PIRATE CAMP '24-25....................Desert SouthWest

You actually have treasure to bury?

I am thinking the closest you come to it are those silver Klondike Bars you keep in your Pirate Chest otherwise known as a Freezer. At least sometimes you do distribute those silver bars to the Pirate Crew members the way a decent captain should! Shiver me timber’s!

So here we are full circle...no pun intended.

Starlink service, ROAM 50GB.

I paid $35 to get this thing restarted.

This confirms that the Gen2 dish will work on the new ROAM 50GB plan.

This dish has been sitting indoors, unused, since April of 2022, so it had no current updates and it did take a bit longer to get it going, due to being way behind with updates.

I notice the new Starlink app has changed quite a bit, and has several new features including 'Sleep Mode' and 'Tilt Mode'.

This may get some occasional use but its not gonna be a full time solution, the only reason I bought back into Starlink was because they now offer this low price and the ability to pause service.

Also, the reason I'm providing this information in this thread is because we might have a few members out there in the Quartzsite area who might be interested in getting an older gen2 back in service.

This is evidence it can be done.

^ Starlink is a game changer...............We have had service EVERYWHERE we have traveled this Summer..........many of those spots have been a "dead zone" for us in the past.........Even in the Trees.........I'm sure we'll have the same good service in Quartzsite this Winter

I Know..........We don't NEED this level of connectivity but we WANT it and can afford Starlink.....Arrrgggggh

With how crowded and slow the internet in the La Posa South area it just about is a need if you have a need to be online. Of course there is also a want and for some older persons who can’t get out hiking and running around or risk exposure to various illnesses from the crowds in the town of Quartzsite then even the entertainment it provides can be a combined mental and physical health benefit. I have aging friends who got starlink for that very reason.

This Summer I had some troubles with my Solar collection/storage.......I had just installed a single 300 Ah battery in Quartzsite.......Then our Summer in the forest left me short on solar........I even bought a second 5 gal gas can for my HONDA

Now back in the treeless Nevada desert.....NO Problems.....SUN !

We are in a huge agricultural valley.............gorgeous swaths of green or red salad greens..........uprooted ONIONS drying in the Sun as far as you can see................HUGE implements sharing the road.........IRRIGATION !.......Yerington NV

Soon we'll continue South thru Nevada

abnorm said:

This Summer I had some troubles with my Solar collection/storage.......I had just installed a single 300 Ah battery in Quartzsite.......Then our Summer in the forest left me short on solar........I even bought a second 5 gal gas can for my HONDA

Now back in the treeless Nevada desert.....NO Problems.....SUN !

We are in a huge agricultural valley.............gorgeous swaths of green or red salad greens..........uprooted ONIONS drying in the Sun as far as you can see................HUGE implements sharing the road.........IRRIGATION !.......Yerington NV

Soon we'll continue South thru Nevada

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I hesitate to get a new lifepo4 battery as I have limited space on my roof for solar panels. But for now I am doing OK with what I have to meet my basic setup. When my very good quality marine AGM battery ages out I will make the switch to lithium and a somewhat larger single panel and solar controller. But it still will have to remain a modest sized electrical power supply due to space limitations.

No Starlink for me at night on my current power setup, not even the mini version. Not that I have a spare $600 to invest in a Starlink mini panel. Perhaps I should start buying lottery tickets or get a real job

maki2 said:

I hesitate to get a new lifepo4 battery as I have limited space on my roof for solar panels. But for now I am doing OK with what I have to meet my basic setup. When my very good quality marine AGM battery ages out I will make the switch to lithium and a somewhat larger single panel and solar controller. But it still will have to remain a modest sized electrical power supply due to space limitations.

No Starlink for me at night on my current power setup, not even the mini version. Not that I have a spare $600 to invest in a Starlink mini panel. Perhaps I should start buying lottery tickets or get a real job

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My old Optima AGM which I never let go below 75% charge is still going after 13 years it may have lost some capacity but still runs my pump to empty my black tank a couple times a week with just a 100 watt Renology portable solar panel to charge it that is several years old. I’m beginning to think they will outlast me!

bullfrog ! said:

My old Optima AGM which I never let go below 75% charge is still going after 13 years it may have lost some capacity but still runs my pump to empty my black tank a couple times a week with just a 100 watt Renology portable solar panel to charge it that is several years old. I’m beginning to think they will outlast me!

