Zakon Group Engineers Highest Broadband 
Wireless Network in the Northeast United States

Skiers Get Backcountry View From Solar-Powered Wireless Web Camera

    Zakon Group LLC announced the operational deployment of the highest wireless network in the northeast United States. The wireless network, based on WiFi (802.11) technology, is an integral part of the Mount Washington Observatory's new solar-powered Web camera launched to provide views of famed Tuckerman Ravine and the surrounding region.

    The Web camera is perched atop 4,062-foot Wildcat Mountain Ski Area, looking directly at Mount Washington's Tuckerman and Huntington Ravines. The images from the camera are transmitted through a wireless network to the summit of 6,288-foot Mount Washington, where the Observatory is connected to the Internet through a frame relay line.

    Zakon Group of North Conway, NH provided technical advice and guidance in the design, integration, and testing of the system. Robert Zakon, CTO of Zakon Group, stated, "the unique opportunity to design the highest wireless network in the northeast, and possibly the whole eastern United States, coupled with the technical challenges posed by the environment, made for a fascinating project."

    The project had to overcome many technical challenges before today's launching, including the lack of power and communication lines atop Wildcat Mountain, and the fierce winter conditions that has made Mount Washington known for the world's worst weather. "After testing the gear through this year's colder-than-average winter, we're satisfied that the system is stable and works very well," said Observatory Web Developer Sean Doucette. Further adding, "you have to put the pieces together across a broad range of available products, and Zakon Group was right there with accurate information and extremely helpful advice."

    "There's a lot of backcountry skiers and snowboarders out there who will be headed to Mount Washington in the next few months to do some spring skiing in Tuckerman Ravine," says Observatory Marketing Manager Scot Henley. "Our new webcam offers backcountry enthusiasts an opportunity to make a more informed decision about if and when to head into the bowl."

    Views from the camera will be made available on the Web sites of the Mountain Washington Observatory and Wildcat Mountain

    A technical write-up on the project is available at www.ZakonGroup.com/technology/highest_wireless_network 

    About Zakon Group
    Zakon Group is a high-tech consulting firm offering services and solutions ranging from Web development and systems integration to knowledge engineering and rent-a-CTO. Zakon Group brings together the right mix of technology, experience, knowledge, and innovation, in delivering services and solutions that are customer-centric, on time, reliable, creative, and effective.

By Robert Hoskins

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