Technical Help Needed!

[waddo]

Tried one forum with 110 views but no response so will try here next.

I am at the very end of my technological knowledge and need help from anyone who has knowledge of this or similar systems:

http://wildlandsystems.com/wildfire-aut ... tions.html

You may not be aware that a system almost identical to this is installed and in operation within the TRNC. However, it has developed a fault that local knowledge cannot isolate nor repair. It is a communicatons fault which is preventing information being transmitted from remote locations back to the HQ.

If there is anyone out there who has an electronics background and who is willing to assist for free, please send me an email so that I can get in touch and attempt to explain the problem.

Many thanks.

[Jonnie]

I find this quite odd really. :-

According to the website...

"Northern Cyprus – 20 sites
This camera arrays is protecting a wide range of national assets in various geographies and terrains."

So this fire detection system has been installed here at I assume some expense. It is not working properly and "local knowledge" is unable to fix it however "non local knowledge" is expected to fix it for free?

Surely the first course of action is to go to the suppliers and if this is protecting national assets which I would assume could run to large sums of monies worth, surely the nation should pay to bring the required expertise from the supplying company.

It would also mean the system will not be attempted to be fixed by people without the required expertise who may just bugger it up further in the long run!

[waddo]

Jonnie,

First and foremost - this is the TRNC you are talking about. Normal rules do not apply because if they did there would be no need of KAR, Tulips, etc, etc, etc. This country is not recognised by any other country than Turkey (teaching how to suck eggs I AM NOT, but many people reading will not know this) so it receives what I might term as "under the table handouts". This particular "handout" has been paid for by the EU!!!! Now you know about the EU, they are the body that gives away money and then forgets why and what it gave it for - and in many areas could care less.

I would "imagine" that this installation cost a fair amount of hard earned Euro's and that it came with the promise of full technical backup - like the guarantees you get with all your purchases here - however, like most things here that are "handouts" once they have been provided then they are left to the people who have to use them to try to keep them going. Not the best of situations but quite common across the whole Island.

I have no intention of going public on any forum to try to explain this further but am willing to discuss the matter, at length, with any person who can offer technical expertise, in particular in the field of microwave radio - YES FOR FREE - to the country in which they now live.

You may be interested to know that whilst this system is non-operational, there are still firemen stationed around the country who work 24hrs on and 24hrs off, watching the land for signs of smoke/flame so they can alert the response teams to go out and fight the fires. The camera system works but fails to be able to send its data through to a central point, its not brain surgery its a simple technical fault of which I have no experiance - HELP if you can.

[waddo]

As an aside, all technical publications and data are in Turkish, a language of which I have little knowledge or comprehension and trying to ask a fireman, in broken English/Turkish is not providing the answer to the question.

The computerised side of the system is simplicity itself and can not be "buggered up" unless you really work at it - the data transfer side is where technical expertise is required as it is this point where my personal knowledge of communications - despite 40 years in the communications industry - has failed.

[Jonnie]

There are similar charitable organisations to the ones you mention in other countries where "normal rules" apply. The TRNC gets funding from Turkey, this is substantial funding and not under the table.

If the EU has paid for the system I am sure there would have been an agreement as to who was responsible for maintenance. If it came with full technical back up this should be perused.

If there is a permanent watch being made, will this money be saved once the system is back up and running or will the watchers just "retire" to the canteen for their shift?

If there was a TRNC company/consultant with the relevant knowledge to fix this problem would they do it for nothing? More so would they be even asked to do it for nothing?

Yes I live here, as an expat I cannot work without relevant permissions (which I have, which include paying about £4k in social insurance per year amongst other costs) so why should I, if I was in possession of the relevant qualifications work for nothing.

[waddo]

Jonnie,

Many thanks for taking the time to reply.

I get your message that you have no wish to help unless you are fully paid to do so and you see no reason why anyone else should offer "Free" assistance either.

Enjoy the TRNC.

[Jonnie]

You miss my point. I do not see why anyone should be asked to hep to fix a problem like this which is for a system that protects national assets without payment, its like a computer expert going in to fix a problem at a government office for free.

They will not allow expats to work unless they have the relevant paperwork, you cannot even play a guitar in a bar for free without risk however when its suits them.....

In this specific situation they should have the systems and procedures in place to to repair, why buy the technology if you have not properly thought out how you repair if it goes wrong.

Actually in this situation if I had the expertise to help I probably would, I just think having to ask for volunteers for something like this is "bonkers".

"Enjoy the TRNC" I do thanks.

[waddo]

Jonnie,

I am sorry if I have upset you and appologise if you feel slighted, this was not my intention. I do understand the difficulties of actually working for a wage within the TRNC if you are not a citizen of the country, some years ago I fell foul of this system myself, when attempting to provide IT resource at no cost to children. I did like your analogy of the computer expert fixing a problem for free - I have had to term that as a "favour" and not as work to stay legal myself but it is a very thin line to walk.

Your comment - In this specific situation they should have the systems and procedures in place to to repair, why buy the technology if you have not properly thought out how you repair if it goes wrong. - is quite correct, may I point out the billions that have been lost in the UK on the NHS computer system, and that in a country that is supposed to know how things work! I have viewed the SOR for the project and it was well written and covered all requirements including a five year maintenance contract built in - sadly once the equipment was provisioned and installed it became a political game between the TRNC and the rest of the world, that is where the major problem lies.

The best analogy I can give you in return, with regard to the provision of this Fire system is this - If a guy buys you a beer at the bar, would you then expect him to always be there to pay for another when your glass became empty or would you accept the free beer and enjoy it whilst you could?

Can I also draw your attention to just one of the organisations that not only work for free but do so at the request of the TRNC - http://www.cesvtrnc.com/projects.html

Make no mistake here, the TRNC has not asked for "volunteers", I have asked for technical assistance. Should I/We ever get to use such assistance is another matter altogether. I too enjoy the TRNC but it is a very hard country to try to get your mind around, as you will know yourself. Have a great day.

[waddo]

Help now received. Many thanks to all. This thread can now be closed.

[pc4854]

Hi Waddo, That was quite an interesting thread. Has the problem now been completely solved and the equipment working as it should?

[Jonnie]

Waddo,

I do not in the east way feel upset or slighted.

I am also pleased you have the issue in hand and it would be good to get information on progress.

[waddo]

I have been provided with the contact details of the guy in Turkey who has the responsibility for this project in Cyprus - now comes the fun part in trying to get him to talk to me as well. I have also been given the name and phone number of another contact here in Cyprus (best described as a mover and shifter) who is also happy to help in this area and as he is a Turkish Cypriot I have more hope of that than anything else.

So although help has been received it is still going to be some time before any action will be taken, in the meantime we are at the mercy of the winds and the vigilance of the fire watchers whilst the technical solution remains "off-line".

After phoneing and mailing early next week my next step is to pour through the tech spec of the equipment documentation and then go back and talk to the fire chief again to see what progress they may have made. It is the normal "Cyprus" thing, but keep tapping away at it and inthe end something always cracks and a solution will be found.

Thanks to all who have an interest and once it is all back on line again I will post another message to let you know. Feel free to "bother" me by email if I do not seem to be getting back to you soon enough, always happy to share the news.

[Jonnie]

Have you got an update on the state of the system?

Cheers