Where would you build your observatory?

There is still a lot of remote desert in Calif, Nevada, Arizona, Utah.
But water, electricity, and internet access might be a problem. =
Actually,
water can be trucked in pretty easily and generators/solar could provide
all the power a small house needs. Internet and telephone connections=20
might be the hardest things to provide. Cell phone covarage would work =
in
lots of areas but i'm not sure about high-speed full bandwidth internet.
Perhaps satellite? I'll have to investigate that. I just can't do =
without=20
the internet and SAA! =20

-Florian

I've actually overcome most of the obstacles that you mention.

I set up a solar farm (which was eventually connected to the grid) to
power my equipment and new home.

I have a sattelite dish for internet access.

We've developed a well and spring for water... and let me tell you
there isn't much of it here

There is no cell coverage here but we do have standard phone coverage.

I'm located near Yosemite National Park in California. I don't have a
perfect site but I do have excellent weather. Throughout the winter,
I have cloudless skies. My conditions do have frequent seeing
problems and dew in the winter months.

Michelle Stone
Telescopes by Plettstone
http://www.plettstone.com

"Florian" wrote in message . ..
There is still a lot of remote desert in Calif, Nevada, Arizona, Utah.
But water, electricity, and internet access might be a problem.
Actually,
water can be trucked in pretty easily and generators/solar could provide
all the power a small house needs. Internet and telephone connections
might be the hardest things to provide. Cell phone covarage would work
in
lots of areas but i'm not sure about high-speed full bandwidth internet.
Perhaps satellite? I'll have to investigate that. I just can't do
without
the internet and SAA!

-Florian

I have a sattelite dish for internet access.


Michelle,

How does the satellite work for internet access? Is it two-way via=20
the satellite or is upload via phone line and only download via
the sat? How are the charges? It is available 24/7 or do you pay
by the minutes when you're connected? What company provides the=20
service? Thanks! =20

-Florian