... how do you know they were mexicans?
I was afraid I would get into trouble for that...
Or was it because they were doing work that [others] won't do because it's too hard?
Actually, you are right, Because we all suspect that normally a government crew wouldn't be doing any work. They would be sitting around on break doing nothing but complaining waiting on someone else to do it. But the contractors (usually with mexican labor) actually drive up, do the job, and are gone.
So I did not mean to sound prejudiced, except that when I used the word mexicans, I mean "something is about to get done, and fast" so watch out... In this case, they had the tree replaced in under an hour and left no trace... I was worried my transmitter would go to the dump with the dead tree.
Bob, WB4APR
On 9/25/07, Robert Bruninga [email protected] wrote:
Strange things happen...
Was giving a satellite lab where we put two tiny
"labsats"
(spysats) with 2.4 GHz cameras about 1/4 and 3/4 miles
away and
then use a dipole with and without an 18" dish to show
gain and
the difference in path loss.
See the set-up in the right hand photo at the top of
this page:
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ea467.html
My technician placed the cameras out at 7 AM before
class (both
are across bodies of water, so the access distance is
much
greater than the line of sight path). I was giving the
demo
for the first group of Midshipmen and while looking at
the image
from the one camera, we noticed it moving and then saw a
face.
Looked out across the water (on the point of land right
behind
the dish in the photo) and saw a truck load of mexicans
closely
inspecting the camera. We were sure a full scale
security alert
would follow, because the string of "D" cell batteries
inside a
PVC pipe strapped to a dead tree sure looks like a pipe
bomb.
Then we noticed something even worse. The truck they
were in
was carrying a NEW tree!
Fortunately, as everyone who works on a government
facility
knows, the diggers and the fillers are never the same
crew.
They tossed the new tree off the truck and drove away.
SO my
technician madly raced over to move the camera, while I
madly
scurried inside to call the local security to put out
any brush
fires...
Fortunately, we got the camera moved to a nearby light
pole
before the fillers got there and replaced the tree.
Second lab
period began, new tree in place as if nothing had
happened. No
security drill either..
The academy does things like that. Complete flower beds
replaced overnight so that there are no dead flowers and
there
is always something in bloom. Oh, and no wonder all the
trees
are in good health... If it ain't, then it is replaced!
I was sure I was going to be spending the day chasing a landscaping crew to the nearby landfill to retrieve my
camera
and other goodies...
Anyway, these little $75 cameras at 2.4 GHz are a great
way to
bring microwaves and small dishes into the classroom.
Just be
careful where you put them. Oh, and plan on seeing LOTS
of
intereference from LANS.
For clear links, choose some of the $75 wireless cameras
on 1.2
GHz which don't compete with LANS. But I think the FCC
has cut
off the supply of these coming in from China...
Bob, WB4APR
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb