keith’s new self

Yesterday Sean of the Gambier Radio Internet Project hooked up a wi-fi transceiver at our little cabin on Gambier Island, meaning we now have broadband internet from our treehouse in the woods. The wireless link is powered by a solar panel, and we only turn it on when in use so it doesn’t drain the battery.

Sean has done an incredible amount of work on this project - from dragging miles of fiber optic cable through the woods to setting up solar/wind powered repeater stations on top of mountain peaks. And all this infrastructure is to be owned and maintained by a not-for-profit society. It could change the culture of the Island in that more people will be able to work from Gambier, rather than just use it as a vacation spot.

I’m looking forward to having the internet as a resource when on the land, for looking up things like “what’s the right fuel mix for the chainsaw?” or “what’s a good way to deal with slugs in the garden?”, without having to leave and come back with the information next time. Also I’ll be able to work from the Island some days, since much of my work can be done remotely. Also it’s very cool to be doing this all off the grid, and jump over so many usual phases of development - we don’t have running water or electricity, but we have Google!

Solar/wind powered repeater station on the ridge, at the top of our property.
Photo by Lorraine Grennan

Side view of the cabin.
Photo by Lorraine Grennan

Amazing view of Howe Sound, BC Costal Mountains and Bowen Island from the cabin.
Photo by Lorraine Grennan

tags: ecovillage, energydescent, gambierisland, permaculture, solarpower, wifi, windpower

posted: 7:39 am