All Cams are down

[Edward Morris]

Just checked Chama cams and all 3 are down as of 0630 EDT. The last time stamp was at 1744 local yesterday.

[Jason Rose]

Looks like a power or internet outage.

[Jason Rose]

I've got connection to the firewall now, but can't get to the radio network in the yard. This may have been a complete failure of the device we've been having problems with. Not sure yet.

More later.

[Sharon Evans]

Jason, how does this possibly effect the connection from the bunk house to the main router?

[Jason Rose]

The cameras ride over a radio network we constructed. The main radio is down, hence no connection to the others. It's been dying for a while and may have quit completely. It may also simply be a popped breaker. Don't know yet.

[Jason Rose]

I need to be in Farmington next week for work. If all goes well, I'll then be in Chama on Thursdayy and Friday to make the repairs needed to get the cameras back online. If the hardware is available, I'll fix the mics as well.

More later...

[Craig Kumler]

Thanks for the update Jason....fingers crossed!

[Edward Morris]

Jason..........wishing you safe travels and good luck at Chama and Farmington next week.

[Jason Rose]

Thanks, Ed. Much appreciated.

[Jason Rose]

Will anyone here be at Session E? If so, come say hi. I'll be there Thursday and Friday.

[Jack Spencer]

Thanks for the update Jason; good luck, hopefully everything will go to plan. If the mics are replaced that would be brilliant, I am getting really tired of that buzzing sound.

[Jason Rose]

We've got parts on hand to replace one of the mics on the tower, not both. But, that'll be a major improvement.

[Rich Murray]

That's good news! One on the tower is actually plenty. (unless one is a second behind the other. Then is sounds like an echo.)

[Jason Rose]

The cams share a single mic, but that mic is piped through a board inside the camera chassis that merges the audio with the video. The boards in both cams are dead. Casualty of a lightning strike. So, I can replace one of the boards and get the mic working again for one cameras. The other will have to wait, along with the Depot cam.

Baby steps...

[Rich Murray]

I forget what you did with the mics (casualty of age ) but wasn't combining them a way to combat the fan noise?

[Jason Rose]

The cameras have a mic inside the chassis. That's what we're using now. They're subpar, to say the least. Having the mic INSIDE the chassis is why you heard the fan noise. The control board that got fried has the cooling fan, heater, and external mic connection. We plugged the single mic into both cameras. Gotta save money where you can.

You haven't heard the fan noise this summer because that board got fried and took the fan with it. I'm not too concerned with keeping the cameras cool, but I am a bit worried about them freezing in the winter.

Hopefully another team member can replace the other 2 boards before winter arrives.

[Rich Murray]

Jason, We haven't heard the fan noise this summer because its broke. I understand that. What I was trying to refer to was that you had added that external mic so we didn't have to contend with that Mickey Mouse internal set up which was designed by Goofy.

[Jason Rose]

Yes, sir. Correct. The external mic is also significantly more sensitive.

[Robert Brigham]

Jason,
In answer to your earlier question, I will be there next week working on locomotive 483. I will keep a lookout for you.
Rob Brigham

[Jack Spencer]

I would ideally install the mic on the South cam; that's just my opinion. South is my favourite.

[Jason Rose]

Thanks, Robert.

Jack, I agree and am planning to put the replacement board in the south cam.

[Chris James]

Will anyone here be at Session E? If so, come say hi. I'll be there Thursday and Friday.

HI Jason -
I'm planning on being there for Thursday afternoon & Friday of E and Monday and Tuesday morning of F. I'l be ping-ponging between CH and AN but I'm sure we can connect.

I look forward to connecting with the IT master!

Chris J

[Jason Rose]

I'm looking forward to it, Chris.