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I will be submitting this enhancement request to TaxSlayer and welcome comments before I do.

I will submit on 28 April 2025.

Thanks in advance.

Enhance print set site configuration to improve preparer and site efficiency:

Include all 12 TaxSlayer default print sets on the Print Set Configuration Page.

Add a checkbox to each line on the Print Set configuration page to suppress the appearance of that Print Set in any print set drop-down selection list. It should be possible to suppress TaxSlayer Default, Relational EFIN subscribed, MSA, and site-specific print sets.

Allow print sets to be displayed in a specified order in the print set drop-down selection lists, instead of the current random order, perhaps using the same user interface design as is used to reorder responses in custom questions.

These changes would allow a preparer to choose from only those print sets used at a site and in an order that makes sense for the site, whether that’s alphabetical, frequency of use, or some other site-specific sort order.

Benefits to Tax-Aide Sites

TaxSlayer added nine default print sets for TY2024. The total of twelve default print sets are just noise and create a significant opportunity for errors in selecting print sets to be used for printing. Enabling suppression of these unneeded print sets reduces the probability that a preparer will select an incorrect print set. This reduces the generation of waste with Taxpayer Personally Identifiable Information.

Sites often use a small number, but more than one, print set. Ordering print sets in the selection list ensures that sites’ common print sets appear at the top of the list, not just the site default print set.

Suppression of subscribed R-EFIN Print Sets allows for responsive removal of unneeded print sets from drop-down selection lists by the site administrator in the event of delays incurred when contacting the R-EFIN’s Point of Contact to unsubscribe the R-EFIN print set. [PA1 has excellent R-EFIN POC's. Maybe other split-states don't.]

Suppression of a site’s own print sets allows for an obsolete site Print Set to be removed from view but remain available in the event reversion to the old Print Set is required.

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As of today, there are?zero?Chromebooks available in the Tax-Aide central warehouse.?If?you?have placed an order for Chromebooks and not received a shipping notice, the order is unlikely to be filled. No new orders are being filled.?

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Do not submit any new orders for Chromebooks in the Portal.

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Do not return any Chromebooks to storage or for repair.

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To address this issue, we hope to get Chromebooks to districts that need them by?redistribution, from districts that have extra, to districts that need them. Overall, the National organization thinks that we have more than enough Chromebooks for the 2025 tax season, but that some Chromebooks are simply in the wrong places, unneeded.?

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Your District Coordinator should soon be asking you for the number of Chromebooks not being used in your District, that can be shared with other districts.

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Your District Coordinator should be determining if they need any additional Chromebooks, as well.

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Thank you

Ray

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GL-iNet SFT-1200 use at large sites

The GL-iNet SFT-1200 is described by NTSC as supporting 52 concurrent connections (printers plus Chromebooks) on p.4 of NTSC’s .

One site has reported that use with 30 concurrent connections during a December training event resulted in instability, specifically the WiFi networks created by the SFT-1200 failed to appear in Chromebook WiFi network lists. A “Network Reset” of the router restored visibility to the WiFi networks seen by Chromebooks.

Diagnostic testing ruled out Chromebook and site issues as contributing factors. Tests at two sites showed no operational issues with 15 connections or less.

The router is new and we (PA1) have limited experience with it, so it is not possible to say with certainty what the upper limit is on connection count.

In the meantime, we suggest:

• At sites with more than 15 concurrent connections, consider use of the higher-capacity GL-iNet MT-3000.
• Have the network reset process, described below, available and train site personnel on its use at sites using the SFT-1200.
  

Next Steps

If your sites have operational or training experience with the SFT-1200, please share it by replying to this email or adding a reply to this posting on groups.io whether or not you experienced a problem. Be sure to briefly describe the number of Chromebooks and printers connected and the nature of the workload, such as return preparation, tax training, initial Chromebook setup, or something else.

One district (D22, eastern Northampton County) will have its annual two-week Certification Training starting on January 6th. The two GL-iNet models will be used on different days during that training. Another district, D04, (Bucks County, PA) will have training on January 13th and 15th. We will report on both experiences.

GL-iNet Router Network Reset Procedure

To perform a network reset, use the reset button on the side of the router next to the Mode switch. Press and hold the reset button for four seconds. If you hold the reset button for ten seconds, you will reset the SFT-1200 to factory settings, erasing your Tax-Aide configuration.

You can find some additional information on the GL-iNet site under “."

Note that the same procedure is used to perform a network reset on all GL-iNet routers, including the MT-3000.

Summary

The SFT1200 and MT3000 routers are good choices for Tax-Aide sites. They are the same physical size. The MT3000 has higher capacity and better multi-room capabilities. The following summarizes what makes them good choices for Tax-Aide sites. Both are on the NTSC list of recommended routers, and the NTSC has provided configuration documents for each.

Features

• Ability to store WISP setup information for multiple host sites; routers can be moved from site to site without reconfiguration.
• Very compact; antennas fold flush with the router body, reducing opportunity for damage during transport and storage.
  
• Can be tethered to a smartphone (cable or WiFi) for a backup or emergency upstream connection (smartphone must have a compatible data plan; additional charges may be incurred)
• Both routers use the same web interface for configuration. If you know one, you know the other.
  
