snagrat Posted October 11, 2021 Posted October 11, 2021 What have you ordered? We went with Cisco Meraki MS350-24X in all the schools we have done and these are generally all in stock. This means all the cabling and switch infrastructure can be installed along side the old WiFi. Then it’s a quick swap out of AP when they arrive. The APs aren’t however. MX46 and MX86 but we have been told 90days for these. Why has it taken you so long to do this? If this is the third phase offering then invoicing should be next financial year.
bezzoh Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 Is there a way to check eligibility? I'm concerned if the DfE have written to any of my schools then they might have just been ignored as spam... which is often the case.
StevieM Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 Is there a way to check eligibility? I'm concerned if the DfE have written to any of my schools then they might have just been ignored as spam... which is often the case. As I reported, that very nearly happened to us. I'll PM you the contact address.
bezzoh Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 As I reported, that very nearly happened to us. I'll PM you the contact address. Appreciated thank you. I think its a pretty regular occurrence at some of our schools. I'm guilty of it myself sometimes if something looks a bit like junkmail. The trick is to include a chocolate bar, that usually gets my attention 😊
chazzy2501 Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 I get the feeling I might have missed out on something. we are a rural school and just paid bank for a new gigabit internet connection... anyone got a link to check eligibility? (junk mail expires after 30 days)
Dom_ Posted October 18, 2021 Posted October 18, 2021 As I reported, that very nearly happened to us. I'll PM you the contact address. Could I get the contact address too please?
password1234 Posted October 19, 2021 Author Posted October 19, 2021 What have you ordered? We went with Cisco Meraki MS350-24X in all the schools we have done and these are generally all in stock. This means all the cabling and switch infrastructure can be installed along side the old WiFi. Then it’s a quick swap out of AP when they arrive. The APs aren’t however. MX46 and MX86 but we have been told 90days for these. Why has it taken you so long to do this? If this is the third phase offering then invoicing should be next financial year. Yup we too went with Cisco equipment similar what you have suggested, DFE notified our schools back in May/June - schools being schools either deleted the initial email or took long to contact us about it, then we had the issue of arranging a site visit to the school which again was difficult to arrange with the schools, they wanted at during certain times. Then once we got quotes and everything back schools would then take ages to get the forms sent over to DFE for approval and purchase the orders (Just unfortunate the type of schools we deal with are like that) But we went with Cisco stuff initially and lead times are about 3 months - schools which got approved and their order processed back in July ETA for their equipment is around end of November and there are some schools who ordered even later than that and some school that have not even sent their form in yet DFE said cut off is end of feb they are not going to budge The schools we already got approved are using Cisco Stuff, we found another reseller who are providing Aruba stuff and they have these in stock and once approved they can normally dispatch it within a week or so, so we going to end up going down this route instead, plus some schools we looking to get quite a bit of cabling done such as digging up ground and running fibre between mobile class units and all sorts so rushing at the moment Did anyone else get caught out with forgetting to get new cabs fitted, few of our schools we completely overlooked this so we having to apply for additional funding from DFE to cover this as their initial bid was already approved
danielghares Posted October 19, 2021 Posted October 19, 2021 I'll PM you the contact address. Could you PM the address to me please? Thanks
IT_JB Posted October 20, 2021 Posted October 20, 2021 Did anyone else get caught out with forgetting to get new cabs fitted, few of our schools we completely overlooked this so we having to apply for additional funding from DFE to cover this as their initial bid was already approved Yes we needed deeper cabinets at nearly all our schools, this delayed things as we had to go back to the DfE for re-approval. Had no issue getting the new total approved however, we are now just in the long queue for Cisco APs...
password1234 Posted October 21, 2021 Author Posted October 21, 2021 Yes we needed deeper cabinets at nearly all our schools, this delayed things as we had to go back to the DfE for re-approval. Had no issue getting the new total approved however, we are now just in the long queue for Cisco APs... What Depth size cabinets did you order if you dont mind me asking? We have 2 schools both they have wall mounted cabinet and currently they are 500MM in Depth Once cisco switch we ordered is 22inches deep and the other for another school is 20inches deep! Our Cabler was saying a 600MM Cabinet is going to leave it quite tight!
