ALFA Network – Long Range Wireless Adapter

Today we received a new toy to assist us with connection and performance to a campground’s wifi. We ordered an Alfa Network Adapter and an Indoor Long Range Antenna. We use our Verizon aircard and are very pleases with it, but prefer to use the campground’s wifi to download software updates or view online video so we don’t go over our monthly 5gb limit.

Sandy was talking with our current neighbors (Gil & Mary Ellen), they mentioned that they were able to pickup the wifi here at Pony Express with the aid of the ALFA network adapter. Gil was so kind to print out the information for the device and where he ordered it from. Sandy called pre-sales support at Pasadena Network and they confirmed that this is the latest and greatest they have to improve a Wifi connection. We could have ordered a larger outside antenna, but Sandy felt the long range antenna would meet our needs. Sandy also contacted the 3gstore where we purchased our wireless amplifier setup to verify if they had anything else that would work better but they did not.

Installation is very easy to do as you just load the CD that comes with the USB adapter and follow the on screen instruction to install the driver and optional utility software. Next you plug in the ALFA network adapter to your USB port and select the appropriate network connection.

If you install the utility software it will display all the connections, signal strength, and additional information if you click on a selected connection.

The following are some speed tests that we ran to see the difference in performance:

Speed test without the ALFA network adapter. It is very difficult to get connected and stay connected to the campground’s wifi. When we get connected to the network the response time is extremely slow and we can only see the closest network connection to our campsite.

Speed test with the USB adapter and the basic antenna that comes with it As you can see the response time did improve and we were able to stay connected to the network. We can now see all three of the campgrounds network connections.

Speed test with the USB adapter and the Long Range antenna As you can see the response is much better with this antenna, it is well worth the additional $17.00.

Utah State Capitol Building.

It has been warm here for the past few days, with today in the mid-nineties. The bad part is that we are back down to one air conditioner again as the front AC blew the motor-starter for the second time in a month. We have ordered more parts but it’s looking like there may be a larger problem causing this; we are trying to decide if we can wait until we are back in Wisconsin to have the unit tested and repaired, or if we will have it done along the way.

Today we decided to drive downtown and visit the State Capitol Building. We were able to find free parking across from the Capitol in a visitor center; we will also be able to park there when we visit Temple Square if  the weather cools a little. Sandy had visited the Capitol Building before and remembered the grounds as very colorful, in 2004 the building underwent a comprehensive reconstruction to preserve the building and protect it from earthquake damage, green lawns now surround the building.

 

The Utah State Capitol Building.

 

The Lions at the east entrance are called Integrity and Fortitude.

 

We walked into the building on the east side of the 1st floor and were surprised by the lack of security at the door and inside; the legislature only meets for 45 days each year so that may explain this openness. We did find the information desk and were immediately offered a tour, which we accepted. Our tour started on the 2nd floor, which could be called the main floor as the Governor’s Office, State Supreme Court and the House and Senate Chambers are on this floor.

The outside of the building is constructed of Utah granite but the inside is gray marble from Georgia; the marble was sawn and displayed in what I would call a book match pattern. Our guide showed us some of this work.

 

The interior is Georgia Marble.

 

An example of the book match pattern in the marble walls.

 

This particular pattern is said to bear the face of Satan.

 

We then visited the rotunda, there are paintings depicting various historic scenes from the settling of the area by the pioneers; the dome of the rotunda is painted in a sky pattern complete with soaring seagulls. WPA people did many of these paintings during the great depression.

 

The rotunda.

 

Some of the artwork.

 

Brigham Young  choosing the location for the pioneer settlement.

 

The pioneer’s attempting to save their crop from locust were aided by seagulls.

 

 

There are also paintings in the east and west atriums depicting early pioneer life:

 

The east mural is titled Reclaiming the Dessert by Irrigation.

 

 

The west mural is The Arrival of the Pioneers in the Great Salt Lake Valley in 1847.

 

 

This cut glass window is in the Governor’s Office area. The beehive design used throughout the State is a symbol of industry, Brigham Young knew it would take hard work to settle and live here; they would have to be busy as bees.

 

 

We then made a brief visit to the State Supreme Court Room; the five justices are appointed by the Governor and now conduct most of their hearings in the courthouse located in downtown Salt Lake.

 

 

The House Chamber was quiet and we were able to see the room from the main floor and the gallery. There are four murals in the chamber depicting historic scenes from Utah’s past.

 

The House of Representatives Chamber.

 

Murals adorn the House Chamber.

 

The Senate Chamber was equally ornate with elaborate paint and murals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoyed our visit to the Capitol and will return to downtown when we visit Temple Square later in the week.  

 

Downtown Salt Lake City from the top of the Capitol Steps.

Park City Utah.

