Tuesday, February 24, 2009

A storm in sunshine

These days the weather is extraordinary at Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico.
Warm and sunny days.
Not too much wind.
And nights cool enough to be able to sleep deeply.
Most fantastic the absence of insects.

But fervent and loyal blog readers have not come all the way to this blog to learn how nice the weather is in Mexico.

It is better and more interesting to present an update on the situation with the Datastorm Satellite System.

The good news is that after two days of trying, the modem is now commissioned.
The problem that was experienced for so long was that the step-by-step registration process guiding to the website where to commission the modem did not use the correct address.
The solution was to manually put in the website address.
That had to be found somewhere on the Internet.
An average customer of a Datastorm Satellite System will never be able to do this.
One must be a semi-expert and one must have a lot of time to solve these problems.

So, can the fervent and loyal blog readers enjoy themselves now in the knowledge that the Fuso Szulc’s Datastorm Satellite System is up and working again?
The modem is commissioned so the user must be back cruising in cyberspace, no?

The answer is no.

While going through the registration process, at one point the ZIP-code need to be introduced.
There is already a ZIP-code to be seen which is the one of the location where the Datastorm Satellite System originally was installed: in Riverside, California, USA.

It was believed this did not need to be changed.
To begin with, Punta Boca del Salado in Mexico has no American ZIP-code.
And why would it matter where one is?
The Datastorm Satellite System on a RV moves around all the time anyway.

Leaving the ZIP-code as it was, the modem got commissioned and had its ID back.
But when it started working, it was unable to establish a working connection with the satellite.
Modem informing:

"The transmitter is sending incorrect timing data because the wrong zip code or latitude/longitude information was entered during installation. "


OK, one would think that next it is just a matter of correcting the ZIP-code and to put in the latitude/longitude information of Punta Boca del Salado.
However, if the modem is not connected to the Datastorm Satellite System because of incorrect timing data due to a wrong ZIP-code, how can a customer reach the server and change the data?

This is like a Catch 22 situation.
The server thinks the Fuso Szulc is in Riverside, California while the expedition vehicle actually is in Punta Boca del Salado, Mexico.

It is supposed there is a solution for this problem.
But this cannot be found.
Until now.

Today again contact will be made with Mitch Collins, assistant support customer service manager of Motosat.
Using the satellite connection of the friendliest neighbours.
Also a message will be put on the forum of the website for users of Datastorm.
Most of the time, answers appear there rather rapidly.

It is all a matter now of staying relaxed.
To let the Datastorm blow over.






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