the access point

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“You can call it: the cheap solution to an expensive problem”, my colleague Zakayo told me. A very cheap solution, yes, indeed.

Some time ago, our offices were provided with some nice HP desktop computers as well as an access point for a wireless local area network (WLAN). Except for the usual problems (e.g. ppl transmitting computer viruses (not virii!) via USB flash sticks), the wireless network had been left switched off as the previous setup could only reach 2 or 3 offices.

To give you an idea of what our compound looks like, pls feel free to check out this panorama view:

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(click click => opens in flickr)

The red arrows indicate the number and position of computers, the small green arrow at this former workshop building to the very right is the position of our access point as from today. The access point (AP) used to be in the building to the left – which is why the signals never reached these offices on the other side of the compound.

The access point we are using is a simple D-LINK DWL-2100AP with a small rubber duck antenna that connects via the typical reverse SMA connector. There are in fact external antennas for such accesss points and wireless routers available on the market – even in Nairobi. External antennas come as indoor and outdoor versions. However, these cost between Ksh. 5.000 and 15.000 /= – which of course is a lot money for a simple (repeater) antenna.
I even thought about extending the antenna by using a coaxial cable and the existing antenna or even an additional reverse sma connector (I even thought about building my own antenna using this manual). Yani, the best improvement for any wireless setup (tv, radio, wlan, etc.) is to get a good antenna. Any coaxial cable in between might extenuate the already weak signal, and besides, this is Embu. There’s no 50 Ohm coaxial caboool, neither any reverse sma connector available. And I am just sick of being stopped by unable shopkeppers who don’t even know what they are selling. These gals (!) don’t even have simpoool battely horrdaaass, as mentioned earlier.

I wanted this thing to eventually work. And I didn’t want to spend too much money on this. This is a public service office that survives on donors support, revenue from water permits and salaries through the government @ job groups J & K.

Think of solutions, not problems. (Dan Eldon)

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And this is what you’ll need for the outdoor protection of an access point: an old jerrycan rescued from the garbage, some sisal rope, some tape, a sharp knife and, of course, the AP.

I also invested Ksh. 249 /= for a 5m extensiooon cabooool and ….nothing else, actually. These things just do the job.

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I’ve cut the jerrycan into pieces (just like the salt shaker :-), put the AP inside, connected it to the extended power supply and fixed it to the ventilation windows on this old workshop building (ex provincial water office workshop).

Well, what can I say? It works. It just works. The signal is now strong enough to reach the whole compound, all computers are hooked up, are secured via the typical WLAN security measures and we only spent an additional sum of Ksh. 249 /= which could have been even less by using a simpoool powaaa caboool which sells for Ksh. 45/= /m.

The reason for blogging this is because in the past, I’ve seen a lot of money spent on expensive high-tech whereas simple and cost-effective solutions also do the job. And as long as we’re talking about public funds, the money issue is important, I think.

(funny thing: the wooden ladder as seen in the pictures was made to be heavy so that it doesn’t “walk away” (~ get’s stolen by someone). welcome to the public service! :-)

back to shaggz

…but this time I am prepared! :-)

SANY9620

AOB: I modified my gravity water filter and bought some new parts at Nakumatt when I was in Nbo. A STEFANI water filter candooool (ceramic catridge) which is way much better than this simple ceramic filter I’ve used before. The purifying process works through a) ceramic filtration, b) sterilisation through a Coloidal Silver cover and c) granular activated carbon, which adsorbs chlorine, taste, odours and organic chemicals. Also, I’ve managed to obtain one of those really hard to get plastic water taps that make it so much easier to release the purified water from the lower bucket. I’d previously installed a normal, 1/2 inch brass tap which had a really bad hydraulic behaviour (Hola Bwana Toricelli!).

Having modified this gravity water filter, the cost scheme changes to:

2 x buckets @ Ksh. 90 => Ksh. 180
1 x water purifier candle with activated carbon & coloidal silver => Ksh. 795
1 x plastic water tap => Ksh. 415
TOTAL: Ksh. 1390 /=

The very same system sells for Ksh. 2000/= in Embu, and there’s only one shop in town (run by a retired colleague from the WRMA :-) that sells these filter systems in the whole area. Now, that’s much more than the initial Ksh. 400 /=, but still a wise investment – given that I will drink more water in future which is why I came up with my own filter in the first place.

