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The current OS Version on the Chromebook should be 126.0.6478.258. We are being told that the Chromebooks will not advance beyond this OS Version until after the tax season. This will avoid downloads during the tax season. If you see a higher Version, such as 130.0.6723.126, the Chromebook should automatically roll back the Version to 126.0.6478.258. If this occurs, any existing users are deleted and user data is lost. This may happen more frequently on brand new Chromebooks. The message is check the OS Version before configuring your Chromebook for the tax season or handing out to new volunteers.

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

It has been brought to my attention that Amazon is offering “Black Friday” week pricing on two routers on NTSC’s recommended router list (R00a - Router Selection and Support Guide, page 4). Here are the links: GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) Portable Travel Router GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 (Opal) Secure Travel WiFi Router There is no affiliate link information in these links. Neither I nor anyone else gets a cut if you use the links to make a purchase. Disregard the list prices; I purchased for personal use an MT-3000 on November 6th for $86.90 plus tax. But $73.84 for an MT-3000 is still much better than $86.90, $109.90, or the $129 you’ll find on the GL-iNet shopping site. This Black Friday special pricing reportedly ends on 29 November, Friday. The MT-3000 can deliver 270Mbps to a Tax-Aide Chromebook. The SFT-1200, as much as fifty. NTSC recommends 1Mbps per counselor, a recommendation I’ve found to be pretty accurate. The configuration GUI is the same for both, and they both WISP very nicely. NTSC has posted configuration documents for each router (SFT-1200, MT-3000). My purchased MT-3000 does very well, better than anything I’ve had, at my house, with streaming audio and video and exterior masonry walls that became interior walls through a prior homeowner’s renovations. Interior walls are plaster over expanded metal mesh, which thank goodness does not appear to be grounded. No regrets about the purchase. Recommendations I’ve spent a bunch of time with both the 1200 and the 3000 lately, and I will post my experiences to this forum in a day or so. Both are very capable products. The MT-3000 is better at multi-room setups, especially where wall construction materials are problematic for WiFi. Caveats I have not deployed either router for production tax preparation at a Tax-Aide site. Note that the older SF-1200 (no “T” in the model identifier) is not a lower cost version of the SFT-1200. It is a different product with lesser capabilities. Path Forward I will be deploying one of each at D22 sites for TY24 (most of my sites are on hotspots…I’m working on that), and I will keep this group informed of my experience.

PLEASE DO NOT order 2370 printer supplies (toner, drum) using this PA1 TC groups portal. When you do, you are sending a text message to all PA1 TCs as well as both of your Graceworkz PoCs. It is massively confusing. DO send a stand-alone personal email directly to either David or myself Dave Brown<David.F.Brown@...> Richard Lemay<8clearview@...> Thank You

Attached is a document created by Bill Tileston that provides guidance for taking your tests using the new Link and Learn Test Site. RayQ

Attached are my thoughts for the TY24 Season Toner and Drum ordering process. I don't have an opening date for Graceworkz.

I looked at the NTSC recommended routers for TY24 and performed some home performance tests on the GL.iNet SFT1200. GL.iNet SFT1200 Home Performance Measurement is an Excel file with two worksheets detailing signal Strength and Speed Test results. Router Assessment for TY24 is an Excel file comparing the 4 NTSC router recommendations for TY24. I selected the GL.iNet SFT1200 for all District 4 Tax-Aide sites because: It supports multi-room (signal strength) and provides a larger number of connections at relatively low cost. The GL.iNet SFT1200 supports both 2.4 and 5.9 Ghz bands. The Chromebook can work on the 5 GhZ band and access the 'standard Tax-Aide printer' on the 2.4GhZ band. Firmware is easy to update online (although it does take awhile). The configuration (SSIDs and passwords, LAN network settings) can all be saved to a 'backup' configuration file which can then be used to quickly configure the same model routers. So the same SSID, password and printer access works at all sites within the District. This is a lower power unit than we had (Tenda AC6 1200). The GL.iNet SFT1200 will thus reduce interference with other networks at a site. It also seems to be slow to get the LAN up and running, but this might be only a WISP issue Actual site performance data is TBD. -- Richard Lemay PA1 D04 TC

test the io.group

Hi Richard, I've evaluated the GL-iNet SFT1200 and MT3000 routers. Either would be an excellent choice. The MT3000 has more transmit power and manages to get a 30+mbps connection through a couple of masonry walls in my house. The SFT1200 gets about a 10th of that, which in my experience is not enough for return preparation. If you have a single relatively unobstructed room, the SFT1200 is a good inexpensive choice. [Edit: Note that the above tests were done in a room in my house where WiFi signal strength is notoriously bad, and are intended only to show that the MT3000 has a much stronger signal than the SFT1200. Tests from other rooms showed excellent data rates, in excess of 30Mpbs. My first choice for the nine sites in D22 would be the SFT1200 because it has a better price point.] Bonus features: except for the DHCP address range configuration, the two have identical configuration screens. If you know one you can manage the other without breaking a sweat. The second: if you are WISPing, the routers remember multiple uptream connection configurations and cycle through them looking for something that works. One could configure each router with the WISP parameters for each site in D04. They will then be interchangeable at sites that use the same Tax-Aide net IP address range. If I recall correctly, they can be configured to ignore any WISP WiFi nets when connected via an Ethernet cable, so the cable'd sites join the interoperability pool. Sites with multiple firewalls might need a bit more thought. Also, the configuration backup is a zipped tarball of plain text files. I have it on my todo list to see if I configure one router for all of my sites, can I just cut and paste /etc/config/wireless into the config backup for the other routers in my district and have them work? Good luck Steve Orso

Hi Folks! Just for fun I have attached a PDF of the standard network used at all nine D22 sites during TY23. All D22 sites use the same SSIDs; the WiFi password is the same on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz at all nine sites. Best Regards, Steve Orso

Be on the lookout for the TY24 Graceworkz Order Form

This is a test message for this new group to determine if we are set up properly.