Talking with Gino tonight and he is a bit overwhelmed. He asked if I could help and field the offers of manpower assistance, so I told him I would gladly help coordinate for him.
Here is the situation as of this point: He has equipment he needs to restore his network, it’s stranded stateside now. I am working multiple angles to get shipment to the island, not easy right now. One shipment is 15 pallets weighing in at 5.3 K pounds. Transport to the island is the issue; see my earlier post about FAA status. If anyone knows of transport going to the island and has room for this stuff ping me. The pallets are in CA right now. Until he gets equipment to the island he can’t really use much help yet. Since commercial flights have not resumed transportation there is also the issue. Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Brian Webster Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 9:42 PM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino Here is the latest on the FAA situation at San Juan: FAA said preliminary damage assessments have identified a number of critical radars and navigational aids were destroyed or disabled during the storm. The agency is bringing replacement systems to the islands by air and by sea to restore essential radar, navigation and communication services, and a long-range radar in Turks and Caicos was made operational Sept. 25. “Technicians are making their way to a second long-range radar site today [Sept. 25] at Pico del Este, which is located inside a National Park in Puerto Rico, on the top of a mountain.,” FAA said. “The last two miles to the site through the rain forest are impassable, so the technicians are using chain saws to clear a path for themselves and the replacement equipment.” FAA is unable to give an estimate for full restoration of service, citing the extent of the damage and the challenges of the terrain where the equipment is located. I am in communication with Gino, he has gear stuck stateside so he and I are trying to figure out some logistics. It’s a lot of radios! Thank You, Brian Webster www.wirelessmapping.com www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of George Skorup Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 9:24 PM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino You're tryna tell me the Navy or CG can't do makeshift airtraffic control from a ship offshore? On 9/26/2017 8:17 PM, Steve Jones wrote: I just read an article about people being pissed cause they haven't lifted the act that bans coastal shipping to non us ships. they lifted it for Harvey and Irma, but not this one. everybody is making a big stink, the problem is, the ports are damaged, theres limited offload capacity and ships are queued. This is crazy, youd think they could bring in some of those military bridging vehicle to make a bridge out to some barges made into temporary docks or something. I don't think people realize you cant land cargo planes on damaged tarmacs. Its almost worth reaching out to the cartels at this point, they can move high volumes of cargo into inaccessible areas like nobodys business On Tue, Sep 26, 2017 at 8:08 PM, Brian Webster <i...@wirelessmapping.com> wrote: Right now there are limited flights in and out of PR, their FAA systems were down as of last report I received this morning. FedEX, UPS, and USPS are not operational on the island yet. Flights in and out are VFR only with very big spacing and slots controlled and issued from Miami. Logistics is a big issue right now. I have not had any direct or specific requests from Gino yet. Thank You, Brian Webster 214 Eggleston Hill Rd. <https://maps.google.com/?q=214+Eggleston+Hill+Rd.+Cooperstown,+NY+13326+%28607&entry=gmail&source=g> Cooperstown, NY 13326 <https://maps.google.com/?q=214+Eggleston+Hill+Rd.+Cooperstown,+NY+13326+%28607&entry=gmail&source=g> (607) 643-4055 <tel:%28607%29%20643-4055> Office (607) 435-3988 <tel:%28607%29%20435-3988> Mobile (208) 692-1898 <tel:%28208%29%20692-1898> Fax Skype: Radiowebst www.wirelessmapping.com www.Broadband-Mapping.com From: Af [mailto:af-boun...@afmug.com] On Behalf Of Jaime Solorza Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 11:26 AM To: Animal Farm Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino How do we ship gear to Gino? Do shipments all go by plane? Boat? And more help is needed there in remote areas according to Puerto Rican Club here in El Paso that is collecting money for relief. On Sep 25, 2017 10:47 AM, "Chuck McCown" <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote: I am sure he serves some critical facilities. From: Steve Jones Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 10:33 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino that would be an issue to take up with WECAT, they should have contacts for logistics. If gino serves any critical facilities (hospitals, long term care, fire/rescue/ems/military/municipality/etc) stuff like that may be able to find its way onto military transport On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:15 AM, Mathew Howard <mhoward...@gmail.com> wrote: I would imagine they'd have to go by boat... not sure how quick you could get it there. On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 10:06 AM, Chuck McCown <ch...@wbmfg.com> wrote: Is there a way to ship you COWs? I can build a few and send them. Not sure if I can get them to you fast enough to help. From: Gino A. Villarini Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 8:19 AM To: af@afmug.com Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino Guys, we are ok, lots of damaged and downed towers (all guyded). Need Gens, COWS and manpower (riggers, installers, etc.) From: Af <af-boun...