Rabbithole...

[fleetfootmike]

(see http://stevieannie.livejournal.com/126824.html for a link to an explanation)


It's a little more interesting closer to civilisation than up in Welbourn. The middle of Peterborough's not a pleasant place to be, but this far out is liveable. Foot thick 18th century stone walls, a cellar, and the best vantage point for miles (the Mill) sure help. The photovoltaics and heat exchanger on the studio roof go a fair bit to keeping us in a modicum of power and hot water, at least in the summer.

'Course, with Anne being a vet, she has useful contacts with the local farmers around Northborough and points north: amazing what you can trade for keeping the cows and sheep healthy. The raid on the vets for supplies was a little hairy - cost us the last of our diesel (at least till the cold-pressed rape-seed oil we were promised for saving the life of one of the farmer's horses comes through), but we have a sizeable chunk of the useful stuff from the pharmacy, as well as various bits and bobs from the operating theatre, stashed in the cellar.

However - today's real breakthrough? We got a net connection at last! Can't afford the power to keep it up 24x7, but the Pringle can antenna on top of the Mill is pulling in a WiFi signal from deborah_c's rig somewhere on top of a building in the Science Park in Cambridge. Next stage is to track down which of our neighbours used to have that rogue Belkin router that used to drive me up the wall, and rig another Pringle can pointing at PDG's house on the rise in Scredington: he has wind power, and it's only 24 miles line of sight, which is a piece of cake for a 54g rig.

Comments

[bardling.livejournal.com]

Pringle can antena... *chortle* priceless!

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

[aunty_marion]

o/~You can build a network from the things tins you find at home...o/~

[rinioth.livejournal.com]

You might find one of these a bit better, and more durable too:

http://sharon.esrac.ele.tue.nl/pub/antenne/13-double-quad.jpg

[armb.livejournal.com]

From what I remember reading about them before Fordham got broadband, I'll be mightily impressed if you can get a signal from the Science Park with one though. Especially if the Science Park aerial is omni-directional - I suppose the setting removes legal power limitations though.
On the other hand, Annie's setting says "the EMP wiped out everything electronic", so I'm interested to know how this is a net connection not just Morse or similar....

[fleetfootmike.livejournal.com]

Everyone's a critic :)