Dear Link2ICT, we need to talk........(NM meeting)

[foofighterjim]

I do feel guilty, I sort of monopolised my groups discussion on the web filtering table and unfortunately didn't really get clear answers. At one point the question was raised about responsibility of MIS uploads if you leave Link and even they are in the dark as to where our responsibility ends and theirs begins.

[CHR1S]

Unfortunately I was unable to go, probably a bonus to L2ICT as I have several axes to grind right now. Was there a dart board up with my picture on?

 

What was said re: speed of replies to requests, orders and what not? Its slightly improved in some areas while the tech support has nose dived in the last week or so!

[alan-d]

We tried to convince them to have an official presence on Edugeek, but they were a bit hesitant which I can kinda understand.

 

There are one or two that appear on here on occassions. They keep themselves hidden but they do take note of what is said. It's not that easy to influence those around them though.

 

I had to miss yesterdays gathering due to work committments and a long awaited dental appointment. Can anyone who went give a brief write up on what was said?

[foofighterjim]

What was said re: speed of replies to requests, orders and what not? Its slightly improved in some areas while the tech support has nose dived in the last week or so!

 

General opinion of my group that communication was the major issue. Lack of notice about projects and the difficulty in getting calls escalated to the relevant people were reoccurring themes during all of the discussions I was in.

[CHR1S]

Thanks Jim

[Little-Miss]

I think we sort of said Hi!

i was the guy you spoke to first when you came in, you asked me about the information pack that was on the table...the short long haired dude lol

 

Haha! Hello! lol

[CHR1S]

...but time-scales, costs and definitive dates where lacking.

 

That sums up L2ICT right there....

 

Good ideas and intentions that never come in to fruition or are delayed and/or crippled!

[MrPstv]

To be honest i can't slate Link2ict as they did make the effort to organize a meeting so those that have gripes and issues can voice them directly,for those that could not attend for what ever reason oh well maybe next time.

Now i think we have to give them the benefit of the doubt instead of unnecessarily writing them off as it was only yesterday we gathered.

 

Well that's my thoughts on it !!

[MrPstv]

A change of managers has happened and staff training in the pipeline across the board,sounds like a positive move!

[Little-Miss]

I do feel positive that they are listening, but it's not going to be an easy, quick fix. There's a good few years of neglect they need to rectify.

[MrPstv]

We as support staff know how difficult it is at times to please everyone,must be the same @link2ict,yes they have noted the

bad communication with the Email upgrade and the Firewall replacement and i did see some red faces when mentioned.

[foofighterjim]

In terms of sending to the LA or DFE...?

 

Is it our responsibility to get the data to Birmingham or their responsibility to get the data from us. I did say that my understanding was that it was our responsibility to make the data available but theirs to actually retrieve it. This was centred around leaving them for internet but possibly retaining for MIS support. I did say a couple of times that this basically leaves me the option of staying put or cutting everything, from their perspective that isn't necessarily a good position and will cost them customers.

[Michael]

I've just received an e-mail from Link2ICT entitled "How much bandwidth does your school actually use?"

 

I'm sorry, but when will Link2ICT realise that a Primary school in 2014 doesn't need a 100Mbps internet connection, but rather something in between? It really is common sense.

 

And to rub salt into the wound, I was booted off VPN 5 times last night. Please get the existing setup right instead of pushing schools into buying something they clearly do not need.

[CHR1S]

We have just had to upgrade ours.... 10mb to 100mb and in-betweener would have been great.

[Michael]

100Mbps works for Secondary establishments and large Primaries - not small Primaries and Nursery establishments. This is why a shared PTP system would be better with small clusters - sharing the cost, yet delivering a faster than current experience.

[machin05]

That was one of the contributing factors in leaving.

 

We are now on 50mb with an onsite Smoothwall and it's never been noticeably slow.

 

We can filter YouTube to certain groups of students and PCs, we can enforce YouTube for Education for all other students, we can allow full access to YouTube for staff, we can open up access to specific videos to students if they need it, we can limit the bandwidth used by YouTube traffic to whatever we chose (30mb at the moment) which is helpful in keeping the internet up and running smoothly when our media techs are uploading videos.

 

The money saved on going for 50mb as opposed to 100mb from Link2ICT covered the cost of the Smoothwall, but we also have all the benefits stated above and many many many more.

[jamin100]

I was there.

Thought it was a good day and was pleased to meet the account managers boss as ours seems pretty useless at the moment

[machin05]

Think I need to come and talk to you :-)

 

No worries mate. PM me whenever you like.

[Trapper]

Has any maintained school actually left the Birmingham Grid for their primary internet connection?

[SchoolsBroadband]

We have just had to upgrade ours.... 10mb to 100mb and in-betweener would have been great.

 

This might sound daft but BT changed the pricing of their Ethernet Access Direct point to point fibre circuits and 100mbit circuits are now cheaper than 10mbit circuits.

 

Sooner or later the 10mbit product will get pulled.

 

Having said that though I think bgfl use virgin media anyway and their pricing is much more ad hoc

 

We are starting to see more secondary schools take 100mbit on 1gbit bearers. One school has just taken a 300mbit on 1gbit bearer and get close to maxing it out, although they have rolled out 1:1 iPads which eat bandwidth in certain circumstances.

 

Dave

[machin05]

Has any maintained school actually left the Birmingham Grid for their primary internet connection?

 

Colmers have just moved to RM.

[CHR1S]

Colmers have just moved to RM.

 

*Sniggers*

[chippo]

Yes we have, we still use Link2ICT for MIS support

[eshaq786]

Is it our responsibility to get the data to Birmingham or their responsibility to get the data from us. I did say that my understanding was that it was our responsibility to make the data available but theirs to actually retrieve it. This was centred around leaving them for internet but possibly retaining for MIS support. I did say a couple of times that this basically leaves me the option of staying put or cutting everything, from their perspective that isn't necessarily a good position and will cost them customers.

 

I posed the same questions on this thread. http://www.edugeek.net/forums/internet-related-filtering-firewall/133236-looking-birmingham-schools-who-have-left-bgfl.html

 

I wanted to know how FCS and data submissions would work. It seems like its shrouded in mystery with BCC and link keeping quiet about the solution. Just bloody tell us link!

[Little-Miss]

FYI: You should've received a summary of the "Think Tank" feedback just now. Edited May 16, 2014 by Little-Miss