Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec - FriendsOfCumbresToltec.org

Some of you may have noticed the site was down for about 20 minutes this morning. A server at our ISP crapped out... or so they say. In today's world of virtual servers with easy-to-build redundancy, it seems pretty unlikely that a server just "died."

In any case, we're back up and running now.

Thanks Jason - it was a short outage, no big deal - but appreciate the update as to why.

I was talking to tech support with the hope that they could get it back before the departure. The tech dweeb told me said she needed to escalate the issue and it would take 12-24 hours to get back to me. I started to share my feelings on the matter when the site came back up, just in time to see 484 stat moving.

Sometimes you win.

Sometime a little sharing of "feelings" is all it takes!

Doesn't hurt to have a techno savvy dude strip away the techie garble at the "help desk". Thanks Jason!

Jason Rose wrote:I was talking to tech support with the hope that they could get it back before the departure. The tech dweeb told me said she needed to escalate the issue and it would take 12-24 hours to get back to me. I started to share my feelings on the matter when the site came back up, just in time to see 484 stat moving.

Sometimes you win.

Sometimes "These things must be handled delicately.” Apparently you had better results than this case quoted!!:):) Thanks

Sadly, I have noticed that since the work on the Chama Depot has been completed, the cameras have been sporadic at best. They freeze up without apparent reason and seem to cut in and out of service to a very annoying degree. They worked flawlessly before and I hope this will be the case again soon. I truly enjoy watching the activity in the yard.

I haven't noticed this. Has anyone else?

Jason there's been nothing extensive with the freeze-ups, just on occasion as I told you before. This morning was the first instance I noticed anything for at least the last couple weeks.

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye on it.

As was mentioned before, the current set-up is temporary. A permanent fix is planned for later this summer.

it was freezing up on me this am around 7:30 am till 8 am Chama time when I dropped off . Would stop for about 15/20 secs or so.

Tom C.

Jason Rose wrote:I haven't noticed this. Has anyone else?

I have, though it's very occasional for me. Still, it is a noticeable change from last year. Earlier this afternoon, I was getting an error message that the server was dropping the connection when I tried to connect with the web site. Didn't even get as far as the cameras. I've had the video freeze for 5, 10 seconds, or sometimes indefinitely. Sometimes the two video feeds become as much as 10 to 20 seconds out of step.

It does occur to me that the audience count feature might be adding an overhead to the server's workload because if I allow the video to time out, the count continues to be updated. But this is uninformed speculation....

And as I said, it's very occasional.

be well,
bob roman

One more note for the troubleshooting efforts. Today I was watching the cams quite a bit, not knowing what time the school train would return. On several occasions I noted that the South camera was noticeably freezing way more than the North camera. At one point I also noted that the South camera still image that normally updates every 15 minutes, was showing an image from about 2 hours earlier. Totally refreshing my page solved the out of sync problem. This may have been happening all along, I don't normally have both cams running at the same time unless something actually going on in the yard.

Again -- the freeze-ups are minor, and normally I wouldn't even mention them but just trying to note more now. Also as Jason said this setup is not permanent, the temporary setup may be what's causing the issues -- but as minor as they are, I for one am very happy to be able to watch the goings on, even if it's only 98% of the time working right!

As to the outage this afternoon, I noted that the forum was offline well before the cameras -- and the cameras were only off for a few minutes. And off is a poor choice of words, the server busy error is more precise.

Larry Sullivan wrote:
As to the outage this afternoon, I noted that the forum was offline well before the cameras -- and the cameras were only off for a few minutes. And off is a poor choice of words, the server busy error is more precise.

Not sure what caused that outage this afternoon. Couldn't get a straight answer this time.

Speaking of glitchy things, someone was out playing with the South Camera around 4:00-4:30 today (Friday, June 20). The sound seemed to go away and I'm still waiting for something to happen to prove to me that it's back. Apparently they were playing with the North camera as well as it now "features" a nasty electronic buzz.

Jason, they're messin' with your tech!

Bruce

Bruce -- if you noticed in another thread Jason posted that cameras are being worked on. Jason himself is there! Things are getting better!

Yup - I spotted that thread just after I posted my note.

Hey Jason - smile and wave!!!

Bruce

Thank you. There appears to be a "buzzing" noise from the North facing camera, is there a problem with the microphone?

michaelneale wrote:Thank you. There appears to be a "buzzing" noise from the North facing camera, is there a problem with the microphone?

There has been a very slight buzzing noise since the microphones were installed. From what I am hearing it's quite minimal, but it is perhaps slightly more than on day one. The North camera microphone has not been working, the South works great with that slight buzzing. Suggest you mute the North completely and see if that helps.

Larry's correct. Mute the north cam and use sound from the south.

I'll put a note about this on the camera page.

Unless another team member gets to this first, I'll try to fix it the next time I can get up to Chama. Might be 2015. Who knows...

Thanks for the reply, but the suggestion cause me a problem. I lie in bed at 11pm (UK time) with my IPAD awaiting the hoot from 483 (or whichever train is being restored) on its way back to Charma. Hearing the distant hoot means that it is 10 minutes or so from making an appearance. Sad I know but one of the few enjoyments left in life!

Hi Michael -

I can't answer for what things sound like on an IPAD, but at least on a PC with the new South camera microphone working, it seems you hear the whistle of a returning train much sooner than it was before the new install. I've only been here for a couple of the afternoon train returns, but I've distinctly heard at least 3 different times the train whistles before coming into sight. Also one of the major improvements is we have no more of the roaring fan noise, that pretty much wiped out any sound at all of the returning trains.

The North cam microphone will be fixed one day, and I can only imagine the sound we'll get then!!! It's funny, sometimes I almost feel we need the microphone to be less sensitive when the train is passing right near the tipple now.

Thanks for enjoying the cameras, yes I think we're all hooked on getting on at departure and return times for the trains when we're able to.

Thanks for the detailed reply. The problem is that the IPAD can only show one view at a time rather than a PC-not to worry!

As an aside (and this may have been mentioned elsewhere) where can you a find map to point out the best pictures to take along the route from Charma? For those who live in the area I am sure they are well know. As I am coming to visit later in the year and will only have the second day to a run with the train (if you understand my meaning) to take photographs at fixed locations along the route

Michael,

I've never seen a definitive map with all the photo spots. The easiest way to do this is chase from Chama up to Cumbres. Highway 17 runs parallel and there are lots of obvious spots to pull off for great photos. Past Cumbres, you can chase to Los Pinos Valley easily, but after that you'll need a seasoned vet to show you around (or have LOTS of time to spare).

You really can't go wrong chasing up to Cumbres or Los Pinos, then spend a few hours picnicking at and exploring *Cumbres Pass, then chase the afternoon train back down to Chama. That's a good day for any fan of railroads.

*Plan for all types of weather.

Jason many thanks for the advice.....will get my map out!

Whats has happened to the webcams. Nothing since yesterday. Have I missed a post somewhere?

Mike

mikeneale wrote:Have I missed a post somewhere?

Mike

Yes. Look here:

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=1930