Spike greets the morning.
What a beautiful morning here in the Anza Borrego Desert in southern California!
Okay, enough about the beauty! Get to the point, woman! What is in the mystery box?
Thank you, Mick, from me, the crew, and all my blog readers for this generous and thoughtful Christmas present.
It’s a Wilson antenna!
A wide band directional antenna (700 MHz-2700 MHz) to be exact. What does it do, you ask? Here’s what the installation guide says:
“Wilson Electronics Wide Band Log Periodic Directional Antenna will collect the cell tower signal and send it through the cable to . . . a cellular data card. When the cellular data card transmits, the signal is transferred to . . . the antenna and broadcast back to the cell tower.”
In short, it will help me get a stronger internet connection.
It should cut down on the hours of torment brought by frequent interruptions while trying to write blog entries and post photos. Not looking for sympathy here, but there have been many times when I’ve spent several hours, off and on, throughout the day, trying to finish my blog post in coughs, gasps, and spurts, depending on when the signal is strong enough. In fact, this very post you’re reading now was delayed by three hours due to a weak, two-bar, come-and-go signal.
I’m really excited about what this thing can do!
My friend Mick from Tennessee (whom I only know online) serves as my technical advisor for which he receives zero payment, unless you count email clutter and a never-ending stream of questions as payment.
I’ve asked him more than once how I can get better internet service.
I salivated over my keyboard reading about a Wilson antenna!
Mick not only sent the antenna with mount and hardware, but also he included the tool and ties I need to set it up. He translated the installation guide into a form of English I can understand, drawing diagrams, too, and gave me a description of the ten foot piece of PVC pipe I need to purchase.
The antenna mounts on the back bumper.
A wire goes through a window and connects to my air card with an adapter plug that Mick also included. That big, white, weirdly shaped item will stick up higher than the BLT. I imagine it’ll make the BLT look like a little spaceship! (The cuteness factor is important.)
Mick told to me more than once that this gift is not just for me and the crew.
It’s also a gift to those of you who add to my writing with your interesting anecdotes, opinions, questions, advice, empathy, and encouragement. He appreciates, as do I and I suspect many readers do also, the value of your comments, both for entertainment and information. I’m hopeful this antenna will cut down the number of days I’m unable to post and provide this forum of sharing for all of us.
So from all of us, a great big hug and a sincere thank you, Mick . . .
“Spikey! Get out of there, you little bubble-wrap head!”
. . . and have a very Merry Christmas!
rvsue
P.S. A few hours after posting the above, I’m sitting at my laptop in the BLT when I hear music. Hmm .. . what IS that? It sounds like chimes. I follow the sound outside to the PTV to discover the source. The wind is blowing through the supports of the tilt mechanism which holds up my solar panel, making a lovely mix of tones. That tilt mechanism was designed, built, and shipped to me and the crew by Mick back when I was having solar installed. It’s still “singing” your praises as I type this, Mick!
rvsue and her canine crew 