So after two solid days of hard work, adaptation, and coping with Mother Nature's fine sense of humor, we have gotten our camp mostly together. Jen posted one pic of the "Blue Tube" (which looks way better attached to the ground on all sides than it does flapping in the wind and about to fly away along with all our stuff!!!), so here's another:
This shot shows Star connecting a power harness to the callsign sign midway up the 70 foot tower. The tower was assembled during a wind storm the day before. Our tower technician got lots of applause from the onlookers. Star had to put up with some raindrops - threatening, but not actually too bad. Still, kudos to her for a job well done in non-ideal circumstances. Here's the sign at night:
So, what's the point? Well, the Papa Legba Crewe is offering free text messaging service that people can use with their cellphones. The WD9XSP callsign was assigned by the FCC as an experimental license good for use at Black Rock City. So far, we've helped one camp acquire 30 gallons more water, some people find each other, and are currently supporting texting for about 400 early subscribers. Whew! It's working!
This shot shows Star connecting a power harness to the callsign sign midway up the 70 foot tower. The tower was assembled during a wind storm the day before. Our tower technician got lots of applause from the onlookers. Star had to put up with some raindrops - threatening, but not actually too bad. Still, kudos to her for a job well done in non-ideal circumstances. Here's the sign at night:
So, what's the point? Well, the Papa Legba Crewe is offering free text messaging service that people can use with their cellphones. The WD9XSP callsign was assigned by the FCC as an experimental license good for use at Black Rock City. So far, we've helped one camp acquire 30 gallons more water, some people find each other, and are currently supporting texting for about 400 early subscribers. Whew! It's working!
omg she's climbing that tower! BRAVA!
ReplyDeleteStar couldn't wait to volunteer to climb this tower. I don't know that she understood she'd be hanging up there for 45 minutes in the rain and wind, but she semmed quite happy with the experience. And above that, she did a great job handling the electrical connections and making them wind-proof. Another example of how people out here really want to help each other and engage in acts of creation.
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