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As for those wondering about the yellow colour: I think that’s due to reflections by the flash. Or the camera catches more details than what meets the human eye…

@Harrycane: ich bring Dir demnächst den Messinghahn samt Tankgewinde mit – vielleicht haste da noch nen Nutzen für im Hostel?

roadside artists

The roadside is where the action is. There are some things out there you never get to see while travelling in a car. This especially applies to those Wazungu folks in their posh & red number plated 4WD cars who spend some years here and then say they’ve stayed in Aaaafrikaaaaa. Yeah, right.

Something like this (scrap metal art):

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the car

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the musician

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the kichwa tembo

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the kichwa again, this time with a flamingo and an old jacket

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a stalled eroplani

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TingaTinga paintings within nice wooden frames made out of driftwood – something where the Kenyan part in me argues that these frames can’t be good kwani they are already broken and the styler-part in me thinks: woah, yeah, great safari design, these guys have nice & inspiring catalogues.

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And then of course Bwana fundi seremala who takes 2 weeks to complete the door frame for this Lamu-door. Whoever ordered this door will receive some piece of really nice work. Think of something like Ksh 25.000/= and we’re in business. Now that’s even more than what my colleagues in Embu earn every month. Jobgroup J & K in the public service, you know?

There’s something about this City of Nairobi that always makes me come back.

painting cats

I thought about renaming my blog from “Kikuyumoja’s Realm” into “JKE’s photo safari blog” for a moment, but then…

Harrycane, the kids & I went to the christmas bazar at the German Embassy/Church place on Riverside Drive in Nbo today, and despite of meeting some old friends I hadn’t seen for a long long time, I also had a chance of meeting one of Kenya’s finest artists: Bertiers.

Joseph Bertiers, this humble sign writer from Dagoretti who has actually won some prestigious awards in the past, is no stranger to me. I had this really funny poster on “toilet use” in my bathroom he made for the GTZ some 12 (?) years ago, I remember he made a painting of our graduation class in 1996 (Mathias, where is it? in Frankfurt?) and even fellow blogger / videojournalist Ruud Elmendorp made a short documentary on him some time ago. Bertiers’ name was on my “things to do” list earlier this year when I came to apply for that internship in Embu. I urgently wanted to meet him and see his atelier.

Now, I gave him my card and wrote “Kikuyumoja” on it – and Bertiers instantly told me “yeah, Kikuyumoja’s Realm, I know that site on the internet…”.

Atereere…. :-)))))))))))

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Kibs painting cats while Agwambo enjoys an orange drive.

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WDR-Wim reporting live from the “rapids cats painting centre”.

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These paintings sell for about Ksh. 20.000 /= each, which of course is a proud amount of money. Yani, Bertiers ever-returning theme of “painting cats” is something we’ll continue observing in Kenya’s political scene – which still delivers free-of-charge daily templates for perfectly placed satire. Just imagine the Arthurs saga and their bling bling styles – that’s free entertainment which needs to be turned into art.

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Now, despite of the true political observations painted in oil, there are a lot of small and interesting details one discovers by closely looking at these paintings. And I think there’s no better compliment for an artists if a crowd of young kids interestingly inspects these paintings for about 15 minutes. And even after some years, these paintings don’t lose any of their energy.
Trust me: if you’re interested in contemporary Kenyan art, and would like to get something unique – Joseph Bertiers is the man to ask.

@Bertiers: see I don’t have transport at the moment and need to get back to Embu kesho, lakini asap there’s more time, let’s pls arrange for a visit at your studio, ok?

Stomach Clinic Restaurant

…so you’re walking through Uhuru Park, with the sunshine in the background, your favourite music on the headphones and start to appreciate nature….

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…as it always finds ways to turn even the ugliest building in Nairobi into a beautiful sight. Btw, is there any relationship between Uhuru’s Brookside milk signboard and Uhuru Park? How ironic.

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Talking about ironic things: Has anyone been to “Stomach Clinic Restaurant”?

Nairobi, I love you, regardless.

p.s.: hey, Madame “friend-of-Ciru-and-Kui-ati-we’ve-met-the-other-day” – there I went, thinking no one would spot me in the crowds of Kenyatta Ave. and then you find yourself being identified by a lovely young lady. Nice! Thx! I was so surprised & confused that I forgot to ask your name… :)

AOB: @ Mental & KBW-Admin Team: these days, whenever I take a picture and ask for permissions first, I tell them (the folks on the pictures) to check out kenyaunlimited.com. Now that’s a perfect way to promote the Kenyan blogosphere, ama?