I am often reminded of the fact that living on Chew's Ridge is like living in the fourth world (it might qualify for the third world except for having to truck in the water during the summer). Off the power grid & unwired, I've felt like those kids attending school by shortwave radio in the outback of Austrailia (Editor's note: being off the power grid has had certain advantages this year).
At long last OOS has been elevated from its informationally challenged status. Two years ago, we bartered a year's worth of time as an excellent radio-repeater site for the eventual use of three 900 Mhz spread-spectrum wireless modems. It has taken some effort to establish another workable down-link site after the successful conclusion of the original project, but I am pleased to report that this wireless link is now up and running. The result is that the OOS has a speedy 115, 200 Kbps connection to the Internet, with no extra recurring monthly charges.
The downlink site and ace networking expertise came courtesy of indefatigable FOM volunteer Bill Bishop, to whom we owe a mjor debt of gratitude. Beyond the greater efficiency for those of us toiling away in the Nether Regions, such connectivity offers other interesting possibilites. One is that the link may be utilized for digital remote control of the MIRA 36" telescope.
 |
Stan Karas, MIRA's steely-eyed observatory engineer, looks up from his work on the 36" telescope. |
| Indefatigable FOM Volunteer Bill Bishop |  |
| Summer 2001 Contents | Newsletter Index | Mira Home Page |
Last updated 3/8/02 DMC