SANParks.org Forums

Danie,
Thanks for the feedback.

So relieved that you did not cut the tree down. However, trimming the tree is only a short term solution. The tree will just grow back.

A long term solution would be, to my mind, for the contractor to lift/move the microwave apparatus to get a clear line of sight.

(If you can not do the job you can always become a consultant!)

[b]Thanks so much for the update. we all know you are all trying to resolve this issue.
Maggie in Texas

Thank you so much Danie

Still not good news around Satara's microwave communications link!

We had another intense meeting with the telecom service provider yesterday morning (Wed 22 Feb 2012) to speedup the resolving of the microwave link to Satara. They will be doing intense 'intrusive' testing of the link later today (Thu 23 Feb 2012) to try and locate the exact source of the problem as it can be anywhere on this link - even on the high site which 'feeds' Satara (from the Lebombo Mountain range in the east).

They are now really focusing on this problem with an imaginary weapon from me against their heads to sort this out NOW! (only a joke )

Hopefully we'll have more and better news later this week after their team has completed all the tests!

(do I hear a YES from volunteers who want to put in optical fibre from Skukuza to Satara - it is only 91km )

Hi Danie
Thank you so much for all your do to help our camming addiction
You are up very late so I know you are working very hard and it is greatly appreciated
And if I had the skill and time I would gladly volunteer to help install the optical fibre
But alas, I don't have much of either

Hi lovely cammers!

What a nice surprise to return to the cams and seeing Orpen up and running - thanks so much to Danie and the IT Team!

It is interesting reading the problems with Satara... makes me appreciate just how difficult it is to run these cams for us - thank you (again) for all your efforts in fixing the problem!

Hi Cammers

Just another (not so good) update about the Satara microwave link (this is servicing the whole of Satara and not only the webcam).

We had another long meeting with the telecom service provider today and we nearly had to wipe up some blood from the meeting table during and after the meeting! This is apart from all the daily emails and 'threats' sent to the telecom service provider... leaving the technician in the bush around Satara at night to act as a bit of motivation, jumps to mind (I am just kidding )

According to the telecom service provider there are more trees in the transmission path obscuring the microwave signal from the high site to Satara. We need proof that it is actually those trees before we can take action to reduce the height/trim branches, etc. The service provider promised to provide some more feedback/proof by later today (Thu 1 March 2012) and I'll update you then. My patience is running on empty at the moment

Our sincere apologies again for the downtime at Satara but short from becoming violent ( ) we have tried everything now with the service provider.

Danie thank you so much for the update and all the work you do to find and fix the problems

We are very lucky to have you.

I can only echo Vinkie

You're trying your best Danie, and thanks a million, it's really appreciated.

Hi Danie!

Thank you also from me - for the update.
I'm sorry to hear this is causing you all so much frustration

We really appreciate all your efforts... thank you!

Looking at the time of posting, I wonder just how long that meeting lasted...

Thanks for the update, Danie, and I think it can't be stressed enough just how much
we appreciate your hard work!

The meeting also covered several other issues and not only the Satara link and it lasted about 2 hours!

Satara webcam is back online!

The telecom service provider has moved the microwave antenna higher on the tower at Satara and the link seems to be fairly stable now. There is still another tree that is partially in the signal path to the high site and it might cause the link to be unstable at times! This might still influence Satara's network connectivity (impacting on the Satara webcam as well).

Thanks for your patience during this process which is not over completely! There is still work to be done to ensure a reliable stable link!

(Thanks Steven for enabling the cam again on our website).

Happy camming!

Thanks all for the work you put in.

For Satara webcam being back on the the webcam page!

A huuuge thanks to everyone involved in this process,
but especially to you, Danie for your permanent info on the status of the cam
and to you, Steven for implementing the cam again!