#WWWD Wireless Village DC31 Wardriving Contest Last Day.

Driving an hour before work and several hours after the coverage has been good. 7 out of 8 foxes found but the last one remains elusive !

It wasn’t until the competition had started and my grid was committed that I realised that location, grid size and previously discovered networks was everything. Looking at the leaderboard it was clear to see the skill was in the choosing of the right grid.

I not going to win but it has been good fun and I have learnt a lot. Next year I will make better choices !

Update : The contest has finished and the scores are in. I have improved on last year’s ranking.

#WWWD Wireless Village DC31 Wardriving Competition

The competition this year doesn’t coincide with my summer holiday. I also have acquired another Android phone to assist.

Sub Station on Putnoe Lane, Bedford.

The tiles here always catch my eye.

Cellnex Mast – Bedford Graze Hill.

Quick stop off after work. Entrance is within the hedge. Good view over to Bedford Manton Heights.

PNA58 – Went for a closer look this morning.

Went for a closer look this morning with my camera. The phase identification colours is a new one for me.

CEB SE England Scheme – 1940

Tower 4VK423 – Biggleswade

Todays “stop and shoot” tower on route 4VK whilst driving to a site in Biggleswade. Scaffolding was being erected to install a safety net to protect the road. Two new circuit colours to add to the collection also.

Different Circuits on Route 4YJ

I have only just noticed, from a previous post, that there are two very different circuits on these towers. The right side looks much newer. Sundon to East Claydon Route 4YJ.

Tower PNA57 – Bedford Industrial

Last one of the day today on route PNA over one of Bedford’s Industrial Estates. The two circuits split off into different directions terminating in the local substations. Two more circuit colours to add to the collection.

Tower ZA372 – Marston Moretaine

Another one in the middle of a supermarket car park. This time on route ZA where the towers pass over Marston Moretaine. Two circuit colours to add to the collection. There are some odd objects mounted on this tower ?

Tower 4YJ34 – Leighton Buzzard

First one of the day, in the middle of a supermarket carpark, on route 4YJ where the towers stride through Leighton Buzzard. A couple more circuit colours to add to the collection. Lots of buzzing under this one !

Tower Circuit Colours

Started a thing collecting circuit colours. On every tower there is a coloured plate that identifies the circuit(s) carried above. On a dual CCT (circuit) tower there would be two plates, one for each circuit.

Tower PAA10 – Bedford

This originally caught my interest because it all looked wonky. After posting on Twitter it was highlighted as a phase transposition by @DiverTomJG

“The majority of double CCT lines are transposed by having different phasing on each CCT. Line transpositions are only really seen on the original 1930’s 132kV grid lines which were predominantly long distance single CCT.” @DiverTomJG

“This DC tower was built at a later date and is an addition to the original line. I would guess its addition was to increase the ground clearance to allow them to build the housing estate below.” @DiverTomJG

Tower POA143 – Great Denholm

This tower caught my eye because of the attachments. After posting on Twitter the attachments were identified as Optical Attached Cables (OPAC) by @Neil_Hardiman

I later stopped at Cut Throat Lane Switching Station, Bedford, on way home from work where you can see the OPACs terminating.

Incorporation of Optical Attached Cable and Conductors Carrying Optical Fibres into the Existing Overhead Line Network: Design and Construction

Installation of Fibre Optic Cable(s) on Steel Tower 132kV Circuits (including Fibre Wrap Method)

Pylon & Playground !

Every time I drive by this I think Pylon & Playground ! Who’s idea was it to put a playground there ?!

New watch face – Red Dwarf

#WWWD DC30 Wardriving Contest.

The contest is over and it’s been good fun. My choice of grid was difficult as the week coincided with my summer holiday. So a leisurely approach was taken…

Looking forward to next year and maybe a more concerted effort.

Breakfast

War Driving My Local Area

Covered another square in the grid on my way home. Filling in the MK grid squares one at a time !

Our AREDN Mesh Network is growing.

Our local RAYNET group is exploring the use of the AREDN MESH software. We have deployed multiple nodes running various equipment tests. We have an Intranet Web Server, CCTV, VoIP phones and a RaspPBX. We are using VPNs to interconnect the core nodes situated at various member’s houses.

Random Stuffs of Interest To Me

Landrovers, Amateur Radio, Infrastructure Spotting, Abandoned Sites and Technology