Lonesome Stations

[readbueno]

Brian I'd love to put one in NZ - but there never seem to be kits available

Hi 41South, I don't think it is that the kits are not available! If you read this forum, you can see that a large number of kits were sent to South Africa. Only 10% of them actually came online, and none of them are online at present. This also happens in all the other areas, even Europe, and even if the stations do come online, more than half of them are not well adjusted, nor given the appropriate TLC!
Sending kits to Universities, Institutions or Foundation research centers is also problematical, as personnel continually change and then the stations tend to be neglected or fall into disuse! :-(
The better stations appear to be operated by people with a genuine long term interest and not just a passing whim!
Africa, South America, The Atlantic and Pacific Islands and South-East Asia are in need of more Operators/Stations and I hope that we can get these places going soon.
Chicken and Egg situation, you need a critical minimum number of stations, to make areas function well.
Remotely operated stations, have additional problems, and unless there is someone on site, that can be instructed to maintain them, tend to die suddenly! :-(
(Many reasons, besides fault conditions, including Theft and vandalism! Solar panels and Batteries etc., are a "real prize" in some parts of the world!)
Kindest regards,

Brian. 1856 Vilaboa.