2.6 KM Link Test Downtown Bogota - Guadalupe Hill
On July 7th, 2017 Network Bogota took part in a so expected long distance Point-to-Point link test. Having already performed links greater than 300 meters, there was no experience on the 1-kilometer mark combining difficulties on technical, geographical and logistic factors.
Geography details
Bogota is a city with an average altitude around 2.600 meters above sea level. Therefore, the city grows north and south and is flanked by the Eastern Hills which dominate the landscape over the metropolis, with summits around 3.650 meters. These Eastern Hills have an important role on the city weather and smog, acting as a buffer ecosystem. Moreover, the hills act as home to an extensive wildlife and provide inhabitants leisure and trekking spaces.
Consequently,the first test node or point was Guadalupe Hill, due to its clear line sight over Bogotá, but also one element that helped in the selection was the ease of ascent, possible thanks to a pavimented road that goes almost to the summit.
About the second test node, the chosen point was Torres Blancas complex, thanks to a tenant who allowed Network Bogotá to install temporarily the required equipment.
Planning
Planning this test required lots of work on several fields. From space management, working permissions, staff transport, router tweaks and autonomous electrical power system for the Guadalupe node can be counted among all the time invested. Preparing antenna's poles, the design and construction of the electrical autonomous system and software configuration, 15 days were required to fulfill these tasks, with shifts beginning at 9:00 and finishing at 20:00.
Some weeks prior to the job being described here, there was a failed test attempt between Monserrate Hill and a parking lot placed on the " La Rebeca " zone, still Bogotá Downtown. This attempt was a failure due to permissions being denied by the Monserrate Cableway authorities, and also the parking lot manager who revoked a previously granted permission to work in the cited venue. Considering all these obstacles and the appereance of new possibilities (transportation), it was decided to perform a new test in Guadalupe Hill and Torres Blancas complex.
After a site survey involving all Network Bogota team ascending to Guadalupe Hill on July 4th, 2017, they decided to make the link test 3 days after. This date allow more participants to come and help.
Team
- Guadalupe Node
- Juan Carlos Burgos
- Leonardo Taborda
- Torres Blancas Node
- Oscar Prieto
- Oscar Cruz
- David Erazo
- Logistic Support
- Laura Prieto
- Miguel Sánchez
Hardware employed
The hardware employed in the session was chosen accordingly with the planned link and the physical and geographical conditions of both Guadalupe Hill and Torres Blancas complex.
