Due to access restrictions at TAFE SA this was the first time we have actually been on-site to see where the equipment would be installed. Nevertheless a good result given the limited time we had and everything was done without any real measurements.
The main mast could not be taken down as planed as all the guy-wire turnbuckles where corroded and consequently run a high risk of damage if they where removed.
More time will be planned to replace these and over-haul of the mast. Consequently as the mast could not be lower the waveguides where placed at ladder height 5 metres up the mast as a temporary measure seen here. Nevertheless this is offering time to review and test the current setup and explore new backhaul nodes in the network.
Unfortunately we identified a few LOS issues with a group of trees which block the North East and so there is a real need to raise the waveguides if the Highgate Park link is to be improved. A link is established, which is poor and although this maybe improved with a larger dish at Highgate Park, it would seem that other backhaul nodes need to be identified.
Nevertheless there are very good views from the South East around the South West and some good connectivity for the Southern Suburbs should be a breeze.
There was some views to the North towards the Western suburbs of Adelaide just standing on the roof of the building. Consequently it looks like it will be quite feasible to install fixed dishes at ladder height to establish 802.11a links to the South and Wester suburbs of Adelaide at a latter stage once these backhaul nodes are finalised. The current setup should make this easy as it will allow site surveys from a number of locations possible.
10 metres below the router is installed on the top shelf along slide the South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc packet radio equipment and server. The rack is well ventilated, with UPS and allows for upgrades of wireless nics at a latter stage.
I would really like to thank the many people who through their patience and support have made this project possible.
We would particularly like to thank everyone the South Coast Amateur Radio Club Inc who have made this project possible and for hosting the site at the TAFE.
Aslo special thanks to:
Paul Hofman, for climbing the mast and taking the brunt of our childish jokes.
Chris F. for donating two wave guides to Air-Stream
Dior (Didz) for donating a PC to Air-Stream used as the server
Chris (drgeforce3) for creating an image and configuring AS Router OS for O'Halloran Hill
Troy (hat) for developing the AS Router OS, helping out on-sit and finalizing configurations.
O'Halloran Hill BackBone
If Air-Stream-Seaton is within the Western LOS of O'Halloran Hill then I am happy to link Seaton up.
Planed upgrades at Seaton will allow a 5.8GHz backbone link into O'Halloran Hill.
Currently there is a spare 25dB dish and coax run at Seaton allowing for a 2.4GHz link to be commissioned. An access point will need to be sourced.
- Seb -
Do a stumble
You should be able to stumble the site, if then it certainly is an option
Weather
The rains have started so it will be difficult to plan a time when a survey can be done.
When the rain stops I will get on my roof and have a slip and stumble :)
stumble results
preliminary wet stumbling reports from Pasadena show no sign of ohill
I have LoS to the screen so i think there could be a possiblily, so im not sure what sort of chances I have.
Will try again from the roof on a less wet day.