Monthly Archives: August 2010

I’ve taken some screen shots again showing the Hurricane Hunter mission on Hurricane Earl. This hurricane is reportedly a Catagory 4 at this time.

Hurricane Hunter – it looks like it came out of the island of St. Croix

Here you see the pattern of the flight through the hurricanes location hear Puerto Rico

And here is another image after I clicked on a Dropsonde to retrieve the data. The dropsonde was dropped into the eye / eye wall area of the hurricane

And here is Google Earth with the “Weather” turned back on showing a wide view of Hurricane Earl and the other storm that’s behind it

And here is Google Earth with the “Weather” turned back on showing a wide view of Hurricane Earl and the other storm that’s behind it … a closer screen shot

—
Alan Spicer
 
DBA Alan Spicer Telcom / Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
Computer Services, Wired/Wireless Networking,
Cell/Sat/Landline Communications, General Consulting…
Marine, Business, Small Office and Home Office (SOHO)
 
* Cost Savings and Integration of Multiple Internet Technologies
on board Sail and Motor Yachts * Documentation, Operating
Instructions, and Support after the Sale *
 
* http://www.marinetelecom.net/
* http://www.internetforyachts.net/
* http://www.wifiyacht.net/
* 954-683-3426
 
Mobile Internet! Step up to the HSPA 3G Fast Internet!
 
Ericsson W35 released in the USA. This you’ve gotta SEE!!
Better looking presentation than W25 (you might not want to
hide this one in the Doghouse!) + High Speed Upload which
the W25 did not have.
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/ 
 

Livewire: Access Controller (Service Selector):
http://www.marinetelecom.net/Livewire_Service_Selector/

One of my customers commented in email that they didn’t like my web site. “All one page” – Where are the links to sections? and more…

So I’ve spent hours today updating a lot the web pages, making sure that contact information is easy to find. Most importantly there WAS A links section to other pages on this big long page … but many visitors may have clicked off (or fell asleep?) before finding it. So now there is an ANCHOR link very near the top center that can be clicked on and will lead you to the proper section where the MENU is for a lot of the important content on the web site.

If you haven’t been to: http://www.marinetelecom.net in awhile … please go again … and let me know what you think?

THANK YOU! 

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net

http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications @ marinetelecom.net

Awhile back I wrote the following document based on something that another consultant had done …

http://www.marinetelecom.net/documentation.html

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom – Got Documentation? Why you should choose Alan Spicer…

There are certain standards and ethics that I believe in – in my consulting practice. Being Honest, Reliable, and Dependable is important in contracting or consulting for any kind of customer and  that includes working for Marine/Yachting Customers. This page is about Documentation and why I provide it on all projects. Documentation and Supporting your Systems and Projects is in my opinion not only an important, but a critical part of the System or Project. There’s just got to be a drawing of what’s installed, and instructions on how to operate it, and probably some troubleshooting instructions. There should be a minimal length of time that the contractor or consultant will support the installed gear if you have questions or problems. There should also be an option of ongoing support – and maybe general consulting offered by the year. I’ve Been There – and I DO THAT. Have a look at:

http://www.marinetelecom.net/consulting.html

I provide full documentation on my projects or “jobs” on yachts (and the occassional home or small business) because it’s the RIGHT thing to do. Some consultants leave things out or don’t provide diagrams or drawings of what they’ve done because they believe that’s a way to keep a customer. I believe the way to keep a customer is to do a good job, provide a good kit or system, support it for a resonable time (and offer yearly support at affordable rates), and always provide sufficient documentation and instructions so that someone else could work on it at a later date without having to call you on the phone. This includes all networking equipment IP Addresses, and Usernames and Passwords. This includes any support contact information and account names/numbers they may need to get help on their own.

So for my vote add GOOD DOCUMENTATION to the list of things a consultant may have that they should be giving a copy of, or the information of, to their customers. Customers should have the ability to change passwords if they want to (Although I recommend they let me know in case they do call me!) or anything else like Wireless Network Names and Wireless Security Protection Codes. Ok, so that having been said, the following has been derived from someone elses write up on consulting/contracting ethics and such. I’ve added my bit about providing good documentation.
Be Easy to Fire
There are several reasons why a customer might find it difficult to fire a consultant:

He does great work and is a tremendous asset
(He hasn’t provided us documentation, only he knows how this stuff works?! — added by Alan Spicer)
He has passwords for everything: will he give us the list?
He has all the source code: will we get it back?
He has access to everything: will he do bad stuff to us?
He hosts our DNS: will he screw with us?

