Someone really needs to unstick the pier cam...anyone want to fly me to Bonaire so I can!????

Good morning Donna and all to follow. The BT sand writing is still in place.

Bon Dia Y'all

Donna, I'll go by Yellow Sub and remind them about the Cam, might just go and have a snorkel whilst I'm there too !!

I might just call in at Eden Beach too

We're off to the Donkey Sanctuary in 15 mins so you might see something happening there too

Hmmm I wonder if I can get all the Cams done this morning!!!!

Hey! Look!!! Someone added to "our sign"!


but my pier is still stuck!

Donna, I mailed them to check things out.

The Donkey Cam is in trouble!

Went to go look for Roy and Helga and got this.

Been that way since noon time, I don't know what happened to it, but not good. Actually, I am not enjoying the cams at all anymore, they really need regular maintenance, don't think I will be renewing my membership. Sorry to say that, but just my feelings.

Debbie: Let Jake have a chance to get things up and running. He said he was mostly off island except for a few days at a time this year. He is hoping to be done with his business travels by September and will revamp all cams then. At least that is what he seemed to say the other day. Whacky cams at times but still love the connection.

Dan, I know "J" does all he can, I think it is more of a hobby for him. Anyway, I can always join again when cams all get working and are maintained better.I so miss the u/w cam too. This past 12 months have not been good with the cams. My membership runs out June 8th, so will no longer get to be able to go to the archives.

Debbie,

Believe me, I feel your pain. Keep in mind we don't own all the WebCams, so control over them is difficult. That's not to say that the ones we own - which at present is only the ones at Eden Beach - have done great either though. Sadly I have several brand new cameras sitting in my home office - both above and underwater, as well as a new weather station, but as Dan Jolly pointed out, business has kept me away from home for much of this year (and planned travel with the family for much of last year). And without me being home for longer stretches it's tough to go and install new cameras and feel comfortable that they will continue to work while I'm gone.

And the WebCams are not just a hobby, but they also are not my full time job (we still run a sizable loss every year with the costs in running servers, fixing and replacing equipment, and paying for connections).

The solution might be to train a cadre of BWC fans to both be more familiar with the operations the internals of the WebCams as well as to help keep the cameras going and make it more of an overall community participation effort. I know we have had excellent volunteers to help with installations in the past, but I'm thinking something a little more long term might be better if people are willing - that way we could conceivably always have someone that's on-island to take care of the occasional reboot or realignment. And the WebCam Masters (or whatever they would be called) would get free accounts on the site, limited edition t-shirts, and whatever other interesting things they can think up (and I could afford) to help them stand apart from those who merely "watch" :-)

Any thoughts on that concept?

Jake

I know, having a place on island, how internet connections can be, and all the hassles it is to keep the cams going. That said, I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way, just me saying good bye to a good friend as the cams are what brought me to BT in the first place. Been a member for a long time now. Was not an easy decision to make. Have had a lot of fun on the cams too.

Jake, you posted while I was typing. You can train me to do whatever needs taking care of that I can do. I like that concept a lot. Yes siree!

I am on island about 8 weeks a year now, mostly the same weeks 7 of them, so I will be most happy to do what I can if you would have me. And if I ever hit the lottery, which I try really hard at, I would give you and the cams a part of it to keep going for quite a while!

Wow! You are quick on reply! I am off to grill up some burgers for the troops here.

I hope you know I understand all you have done and continue to do for the cams is/has been appreciated by me.

It would be good to have you on-board, Debbie (Martin's the head of the cadre though since he's done the most servicing of the cams with and without me :-) ).

Any others interested or have ideas how to make the Bonaire WebCams more of a community effort so we can keep them running better, longer, and in cool locations?

Jake

Jake - great idea. How can we all help. I would be glad to but am not on island more than sporadically in any given year.

Jake, on island next June 7-14, short trip, daughter is going to do a Scientific Diving course at CIEE. Just getting her set up, then fun in the sun rest of week. Will Martin still be on island? Will be available for any training he might be able to show me. He must know I do use the the word thingie for techy stuff. But, once shown, I am all good! Good on visual training. I have cleaned the u/w cam, so I am good to go with that.

Did I hear cool locations?? Yes!!!!!

I think Martin's leaving in the next few days, and I will be home 25 hours (assuming flights are on time on both ends) at the end of this month.

If we go ahead with this concept our "manual" should definitely incorporate photos (or even video) too, not just text.

Jake

Well, one thing that needs to be done is that we need to standardize all the equipment and then write up a service guide that even occasional visitors to Bonaire (like you, and presently myself) could use to take care of basic maintenance as well as troubleshooting.

Jake

Jake, count me in. I'll send you an email with some pictures, so we can set up a "Masters of the Cams" training book.

Now this is really, really, really cool!!!

If I ever make it back to Bonaire, I'd happily help in anyway possible - no special account necessary!

webcam

I love BT!

OOPS I put my hands up for the DonkeyCam, I gave it a clean but looks like the focus ring locks screws weren't as tight as they should be! it was ok immediately after the cleaning but appears to have gone out of focus as I was climbing down the ladder!!
Sorry !!!, I'll try and fix it first thing , just before I fly out









Jake is there a way I can monitor the picture locally to adjust the focus? I have my Eee PC mini-laptop with me and a network cable! I'm happy to download some software if I have to!

Oh oh looks liked I'm sacked before the Cadre got started!!!!

I just renewed my membership. I figure if I'm gonna stand in front of the cams and want to see other's when they are there, I need to be a member

Sorry, I don't think I can do much to help with the webcams...I'm not computer/technically literate and I'm Blonde!!!

Thanks Jake, Martin, Roy and everyone else for letting us view Bonaire when we aren't there!!!