@afmug.com> on behalf of Lewis Bergman <lewis.berg...@gmail.com> Reply-To: "af@afmug.com" <af@afmug.com> Date: Monday, September 25, 2017 at 9:00 AM To: "af@afmug.com" <af@afmug.com> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino Yep, exactly what I said. Gino A. Villarini President Metro Office Park #18 Suite 304 Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968 On Mon, Sep 25, 2017 at 7:53 AM Faisal Imtiaz <fai...@snappytelecom.net> wrote: It is nice to have deep thoughts and conversations about restoring internet service..... May I remind everyone that, We all of the ISP/WISP/NSP are here to serve our Customers, and that is how we earn a living... Yes after Natural disaster event, there are two parallel concerns... One.... How do we bring back our service, restore the damage to our Infrastructure. Two... What is the state of affairs of our customers ? Do we have any left who are able to use the service and pay for it ? Yes, one can have a fully functional infrastructure, but if the Customers (end users) are not in any shape to utilize it or pay for it, then such functional infrastructure is of little value. (I am not being heartless in talking about paying customers, just pointing to realities of the situation.. without paying customers, non of us will be around... and yes we can do acts of charity, and provide free service for a certain duration, but at the end of the day that has to get paid somehow, from someone, from somewhere) These events are not short term issues.. depending on severity they true severity of such disasters unravel over a period of time... sometimes weeks, sometimes months, and in some cases years ! Regards. Faisal Imtiaz Snappy Internet & Telecom 7266 SW 48 Street <https://maps.google.com/?q=7266+SW+48+Street+Miami,+FL+33155&entry=gmail&source=g> Miami, FL 33155 <https://maps.google.com/?q=7266+SW+48+Street+Miami,+FL+33155&entry=gmail&source=g> Tel: 305 663 5518 x 232 <tel:%28305%29%20663-5518> Help-desk: (305)663-5518 <tel:%28305%29%20663-5518> Option 2 or Email: supp...@snappytelecom.net _____ From: "Lewis Bergman" <lewis.berg...@gmail.com> To: af@afmug.com Sent: Monday, September 25, 2017 8:42:30 AM Subject: Re: [AFMUG] Gino It is possible to build an infrastructure that doesn't rely on anything else but what you have, just like the US militay. Problem is you would lose your shirt trying to do it. There is only so much you can do that consumers will pay for. On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 10:35 PM Colin Stanners <cstann...@gmail.com> wrote: Even for WISPs who are very far from the affected areas, such events are humbling. Customers say "your company can deliver [good, non-satellite] internet where no one else can", but all of us rely fully on the backbone internet connection, usually on a functioning power grid, and need gasoline to power service vehicles. Once those are gone, no matter how we wish or pray, everything is dead in the water. On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 4:27 PM, Craig House <cr...@totalhighspeed.net> wrote: I'm in st Thomas and have been here a week helping a WISP and general cleanup like orphanages The power is the major issue. All poles and utilities are offline outside of the major port area that has buried utilities. Generators are being flown in every day word here is 6-9 months for power to be restored. Fiber phone and cable providers are crippled and many of the towers here have most of the equipment not just damaged but totally missing. What is there still is water damaged or has fried Ethernet from water infiltration But power is the major issue in the USVI also Sent from my iPhone On Sep 24, 2017, at 16:58, Steve Jones <thatoneguyst...@gmail.com> wrote: With PR having been on the verge of state bankruptcy, why not, just cut and run now. use the influx that's inbound to rebuilt and become wealthy, never have to worry about the statehood thing again. Everybody will have smartmeters and starbucks On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 1:00 PM, Jason McKemie <j.mcke...@veloxinetbroadband.com> wrote: Aruba has a pretty decent wind farm, although they are wealthier than a lot of other Caribbean islands. On Sunday, September 24, 2017, Erich Kaiser <er...@northcentraltower.com> wrote: I always wondered why the Caribbean islands did not use more wind and/or solar power. Erich Kaiser North Central Tower er...@northcentraltower.com Office: 630-621-4804 <tel:%28630%29%20621-4804> Cell: 630-777-9291 <tel:%28630%29%20777-9291> On Sun, Sep 24, 2017 at 11:23 AM, Bill Prince <part15...@gmail.com> wrote: >From what I'm hearing, the major issue is power, or the lack thereof. Existing >supplies of fuel for generators, etc. are in extremely short supply. I've been >hearing estimates of 6+ months to restore power, and that may be optimistic. bp <part15sbs{at}gmail{dot}com> On 9/24/2017 9:07 AM, ch...@wbmfg.com wrote: I know we are all anxious hoping to hear from Gino.ï¿1Ž2 ï¿1Ž2 I wish I still had an HF rig and a decent antenna.ï¿1Ž2 I am wondering of anyone on here works 20 meters and has heard from folks in PR? ï¿1Ž2 Keep hearing of the lack of communication capability there, but 2 meter and HF is pretty much going to work irrespective of any infrastructure damage.ï¿1Ž2ï¿1Ž2 Here in Utah, our county emergency center has fully functional HF, VHF and UHF capability.ï¿1Ž2ï¿1Ž2 ï¿1Ž2 Actually most of Utah does as well as many groups of LDS church folk that work with emergency preparedness.ï¿1Ž2 ï¿1Ž2 I have never used it, but I know there are HF methods to convey IP.ï¿1Ž2 Could certainly keep slow speed email going.ï¿1Ž2