Only the first is a valid reason to keep somebody around, and customers are unnerved by the subtle fear of “what happens if…?” for the others. Consultants ought to structure their arrangements to remove as many of these as possible, and instead rely on their own good work to be their best job security.

From time to time, I give customers “How to fire me” instructions: “Here are all your important passwords”, “Your contact at the hosting center is who”, “Source code is here”, “Revoke my network access by (A), (B) and (C)”, etc. Customers should ask for this from all of their consultants, not only to make them easier to fire, but as a contingency in case the consultant is hit by a bus. Sometimes customers do ask, and it must be met with immediate, full disclosure. It’s not your data, you’re not allowed to hoard it.

—
Alan Spicer
Alan Spicer Marine Telecom
http://www.marinetelecom.net
Email: communications (at) marinetelecom.net
Tel. : 954-683-3426

Control and Manage Your Satellite, Cellular, WiFi, and Other Internet Connections on board your Yacht with the: Livewire FB-10 Access Controller

http://www.marinetelecom.net/Livewire_Service_Selector/

Thank You!

Please see also: Ericsson W35 Marine Mobile Broadband Router for Voice Telephone and HSPA 3G Internet:

http://www.marinetelecom.net/Ericsson_W35/

and the LightSpeed II Marine WiFi Hotspot Mobile Broadband Router System on:

http://www.wifiyacht.net

* The best yachts deserve the best systems and the best support … from Alan Spicer Marine Telecom!

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

Telephone # 954-683-3426

Email: communications @ marinetelecom.net

http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-blogs/other/4206458/Why-is-NASA-audio-so-bad-

Why is NASA audio so bad?
Rich Pell
8/25/2010 11:19 AM EDT
We’re all familiar with the noisy, “squelchy”-sounding audio that seems to characterize voice communications between astronauts and mission control during NASA space missions. Most of us don’t give it a second thought, but a poster over at diyAudio wonders why does the audio have to be so bad?

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/everything-else/172012-nasa-audio-why-so-bad.html

He has a point. Given today’s technology – or even 1970′s or 80′s technology – and the relatively low requirements for reproducing good quality audio, what’s the excuse for the poor audio quality heard on low-earth orbit operations like the International Space Station and shuttle missions?

The question has fueled speculation by other forum participants who have chimed in with a variety of possible explanations – some serious and some, well, not so much:
•Old technology – e.g., NASA’s still using 1960′s germanium transistors
•Bandwidth limitations
•The audio is intentionally degraded – if it sounded too good, no one would believe it was from space
•Is it SSB?
•Something to do with a reduced pressure atmosphere?
•It’s analog
•High ambient noise requires throat mics (or noise-cancellation mics)
•Electrically noisy environment
•Failure to use proper audiophile interconnect cables

(more at the link above)

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net – http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net

From: “Ian Treibick” <ian@spliceboating.com>
Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:16:42 -0400

Ahoy,

- 1 week left to win an iPad
Our iPad giveaway madness ends on Tuesday the 31st,
one week from today, don’t miss out on the action,
enter for your chance to win here:
iPad Giveaway Madness

- New Shared Boating Group on Facebook
We have set up a “shared boating” group on facebook.
Please join and share your photos, stories, videos
and anything else relating to shared boating! Check
it out here:
Facebook Shared Boating Group

- Shared Boating on the Rise
A recent article by the Daily Boater reports that
shared boating is on the rise, I don’t know about
you but we are pretty happy about it! Check out the
article here:
Shared Boating on the Rise

Fair Winds,

Ian Treibick
WindPath Fractional yachting
http://www.WindPath.com

P.S. We are almost ready to launch Splice Boating,
thanks to all of those who have already showed their
support and interest! If you want to be one of the
first to hear about it be sure to get on the list
here:
http://www.SpliceBoating.com

Splice LLC, PO Box 110211, Stamford, CT 06831, USA

—

Alan Spicer Marine Telecom

http://www.marinetelecom.net – http://www.wifiyacht.net

+1 954-683-3426

communications (at) marinetelecom.net
 

The evolution of personal computing is very interesting. It almost wasn’t. Intel originally didn’t get it, MITS Altair 8800 the first personal computer (1st software written by Bill Gates team Micro-Soft (later Microsoft, Altair Basic)), supposedly the first clone computer (Imsai 8080) – it was definately a strange tumble of events that created the personal computer industry.




First the LED Demo running on actual hardware, video provided by the guy that actually coded the program (in the same emulator software that I am using)
IMSAI 8080 - Bouncing a Light Back and Forth (Cylon Style)