Long-haul connection
We’ve had quite a few requests from relief agencies working in Banda Aceh to “hook them up” to our internet connection. (A reliable broadband connection to the internet is a vital ingredient to most agencies’ success.) Unless they’re at our UN camp location for a wired connection or within 100 feet or so of our wireless access point, they’re out of luck. The local telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate and needing repair.
One solution is a long-haul wireless system that uses high gain directional antennas on both ends to extend our internet connection miles away. Such a system could allow us to connect other agencies around the city. The main problem though is that a line-of-sight, unobstructed path is usually required for proper functioning - trees and buildings are unwelcome obstacles.
Phil was able to “borrow” a very nice 45’ telescoping antenna pole from WFP (World Food Program). So Our driver Adi, and I made a trip to the local toko besi (hardware store) to get mounting hardware and I had to “dust off” some Indonesian words I hadn’t used for a long time. Let’s see – baut (bolt), mur (nut), ring (washer), bor (drill) etc.
Back at the tent Adi andn I install cement anchors and clamps in the concrete wall and then assemble the high gain antenna and extend the pole. Using the GPS coordinates we aim the antenna at our house .71 miles away. Whew! The heat in the shade inside the tent isn’t so bad after all. (Why am I working in long pants? It is culturally required.)
That night at the house and with our hopes under guard, we temporarily “lash up” the high gain antenna to our swinging gate out front and aim it across the rice paddy in the direction of the tent. To our delight, flickering indicator lights show we have a signal. We quickly connect our notebook and with grins as wide as an Indonesian frog’s we browse the internet.
We can still go higher on the antennas on both ends so this part of the test is successful. Yeah! We’ll permanently install the antennas and do more testing. Even though we didn’t have line-of-site, this equipment is doing its job.
One solution is a long-haul wireless system that uses high gain directional antennas on both ends to extend our internet connection miles away. Such a system could allow us to connect other agencies around the city. The main problem though is that a line-of-sight, unobstructed path is usually required for proper functioning - trees and buildings are unwelcome obstacles.
Phil was able to “borrow” a very nice 45’ telescoping antenna pole from WFP (World Food Program). So Our driver Adi, and I made a trip to the local toko besi (hardware store) to get mounting hardware and I had to “dust off” some Indonesian words I hadn’t used for a long time. Let’s see – baut (bolt), mur (nut), ring (washer), bor (drill) etc.
Back at the tent Adi andn I install cement anchors and clamps in the concrete wall and then assemble the high gain antenna and extend the pole. Using the GPS coordinates we aim the antenna at our house .71 miles away. Whew! The heat in the shade inside the tent isn’t so bad after all. (Why am I working in long pants? It is culturally required.)
That night at the house and with our hopes under guard, we temporarily “lash up” the high gain antenna to our swinging gate out front and aim it across the rice paddy in the direction of the tent. To our delight, flickering indicator lights show we have a signal. We quickly connect our notebook and with grins as wide as an Indonesian frog’s we browse the internet.
We can still go higher on the antennas on both ends so this part of the test is successful. Yeah! We’ll permanently install the antennas and do more testing. Even though we didn’t have line-of-site, this equipment is doing its job.
posted by Dave Ketcham at 8:33 PM
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