St. Louis WizKids - Tech Team

November 7-11

7Nov05-Family called and said that they had a computer virus and that they wanted Net Nanny installed.

• Checking the computer out myself I found out that it was not a virus on their computer but that they has mistaken the anti-virus software on their computer as a sign that they had a virus; I explained the differences in a virus and software and gave them an idea of what to look for if they do get a virus.

Total hours:1.5

Week of October 31- November 4

0 tech support hours

Week of October 24-28

28Oct05- Family could not get on internet the said they had lost the connection

• When I checked the network connection I discovered that someone had disabled the internet connection; I then enabled it with no problem

Total hours: .5

Week of October 10-14

13Oct06-Removed Net Nanny from computer (see last week)

• Required authorization string which had to be obtained from the company directly by e-mail

13Oct06-Family complained that CD-ROMs will not play correctly

• Upon trying to play some of their games I realized they had scratches and finger prints which attributed to them not playing correctly

13Oct06-Delivered,setup, and configure computer for the internet

14Oct06-Family called and left message stating that they had a virus and that their computer was running slow

• removed spyware and adware from computer
• went to the Symantec website to download the virus removal tool

Total hours:6

Week of October 3-7

6Oct06- Family has complained that Net Nanny is restricting them from searching for certain things on the Internet; mom does not know the password, and would ultimately like NN removed.

Total hours:1

First Home Installed and Working!

We have our first home connected to the wireless network!  We are working with a local company, O2Connect, to provide wireless Internet to homes which are outside of our neighorhood service area.  This home of a Vashon High School student is the first to be connected to the o2Connect network.  Here is a picture of the setup showing the installer, Gus, installing the 30 degree panel antenna to point to the antenna on top of the LaClede Gas building (just left of the tower) in downtown St. Louis.

Big thanks to Tim and Robin from O2Connect!

Continuing Effort to Implement Wireless

It's been a rough road getting the wireless neighborhood network piece of our project implemented.  If you've read this blog, you know about our equipment troubles and our difficulty finding homes on which to put antennae. 

We have just begun to work with O2Connect, a St. Louis-based wireless company that provides 802.11x service over long distance to our neighborhood from the top of the LaClede Gas building in downtown St. Louis.  Our first home will be set up by the end of January.  The second home, if we can get all the necessary agreements in place, will be connected by early March.  The topology for these 2 test homes will be a direct wireless connection from the LaClede Gas building.  If this works out for the families and is reliable and affordable, we will look for a high elevation location in the vicinity upon which we can install equipment that will communicate with the O2Connect POP at LaClede Gas and be the hub for connecting multiple homes in the Murphy Park and O'Fallon Place neighborhoods.

I will begin posting to this Tech blog weekly. 

Antenna Install - Parts on Hand

Here is an updated list of parts on hand. I sent an email out asking the team to install on Tuesday, April 6. Ben is out of town through April, so we'll have to wing this round without him.

What We Have On Hand
- Antenna Hyergain HG2415U-Pro with mounting clamps
- (4) Altelicon Coax Lightening Surge Arrestors AL-NFNFB, N-Female Bulkhead to N-Female
- (2) APC 10/100 Base T Surge in-line protector (PNET1)
- (1) APC surge protector for 110 outlets (to plug in AP and a light in the attic)
- Access point
- Cable from antenna to AP (3CW481)

What We Need
- Grounding wires (#6 copper) and grounding clamps (for 4 wires?)
- Pigtails (which ones do we need?)
- Weather cap for mast (Isaac will get this)
- Caulk for mast (Isaac has this)

Antenna is Here! Install Soon?

I have the antenna here and we're eager to get it up and running. I've listed below what we have on hand and what I think we need (based on conversations with the Tech Team. I will be out of town March 6-20.. Any chance we could get this up before I go? I'm off to present our project and I would *love* to be able to show off our set up in Austin and Atlanta.

What We Have On Hand
- Antenna Hyergain HG2415U-Pro with mounting clamps
- (4) Altelicon Coax Lightening Surge Arrestors AL-NFNFB, N-Female Bulkhead to N-Female
- (2) APC 10/100 Base T Surge in-line protector (PNET1)
- (1) APC surge protector for 110 outlets (to plug in AP and a light in the attic)

What We Need
- Access point (!!)
- Cable from antenna to AP (what is our final decision?)
- Grounding wires (#6 copper) and grounding clamps (for 4 wires?)
- Pigtails (which ones do we need?)
- Weather cap for mast (Isaac will get this)
- Caulk for mast (Isaac has this)

Let me know what to do next.

Small-Town Wireless

Small-Town Utilities Fill Technology Gap - EarthLink - Technology News If a small town can do it, then we can do an urban neighborhood.