It was warm here today so we took a ride up to Park City to see the Olympic Park and the city. We watched some of the training on the ski jump hills and walked through the museum for area skiing history and the 2002 Winter Olympics. We then drove downtown to take a look at the “historic downtown”.

Our first stop was the City Visitor Center where we picked up some information about the area; the Nordic Ski Jumping facility was visible from the visitor center so we drove up to the Olympic Park which includes the Nordic Jumps, the Bobsled/Luge/Skeleton Track, Freestyle Skiing Hill/Training Pool and the Museum. There are activities in addition to those attractions including zip line rides, a bobsled ride and an alpine slide; there are also camps and clinics for various events that includes training by experienced coaches.

The first stop we made was at the Winter Sports Center where we were given a map and a brief introduction to the center. We then walked to the K90 Nordic Ski Jump, athletes were practice jumping on this hill. Ski Jumping in June? Yes, there is a surface on the runs that is watered between runs and allows them to practice on the hills.

 

There are short rides available on a wheeled bobsled like this one for $60.00 apiece!

 

Our first stop was at the Nordic Jumping Hill, they were practicing on the K90 hill on the right.

 

This brave fellow was preparing for a jump.

 

They sit and slide out to the middle of the run on the white bar, stand up and away they go.

 

It’s a long way from the end of the jump to where they land.

 

All the jumps we watched had happy landings.

 

We then walked to the freestyle practice pool where a number of jumpers were practicing jumps and landing in the pool. We enjoyed watching the different ages and levels of people practicing here. We did not walk up along the bobsled/luge track although it is part of the walking tour of the facility.

 

The freestyle practice facility has a number of runs.

 

This run was for beginners, note the nervous mother on the right.

 

The next step is the jump on the right, these kids were doing pretty basic tricks; they release air into the water to make the landing softer.

 

The kids on this hill had a coach helping them.

 

There were three people practicing on the larger jumps:

 

They were doing the advanced tricks and getting some air.

 

 

 

The bobsled track.

 

Curve 14.

 

 

We then drove into Old Park City where we ate our picnic lunch at a municipal park while watching a group of young boys playing tackle tag and some of the action at the skate park. After lunch we walked up to main street; we did not do any window shopping and turned down an opportunity to take an $11.00 (apiece), ski lift ride to the top of a ski hill. We walked back to the CRV and headed back to North Salt Lake.

 

Our picnic spot.

 

The “Historic Downtown”.

 

We found these along the trail we walked.

 

Antelope Island State Park.

Today we visited Antelope Island State Park; at 28,000 acres Antelope Island is the largest island in the Great Salt Lake. The entrance fee was $9.00, after paying the fee we drove over the causeway to the island and then drove along the east shore to the former Fielding Garr Ranch. Later we visited the west side of the island, stopping at the Buffalo Point Overlook for lunch and a hike up the Buffalo Point Trail.

 

The view of the island from the causeway.

 

One of many Bison we saw during our drive.

 

We were lucky to spot this Antelope along the road.

 

The island has not been developed, there are great views like this.

 

 

The Fielding Garr Ranch was active under a number of owners from 1848 until 1981 when it was purchased by the State of Utah. The ranch is located at Garr Springs that is one of the strongest and most consistent springs on the island; archaeological findings show that there has been human activity at the springs for at least 1,000 years. The ranch was founded in 1848 when the Mormon Church assigned the task to Fielding Garr, the church operated the ranch until the mid-1870s. At the turn of the century businessman John Dooly Sr., bought the entire island and focused on sheep ranching, he also brought 12 Bison to the island. In the 1950’s when sheep ranching proved unprofitable the ranch was used for cattle operations until 1981.

 

The ranch house is claimed to be the oldest Anglo-built house still on it’s original foundation in Utah.

 

The sheep shearing stations on the 2nd floor of the shearing barn.

 

Sandy checks out a Ford tractor like the one she operated on her father’s farm.

 

The view east from the ranch corral.

 

This wagon was used by sheep herders as a camp to travel with the herds at certain times of the year.

 

The inside of the sheep camp, it could sleep 4?

 

After our visit to the ranch we drove back along the east side of the island, past the Visitor Center and up to the Buffalo Point Overlook. We ate our picnic lunch while the gnats tried to eat us, they didn’t bother us at the ranch but they were out in force at the overlook.  After our lunch we hiked up the short but steep Buffalo Point Trail from the parking area to the top of the hill where we enjoyed great views of the island and the Great Salt Lake but we had to fight off the gnats as we retreated back to the CRV.

 

Looking down on the Buffalo Point Overlook from the trail.

 

Looking out over Bridger Bay.

 

The Great Salt Lake.

 

White Rock Bay.

 

Upon returning to the car John noticed that it was 2pm which is his “quitting time” so we headed back across the causeway and south to Pony Express in North Salt Lake. The weather is predicted to be hot tomorrow so we may head into the mountains.