The technology of 'PoleSat-1
Peter is an computer chip engineer and space nerd that spent 12 years at private satellite company developing ASICs for spaceflight. The live video has been a passion project for him for 3+ years. He refers to the osprey nest as PoleSat-1 - as it has many of the features and issues of a satellite in space:
1) It' can't be fixed after it is launched - that is, once the birds return for the year, we cannot go back up to the top of the pole to work on the camera - This caused the 'loss' of the 2023 season due to a bad seal on an ethernet cable at the top of the pole
2) it is solar powered. There is no power at the pole, so an every evoliving solar power solutions has been deployed - not unlike solar in an off the grid RV
3) dicey Wifi - all communications with the nest are via wireless links from the pole to Peter's townhome ~ 300' away. Many iterations of wifi have been tried
4) remote monitoring. Like a satellite, Mission control want to be able to control the cameras, and monitor all communications and solar charging remotely. This has caused no end of nerdy headaches....
Coming SOON - iI will detail the current design (electronics seen on the left) for any interested bird-nerds....