EN ROUTE TO CREATIVE CAMP in Kilkenny today, I discovered my preferred means of connecting to the internet (i.e., using my 3G SIM from O2-Ireland) wasn't working as I planned. It wouldn't deliver anything near broadband speeds when attached to a dongle and it wouldn't give me any connectivity when inside my Nokia E90. I rang O2 tech support and discovered I couldn't expect the 3G SIM to work with the E90's antenna array. Fair enough. But since I planned to record Qik minutes en route to CreativeCamp in Kilkenny, I was looking at the prospects of a very expensive day trip in the charming medieval city. It would mean minimising the number of Zonetag photos shot while walking laneways like the one at left.
As it turned out, I was able to record six Qik clips, upload six 3.2 megapixel images and follow CreativeCamp on Jaiku throughout the eight hours I spent in Kilkenny for a little more than one euro an hour. That's acceptable and no where near the data shock I experienced with O2 when visiting London a few months ago.
When inside the Parade Tower, my E90 could see the open Wifi node but could not hold a connection for more than two or three minutes. That's not long enough to work with Qik so the venue's wifi failed its functional test with me. Since many others could find the Wifi node with their laptops, I think the dodgy Wifi connectivity might have been the result of the granite building keeping the Wifi signal inside various meeting rooms and not permitting good signal strength down the corridors of the building.
I really appreciate the wonderful service offered by the management and staff at The Parade Tower, the generous sponsorship of the Kilkenny County Council in opening the historical site, and the benevolence of the Irish Internet Association, the Kilkenny County Enterprise Board, McGovern Wines, Blacknight Solutions, Waterford Institute of Technology, Creative Catering and the staff work of Tom Corcoran, Ken McGuire and Keith Bohanna in planning the event.
Previously: "Most Expensive Blog Post Ever"
See my Qik minutes at Qik.com/topgold and see CreativeCamp through my Nokia E90.
We followed CreativeCamp on Jaiku. Unlike the breaking news channel called Twitter, Jaiku was faster in the flow of things today.