snagrat Posted October 21, 2021 Posted October 21, 2021 800mm deep wall cabinets where we have had to install the MS350-24X For floor standing just gone for 1000mm deep 1
StevieM Posted October 22, 2021 Posted October 22, 2021 Did anyone else get caught out with forgetting to get new cabs fitted I didn't forget, exactly, but I didn't include them in the initial quote request; I thought I'd leave it until after the Technical Evaluation was done. We've got Wave9 coming on Tuesday, so they'll give us a better idea of exactly what we'd need. I'm thinking there maybe additional electrical works required, too, as well as a UPS, but I don't know if that will all be covered. The DfE has been really quick at responding, so far, so I'm hoping we'll be able to proceed without too much further delay (stock issues aside). 1
Keith-LST Posted October 25, 2021 Posted October 25, 2021 Got a feeling our school may have ignored the invite for this without knowing what it was does anyone have a contact to find out eligibility please Much appreciated
password1234 Posted November 4, 2021 Author Posted November 4, 2021 DFE has sent out an email to all the schools today saying that all Quotes must be submitted to them to by Friday 12th November
StevieM Posted November 5, 2021 Posted November 5, 2021 Yikes! I've not received that, but we'll be cutting it close if that is the case.
password1234 Posted November 5, 2021 Author Posted November 5, 2021 Yikes! I've not received that, but we'll be cutting it close if that is the case. Yup! and also they said to us that all works need to be done and completed by 15th Feb to be able to claim expenses back, if work can't be done by then then the schools can file a partial claim for this financial year and the rest for next extremely tight!
StevieM Posted November 5, 2021 Posted November 5, 2021 That's actually not quite so bad. If we can get the infrastructure sorted (cabling and cabs) by February, then pay/claim for the network hardware and setup in April, that may take a bit of the pressure off.
password1234 Posted November 9, 2021 Author Posted November 9, 2021 Has anyone here ordered Cisco kit as part of this scheme? Whats the delivery lead times been like? Apparently heard from somewhere that Cisco kit has been ring fenced for schools and that they can get hold of it quickly? not soo sure if this is the case has anyone ordered cisco meraki kit and if so have they had any lead times?
snagrat Posted November 9, 2021 Posted November 9, 2021 Has anyone here ordered Cisco kit as part of this scheme? Whats the delivery lead times been like? Apparently heard from somewhere that Cisco kit has been ring fenced for schools and that they can get hold of it quickly? not soo sure if this is the case has anyone ordered cisco meraki kit and if so have they had any lead times? For us the switches have come in pretty quickly, within a week. The APs are still on order though. Just had one lot come through from a July order.
password1234 Posted November 9, 2021 Author Posted November 9, 2021 For us the switches have come in pretty quickly, within a week. The APs are still on order though. Just had one lot come through from a July order. Ahh thats interesting in this case What switches did you order if you don't mind me asking? We went for Cisco MS390-48 and AP MR56, orders placed in August and nothing has arrived yet for anything
bitznpcz Posted November 9, 2021 Posted November 9, 2021 We went for MS355-24X2, MR46 and MR76 - lead time was around 10 weeks 1
IT_JB Posted November 9, 2021 Posted November 9, 2021 I had two orders of MR46s arrive back in July, have been waiting for the rest since then. They have in the last couple of weeks suggested we switch to the MR56 as there is still 0 stock showing on the MR46 product line. Switches have been less of an issue. 1
password1234 Posted November 9, 2021 Author Posted November 9, 2021 I had two orders of MR46s arrive back in July, have been waiting for the rest since then. They have in the last couple of weeks suggested we switch to the MR56 as there is still 0 stock showing on the MR46 product line. Switches have been less of an issue. Yeh thats the same thing we got told, although our initial order was for MR56!
Keith-LST Posted November 10, 2021 Posted November 10, 2021 Has anyone had HP/Aruba kit priced?, if so what models have you been quoted for core and POE switches
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now