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.
Tuvo lugar un intento de enlace entre el cerro de Monserrate y un parquedero ubicado en el sector de La Rebeca que se vio frustrado ya que los funcionarios del Teleférico de Monserrate impidieron el ascenso de los equipos a la cima de la montaña, y a su vez el administrador del parqueadero en La Rebeca cambió de opinión y negó la instalación del segundo nodo allí. Considerando los obstáculos descritos y la conjunción de nuevas posibilidades (transporte en vehículo) se optó por el cerro de Guadalupe y el edificio Torres Blancas como lugares para realizar el laboratorio.
Luego de una reunión de planificación que incluyó ascenso de todo el equipo de Network Bogotá a Guadalupe el día 4 de Junio de 2017 se decidió realizar el enlace 3 días después, fecha que permitió que se sumaran varios integrantes a la labor.
