What the heck am I doing anyway??

As I have been talking about doing upgrades to the network infrastructure I thought I might list out what I have done and will be doing in the coming months. To start with I have:

• - Upgraded the West-Bay Station (spring 07)
  
• - Upgraded the West-Bay to Carmelo Point backhaul link (fall 07)
  
• - Upgraded the Center Bay Station (winter 07/08)
  
• - Designed, Built, and tested a back-pack cartable generator that can be started and monitored over the internet(!). Destined for Hope Point, where not even an AVT can reach. (Fall 07-Summer 08)
  
• - Initial install of a new network segment based off the ridge above Carmelo Point (Spring 08)
  
• - Upgraded the Solar Power system at Hope Point Station (more then double the collecting power). (Summer 08)
  
• - Reconfigured/replaced the electronics (including the routing computer) at Hope Point Station. (Summer 08)
  
• - Took down the tower and performed repair work on the faulty wind generator at Hope Point (time will tell if this was successful). (Summer 08)
  
• - Created a new Backhaul segment for the Center Bay (and beyond) networks at Hope Point. (Summer 08)
  
• - Attempted implementation of a 900mhz segment at Hope Point (Summer 08)
  

Still to come will be:

• - Installation of the new remote-startable generator at Hope Point (this month)
  
• - Construction/Installation of a new station to service the Lightwork Ecovillage below Hope Point (solar powered) (this month)
  
• - A new G.R.I.P. website that will allow for automatic billing for G.R.I.P. members and the ability to use credit cards. (already started)
  
• - Completion of the new Carmelo Point Station (next 2 months)
  
• - Upgrade of the Hope-Point to Lion's Bay backhaul radios (next 3 months
  
• - Software upgrade of the main gateway system at Lion's Bay. (next 3 months)
  
• - Re-implementation of the 900mhz segment once equipment issues are solved. (unknown timeframe, but soon as possible)
  

Possible future work includes:

• - Installation of a new mini-station to cover a shadowed area near the government dock in West Bay
  
• - Installation of a solar-power based station to shadowed areas in Long Bay.
  

In addition to all this, since mid fall 07 through to mid spring 08, due to wind generator damage, etc, I order to keep the system up and running smoothly had to hike up the steep trail to hope point at least once a week with a can of gas on my back to run a generator manually. That is every week, in *all* weather. And did I mention steep? Also during that time my other company, a software development company, saw some difficult & stressful times due to problems with one of the partners that eventually forced the closure of the company. That naturally sucked up a lot of my energy and time.

As a result of all this I am a bit behind on getting some new G.R.I.P. members set up and online, but am catching up with that as well!

Let me know if you have any questions.

- Sean