We have Satellite..which means internet access in our huts.

THANK YOU!!!!!

We finally have internet access in our Bhuts here at Camp Lightning.

This was made possible by many of you out there, the friends and supporters of the men and women fighting for our freedom overseas.

For the last 2 months we have been in the process of trying to get Internet Access in our living quarters. I have to admit that the Network folks assigned to Camp Lightning for the last 12 months did nothing to help out on this project. You see they had wired their huts for internet and to help the rest of us would have been a lot of work. ( Please note that these comments are my opinion only, based on facts, and do not represent the DOD or US Army in any way).

Well American ingenuity and determination found a way. First our leadership supported this effort 100%. Without their support this could not have happened. I know I know you are asking yourself why didn't they make the Network folks take care of this. It is simple, we have 3 military branches represented here. Army , Air Force and Navy. The Camp is run by the Army and the Network was run by the Navy personnel. The Army has been gracious to the Navy and Air Force folks and given each much latitude. That is why I do not believe they forced this to be handled through the network. There are a lot of GREAT!!! Navy personnel on this Camp. It just so happens that none of them worked in the Network department for the last 12 months. Alright enough of the ugly side.

4 months ago a contractor was brought in to provide internet much as we have just done. Thy charged everyone a $200 deposit, collected that and never came back. When we first got here there was another contract that would have cost over $48K to the Camp. Each individual would have to pay $100 a month for a 128Kbps connection. The contractor busted a few suspenses and I siezed the opportunity to discuss a Vsat option with the Camp Leadership. I showed them how I could reduce the cost to as little as $30 per person. They supported it 100% from the get go. Then many of you my friends pitched in and helped us purchase the equipment. Here on the camp we pay $4000 every 3 months for the access. It is not blazing fast, but it is in our Bhuts. Before we were restricted from using our video feeds to see our family, today we are not. I had 5 different people approach me yesterday saying thanks because they got to see their kids for the first time since leaving the states. That thanks goes to each one of you that helped out.

Another big thanks goes out to the volunteers that helped make this happen on site. We have worked non-stop at our regular deployment job and getting all the cables run and switches and modems setup and here recently setting all the users computers up for access. These are guys who had no network experience but have done an awesome job. Each one has jumped in anywhere they could and as a result we have over 3500 feet of Cat 5 cable ran, 4 switches and 18 routers setup. With 100 users signed up. Job well done!

Here are a few pictures of the setup process.

Ronnie Tabor

taborrw@gmail.com



"It is an honor to serve"

Jeremiah Denton

Vietnam POW