Wednesday, March 22nd, was a ground breaking day for the ABC 33/40 Weather Team. Not only was it the first, full official day of spring, it was also the day of the installation of the first camera/weather station combination for our SkyCam network. And I was fortunate enough to be part of the group that went to Mt. Cheaha to perform the installation.
It was a brisk day, and everyone had dressed appropriately. But while the day started out overcast, the sun quickly broke through the clouds providing a blue blanket of clear sky for our work. And even the wind cooperated by keeping to a light breeze.
The first major tasks involved transporting all of the equipment and tools to the roof of the restaurant and getting access to the Internet. The latter task was handled ably by the two technicians from CenturyTel, Jay and Al, who got the line run by lunchtime. For the rest of us, we tackled moving the equipment up the ladder to the roof over the center of the restaurant, then across the sloped roof to the southern end of the restaurant where the station was to be installed.
Getting everything assembled to transport the equipment to the installation site on the roof of the restaurant.
The installation involved over 20 cement blocks for weight for the non-penetrating roof mount for the camera and weather equipment. Once all of the equipment was moved, the StratusStation guys went to work mounting the camera and weather station to the pole and wiring all of the equipment to the control box which sits at the bottom on the pole.
Ricky, Jeff, Dwight, and James mounting and wiring the camera and weather station.
Once the equipment had been mounted to the pole, it was time to attach the pole to the mounting stand.
The equipment on the pole as the pole is raised into position and bolted to the mounting plate.
With the pole and equipment in place, the work focused on wiring the waterproof box that brings it all together. The Internet connection, power, and the specially designed brains of the unit are all connected.
The final step involved hooking everything together in a weatherproof box at the base of the pole.
And there it is - the complete installation that will bring weather data and live video to the ABC 3340 Weather Center and ultimately to our viewers.
The finished camera and weather station at Mt. Cheaha.
And posing for one last shot is the whole crew minus Jeff Wyatt who took the picture. The completed station can be seen in the background to the right side of the pictures.
Jeff Wyatt from ABC 3340 took this picture of the installation team after completing the job. (L to R) James Beasley (StratusStation), Ricky Pierce(StratusStation). Ron Thomas (ABC 3340), Dwight Herren (StratusStation), Brian Peters (ABC 3340), Al and Jay (CenturyTel)
More SkyCam installations will be coming on line in the near future as ABC 3340 works to bring the weather visually to you - another first from the best weather team anywhere.
-Brian-
on March 25, 2006, 6:23 pm
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