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Mine was bought 5 years ago but not put in use until a little over 4 years ago. Still going strong and it only went to 50% briefly one time when I was starting my diesel heater on a very cold morning. So not a true drop down to 50%. The heater just pulls extra amps for a couple of minutes for the glow plug.

Something of note about Starlink..
I was just reading about the evacuation notices in Florida for the hurricane on its way there. The State of Florida emergency services has purchased a bunch of Starlinks to send out to the areas in the path so they can have connections to the internet when the physical structures such as towers and power l lines go down. The world of communications is definetly evolving!

maki2 said:

Something of note about Starlink..
I was just reading about the evacuation notices in Florida for the hurricane on its way there. The State of Florida emergency services has purchased a bunch of Starlinks to send out to the areas in the path so they can have connections to the internet when the physical structures such as towers and power l lines go down. The world of communications is definetly evolving!
View attachment 36494

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Must have generators as well as fuel for them or battery backup! Most of the country has had some kind of extreme weather or it’s effects it seems this year. Even as a nomad it is hard to avoid.

bullfrog ! said:

Must have generators as well as fuel for them or battery backup! Most of the country has had some kind of extreme weather or it’s effects it seems this year. Even as a nomad it is hard to avoid.

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I suspect those Starlink are headed to the emergency stations. They would be very useful in helping locals connect to families to let them know their status after the storm. There are also teams of volunteers that arrive in RVs. But they are somewhat likely to arrive with their own Starlink among that group. Of course I am just speculating.

I was in a couple of hurricanes when I lived in New Orleans in the 1960s. Long and exciting nights followed by long days without electricity. But my mother was always a bit of a prepper when it came to a full pantry and drinking water supply. Fortunately the water did stay on and was potable. My father was the manager at the company he worked for in that Southern States district. He and other employees took some of the box trucks and made the drive north to Baton Rouge to bring back a lot of block ice and bags of ice to distribute to the employees so they could keep foods safe.

You folks are so helpful. Just ordered my Starlink for $299! Loooove it! So appreciate the alert and learning about the $50/mo option.

I'm still renting an apartment in San Diego and stalking you all... Lol. Willow Creek looks amazing. Putting that one on my list.

Doug, I flaked on going to Q last year to get help with my solar. Still can't commit since I'm working full-time and starting school in October. [Finishing a bachelors at 56.) BUT!! Keeping your kind offer in mind, while / iffin y'all are still out there.

Here's a pic of the new paint job on my roof. Thrilled to have this done, finally. Should help with the heat! Maxxaire fan is next. It's sitting in my garage.

Happy safe travels to everyone ~ arggggghhhgg ( ;
Cat

Cat and Pete.............................

Yep, that's US.

abnorm said:

Two Cats....A Rat......and the Doug ?

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Two cats…. fed well on a rat…. and the Doug (eating a Klondike Bar). Arrrggggh!

Klondike bars were not being served at Pirate camp last winter. But I made do OK with the Mexican, coconut popsicles from the Hardware Store. Not chocolate though, it would definetly be better if they were chocolate coated.

We will have to see what the new owners of Dorothy and Toto ice cream parlor in Quartzsite have on the menu. Supposedly there will be other food offerings besides ice cream.

Now I have gone and given myself a chocolate craving! There is a candy store with ice cream in Tusayan. So tempting as it is a quick and easy drive of perhaps 5 minutes or less to get there.

NctryBen said:

Two cats…. fed well on a rat…. and the Doug (eating a Klondike Bar). Arrrggggh!

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HOW is the Beet Harvest ????????

Speaking of solar and Q, earlier in 2024 I passed through Q, and I noticed solar panels were hung flat on the exterior walls of trailers and RVs.

Thaty might work well with a low sun, but can they be propped up flat for the high noon sun?

Current triple digit temps in Q will melt your ice cream.

wayne49 said:

can they be propped up flat for the high noon sun?

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Do they HAVE to ?...........The low Winter sun can use the vertical panels when your flat panels are poor receivers......
and the flat panels gain their efficiency in Summer

If you add hinges to the top of the "side" panels you can aim them ......"Arrrrrr......I have a plan......."