| This is a 9 meter Andrew earth station we installed and commissioned for Telefonia Bonairiano on the Dutch Antilles island of Bonaire. This system provides voice, data, and internet connectivity via satellite. This is one of our favorite job sites. The people we worked with on Bonaire were very friendly and excellent workers. The island has a relaxing atmosphere, and unbelievable beauty to match. Bonaire is only about 24 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is located right off the tip of Venezuela about 15 miles from Aruba, and is world known as the "Divers Paradise". I really enjoyed working on the island of Bonaire, and I will definitely return one day for a vacation. We removed this system from a military base in North Carolina, USA and then shipped it to Bonaire. Upon arrival in Bonaire, the equipment was removed from its shipping container and the antenna mount was assembled immediately. The antenna reflector panels and support structure were prepared and then painted within a few days. Assembly of the antenna went very smoothly despite the constant wind on Bonaire. Safety precautions were necessary as usual to prevent damage or injury during the harsh wind conditions. The antenna was lifted very early (6:00am) in the morning because this was the only time the wind was not blowing too hard. Early in the morning before the sun heats the atmosphere, the winds are calm. As soon as the sun rises on Bonaire, the winds start blowing 25+ mph everyday. After the reflector (dish) was in place, it was just a matter of hooking up all the equipment, and running test to insure performance. I look forward to working on or visiting Bonaire again. |
