Power points - you cannot have enough, but plan them.
Don't place them too low to the benchtop. Many devices these days run off plugpacks and they need more clearance than the standard plug.
Use a combination of narrowly spaced and widely spaced sockets (plug packs again)
LAN - at least some access is a must.
A desktop switch is just as convenient as multiple sockets, requires less patching further afield, and allows for you to isolate the lab when necessary.
Computers
These days a laptop is more convenient and requires less space than a full blown desktop.
With just a little planning you don't need parallel ports any more.
You can still find laptops with a serial port if really necessary.
Toolchest
use a tool chest on wheels
choose one that has shallow slide out drawers - it really helps you avoid filling it up with clutter and helps ensure [others / you] keep it organised
Electronics supplies
Work it in with your toolchest (if appropriate)
Plastic specimen phials are a great way of keeping a couple of sizes of all the passive electronic components close to hand, organised, without taking much space.
Soldering station
Have a decent permanent station with fume extraction / filtering.
Have the right tools - it saves you plenty of time from fixing poorly done jobs.
Log books...
Many places an _optional_ tracking system already exists. At the start of bushwalks there is often a track register / logbook. On top of major peaks there are occasionally lunchboxes with a pad and pen. Simple - paper and pen. Nothing cheaper, maintainable by volunteers.
Besides, what do I care that others know where I have walked? Indeed, it's nice to see the names and comments of friends that have walked there before.
EPIRBs
Emergency Position Indicating Response Beacons.
I know our national parks offices hire them. So do most camping stores, scout groups, etc
If in doubt, carry one. Their use will save the enormous costs of S&R.
Mobile phones
Sorry, most places I go they wont work.
GPS
Fun toys but barely useful. A GPS and a handheld computer (ipaq) or something can be a nice gimmick showing where you have walked, but is no way to navigate. I've seen problems with broken wires, flat batteries, poor coverage in heavy bush. There is no substitute for knowing how to use a map - or going with someone experienced and learnign from them.
Just to clarify some of the issues raised already...
Analogue television channels in Australia are 7MHz wide. The channels of interest are between 45 and 75MHz. BushLAN is not necessarily tied to using a particular block of spectrum, or an entire television channel.
BushLAN subdivides available spectrum into 300kHz channels. As always, there is a tradeoff between transmitter power, communications range, and the data rate.
Using two 300kHz channels [for a symmetric full-duplex connection] low power, relatively short range links with a raw data rate of 115.2kbps have already been created.
As to propagation. VHF achieves beyond line of sight range whereas microwave links are limited to LOS. Long distance propagation is largely due to diffraction over hill tops. Atmospheric attenuation is much smaller at VHF (wavelength is roughly 6 metres) than it is at microwave frequencies (wavelength: ~10cm). This allows greater reliability during adverse weather conditions.
Exactly. Analogue broadcasting will cease but will be replaced by digital broadcasting.
In Australia analogue television broadcasting will cease in 2008. By this stage, all stations will be broadcasting digital television. In fact, the Federal Government already requries that the free to air television stations broadcast _some_ of their programs digitally.
The digital channels have already been assigned spectrum. As the analogue channels cease to transmit, the VHF spectrum will indeed be freed.
There are many proposals on what to do with the available spectrum. Australia is seriouslly looking at using the spectrum to provide long distance internet access. People in rural regions that do not have access to cable, dsl, etc, will have faster, always on wireless connections.
While such a system is unlikely to be mobile, infrastructure costs are kept to a minimum.
Slashdot Mirror
Power points - you cannot have enough, but plan them.
LAN - at least some access is a must.
Computers
Toolchest
Electronics supplies
Soldering station
Decent lighting, microscope
Plenty more, but that'll do for now.
At least that what was written on the refridgerator in the CS common room at uni (ANU).
Tridge was held in high regard by all the students. Well grounded academically and socially.
Many places an _optional_ tracking system already exists. At the start of bushwalks there is often a track register / logbook. On top of major peaks there are occasionally lunchboxes with a pad and pen. Simple - paper and pen. Nothing cheaper, maintainable by volunteers.
Besides, what do I care that others know where I have walked? Indeed, it's nice to see the names and comments of friends that have walked there before.
EPIRBs
Emergency Position Indicating Response Beacons. I know our national parks offices hire them. So do most camping stores, scout groups, etc If in doubt, carry one. Their use will save the enormous costs of S&R.
Mobile phones
Sorry, most places I go they wont work.
GPS
Fun toys but barely useful. A GPS and a handheld computer (ipaq) or something can be a nice gimmick showing where you have walked, but is no way to navigate. I've seen problems with broken wires, flat batteries, poor coverage in heavy bush. There is no substitute for knowing how to use a map - or going with someone experienced and learnign from them.
Analogue television channels in Australia are 7MHz wide. The channels of interest are between 45 and 75MHz. BushLAN is not necessarily tied to using a particular block of spectrum, or an entire television channel. BushLAN subdivides available spectrum into 300kHz channels. As always, there is a tradeoff between transmitter power, communications range, and the data rate.
Using two 300kHz channels [for a symmetric full-duplex connection] low power, relatively short range links with a raw data rate of 115.2kbps have already been created.
As to propagation. VHF achieves beyond line of sight range whereas microwave links are limited to LOS. Long distance propagation is largely due to diffraction over hill tops. Atmospheric attenuation is much smaller at VHF (wavelength is roughly 6 metres) than it is at microwave frequencies (wavelength: ~10cm). This allows greater reliability during adverse weather conditions.
In Australia analogue television broadcasting will cease in 2008. By this stage, all stations will be broadcasting digital television. In fact, the Federal Government already requries that the free to air television stations broadcast _some_ of their programs digitally.
The digital channels have already been assigned spectrum. As the analogue channels cease to transmit, the VHF spectrum will indeed be freed.
There are many proposals on what to do with the available spectrum. Australia is seriouslly looking at using the spectrum to provide long distance internet access. People in rural regions that do not have access to cable, dsl, etc, will have faster, always on wireless connections.
While such a system is unlikely to be mobile, infrastructure costs are kept to a minimum.