site Public Wifi
TP-Link WR-802/810
WISP Router
Wireless Laptop
Wireless Printer
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

14. Public WiFi with Range Extender & Wireless Router
Modem
Wireless Laptop
Range Extender/Wireless Router
Wireless Router
Wireless Network Printer
Wireless Laptop
Wireless Laptop
Wired Network Printer
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

15. Verizon “MiFi” HotSpot
Verizon Jetpack
Wireless Laptop
Wireless Printer
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis

16. 2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis
Questions??
2017 October Regional Mtg - Minneapolis