• Can be powered from a power bank or an AC-connected Tax-Aide Chromebook

Disadvantages

• Status light can be hard to see and interpret
• Time to data ready seems long, about 2 minutes (1:30 for an Ethernet upstream)

The SFT1200 can deliver at least 30Mbps, sufficient for 30 counselors based on NTSC recommendations. (Note: I am unable to test with this many counselors.) The MT3000 supports more counselors and has better multi-room capability.

MT3000 and SFT1200 have nearly identical configuration screens; only the DHCP configuration differs. If you can configure one, you know how to configure the other.

Both routers have active development efforts for their firmware, and at present are identified by NTSC as being certified through TY26.

Note: the SF-1200 is an older router. The SFT1200 described here is completely different. The SF-1200 is not on the NTSC recommended router list. If you purchase the SFT1200 router, make sure the item you order has a “T” in the model number.

Multiple WISP Upstream Definitions Supported

Both can store multiple upstream WISP configurations and use the first that can be found. This means you can configure a router to work at any of multiple sites without reconfiguration, simplifying equipment substitution and sparing.

Most routers store only one WISP upstream configuration and cannot be used at a different site without reconfiguration by a TC.

Both can be set up to use an Ethernet-connected host upstream network instead of WISP if an Ethernet cable from the host network is connected to the WAN port, just like the Brother printer ignores WiFi when an Ethernet cable is plugged in. No reconfiguration of either router is required.

I have found that the SFT1200 can be configured for at least twelve different WISP upstream connections, each with a unique name, authentication type, and, if not an open public network, a password. A configuration page exists to delete WISP upstream connections that are no longer required. .

All upstream WISP configurations are included in configuration backup and restore.

Both routers work well with upstream connections that require a “captive portal” sign-on before allowing Internet access.

These routers can be configured to WISP-connect to a Verizon hotspot to extend the counselor connection count of that hotspot.

Smartphone Tethering

These routers can be tethered to a smartphone and use the smartphone as an upstream connection to the Internet. The smartphone must support tethering and be subscribed to a cellular plan that includes tethering or hotspot data. The connection can be via a cable connection to the smartphone, if supported, or via the smartphone’s WiFi hotspot, again if supported.

This was tested using an iPhone 16 Pro Max, T-Mobile, with a data plan that supported hotspot use.

A USB-C cable with USB-A adapter connected the router to the iPhone. A fast.com test set showed about 80Mbps download, 6Mpbs upload. When either router is cable-connected to a smartphone, power is provided to the smartphone.

The WISP upstream connection to the iPhone’s WiFi hotspot was not listed by the router’s scan of available WiFi networks, but manual configuration of the SSID and password for WISP was accepted by the router. This connection showed about 35Mbps as measured by fast.com.

Startup and Indications

The routers take about two minutes to completely initialize and support Internet data transfer from connected Chromebooks when using WISP. The routers attempt to use the same upstream network as was previously used.

If you move routers around and the router must “hunt” for a working upstream, each upstream setup that must be tested adds about 20 seconds to initialization. For example, if you store ten configurations and the router must try all ten before getting a match, initialization could take 6-7 minutes.

Note that a seven minute initialization time cannot be considered a disadvantage; other routers from other makers cannot connect to an alternate upstream without reconfiguration by someone with a technical skillset.

An Ethernet connection to the host site’s network shortens initialization time to about 90 seconds.

During startup and operation, the front light provides status as follows:

• Solid Blue: the router is booting.
• Flashing blue: the router is looking for and establishing an upstream connection
• Solid white: Ready and operating

Differences between the SFT1200 and the MT3000

The MT3000 has more transmitter power and bandwidth. The MT3000 can support data rates in excess of 300Mbps, while the SFT1200 tops out at about 50Mbps.

Where multi-room layouts and/or wall construction unacceptably reduce the SFT1200’s signal strength, or where counselor counts create performance problems, the MT3000 is nearly a drop-in replacement. The MT3000 is more expensive than the SFT1200 but it is still within guidelines offered by NTSC for router prices.

The MT3000’s status light is smaller than that of the SFT1200, and it is harder to distinguish between a white and a blue indication.

The DHCP configuration screens are slightly different.

The SFT1200 has one WAN Ethernet port and two LAN ports, and the MT3000 has one of each. The WAN port can be configured as a LAN port if using WISP on both models.

Power Requirements & Connections

The 18w power supply connects via USB-C to either router. The router can be powered by any 20w USB-C connectable supply, including a power bank. The routers will drain a power-bank pretty quickly, so site networking designs that depend on a power bank for production return preparation should get a big power bank.

A Chromebook connected to AC power using the Acer-provided power supply will charge its battery and power either router model. This means a site’s LC, ERO, or “router captain” can toss the router and a standard USB-C cable in their Chromebook bag between tax preparation sessions. While a Chromebook can power either unit without being on AC, operating that way will drain the Chromebook battery pretty quickly.

Storage and Transport

Both units are the same size, a bit thicker than but comparable to a spinning disk external hard drive. Two antennas fold flush to the body of the router.

Travel cases similar to external hard disk cases (~$15, Amazon) can be purchased to simplify storage and transport between return preparation sessions. The cases have room for one router, the power supply and cord, and an ethernet cable.