announcements, local business links, recreation, Harsens Island ferry updates and more!
**A community service sponsored by HIN and your local advertiser businesses**Please help support this site by visiting our local advertiser links and throwing money in the "Tip Jar!**
Just a thought from a Year round resident>>>>> It has been mentioned to me by a few people asking why don't they have web-cams at the ferry...you know, like the one they have of the bridge up in Port Huron....or the one they have of the Detroit River. It would be so Nice to be able to keep an eye on the Ice situation from home...and Not have to rely on trying to get through to the message at the ferry (As entertaining as they are) And sometimes I am up before this site is updated...not that I don't truly appreciate this Blog...cause I usually have it open all day during the Ice Season. But you have to admit that a Web Cam at the ferry would be a terrific Idea. I don't know how all that works but I'm sure Artie would have some kind of an idea?? What do you think?
A simple update via the St Clair Select alert system by ferry owners employee could notify islanders of ferry status but I guess that is to much to ask. Owner appears to want islanders to waste their time and gas driving to ferry to determine if opened or closed.
Old guy's got a point though....a simple call to the alert system, which then fans that out to anyone subscribed to it (email, phone call, text) seems to be too difficult for these seamen to figure out. I can only imagine the hassle for them of providing a spot for someone to erect (on their property) a pole of some sort to support the camera (who buys that?) which then lets the public look at their operation over the internet (who pays for the that each month?)
Don't get me wrong, it would be nice. Very nice. The simplest solution is for them to keep the Alert System updated yet that has proven to be too challenging.
Web cams are relatively inexpensive, it all depends on the quality you want. Prices can range from $10 on up for the camera. The hook up is generally easy but you have the logistics at the ferry to deal with unless you find a willing resident to house a server and mount it. The process involves grabbing the picture from the camera and converting it into a graphic format. The camera is physically connected to the computer running these instructions (software). Lastly, the picture is transported (FTP`ed) to where it can be accessed on the Net - the web server.
@JoJo...I get the alert too...but have come to realize that it isn't very reliable...not only because half the time I would hear by word of mouth before I got that alert...and then for awhile, my phone would ring from them and it wouldn't say anything, just disconnect...so, it wasn't just Champion's Ferry not doing it's part. I just thought it would be a Great Idea to be able to keep an EYE on the whole Ice situation....Just a thought...their are poles already at the ferry, I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to install some cams...
I've thought it would be a good business move for Sunset marina to put up a pole and 2 cameras, one pointing at each side of the channel where the ferry docks.
They could host it on their own website. It would be "boatloads" of free advertising space for them to use/sell, drum up some business, calm the locals, ...everyone would be Winning Duh!
It would be interesting to have a webcam but what difference does it make if you can see the ice. You still don't know if the ferry will run. It was shut down most nights @ 9:30pm when there was hardly any ice.
I dont know. A web cam at the ferry? Would be nice. But are we really that lazy? Especially if we live on the island, we cant pick up the phone, or drive over there to see if it is running? Yes, sometimes it takes awhile to get through, however the updates are fairly current. Also there are enough people on or off the island at some given point that you can call to see whats happening. Again, I really dont see wht the big deal is here. Its not like we have never had ice before, this has been happening for years and will continue unless the river runs dry. Get used to it and quit complaining. If you dont like it, move!
First of all...I know about the Ice situation...since I have lived here for 40 years...lol How long have you lived here??? David? I have to laugh...I am anything but "Lazy". The convenience of a web Cam would be just that..Convenient!!! No One is complaining here...it is just a conversation....quit trying to cause Drama!! I think you should be the one who moves, you have your opinion and you are entitled but come on!!! You don't have to be so crabby!
Besides, I have a kid in school...I don't always go by what someone else says....I make my own decision weather or not I'm sending my kid to school...I don't let the ferry or anybody else make that choice...so if there was a cam...I could decide if I'm going to get her out of bed or not....whatever! It was just a thought...chill out!
First of all islandgirl, Im not crabby, complaining, or raising any drama here. How dare you accuse me of that. Im not allowed to speak my opinion? You are the crabby ones who only want it your way. I happen to be a 4th generation islander. My great-grandparents came here in 1889. Second of all I gave good accurate ice reports to try and help those who werent on the mainland to see the ice coming. Whatever you say. Because we all know the double standard. If you werent born on the island, even though youve been there your whole life, you arent an islander. Thats exactly why I moved. I dont see how I wasnt nice. Whatever.
14 comments:
Just a thought from a Year round resident>>>>>
It has been mentioned to me by a few people asking why don't they have web-cams at the ferry...you know, like the one they have of the bridge up in Port Huron....or the one they have of the Detroit River.
It would be so Nice to be able to keep an eye on the Ice situation from home...and Not have to rely on trying to get through to the message at the ferry (As entertaining as they are)
And sometimes I am up before this site is updated...not that I don't truly appreciate this Blog...cause I usually have it open all day during the Ice Season.
But you have to admit that a Web Cam at the ferry would be a terrific Idea. I don't know how all that works but I'm sure Artie would have some kind of an idea??
What do you think?
I think that's a great idea!
A simple update via the St Clair Select alert system by ferry owners
employee could notify islanders of ferry status but I guess that is to much to ask. Owner appears to want islanders to waste their time and gas driving to ferry to determine if opened or closed.
That's why I suggested a web cam...it would benefit us all...I just wonder how expensive they are??
Old guy's got a point though....a simple call to the alert system, which then fans that out to anyone subscribed to it (email, phone call, text) seems to be too difficult for these seamen to figure out.
I can only imagine the hassle for them of providing a spot for someone to erect (on their property) a pole of some sort to support the camera (who buys that?) which then lets the public look at their operation over the internet (who pays for the that each month?)
Don't get me wrong, it would be nice. Very nice.
The simplest solution is for them to keep the Alert System updated yet that has proven to be too challenging.
Web cams are relatively inexpensive, it all depends on the quality you want. Prices can range from $10 on up for the camera. The hook up is generally easy but you have the logistics at the ferry to deal with unless you find a willing resident to house a server and mount it. The process involves grabbing the picture from the camera and converting it into a graphic format. The camera is physically connected to the computer running these instructions (software). Lastly, the picture is transported (FTP`ed) to where it can be accessed on the Net - the web server.
@JoJo...I get the alert too...but have come to realize that it isn't very reliable...not only because half the time I would hear by word of mouth before I got that alert...and then for awhile, my phone would ring from them and it wouldn't say anything, just disconnect...so, it wasn't just Champion's Ferry not doing it's part.
I just thought it would be a Great Idea to be able to keep an EYE on the whole Ice situation....Just a thought...their are poles already at the ferry, I'm sure it wouldn't be that difficult to install some cams...
I've thought it would be a good business move for Sunset marina to put up a pole and 2 cameras, one pointing at each side of the channel where the ferry docks.
They could host it on their own website. It would be "boatloads" of free advertising space for them to use/sell, drum up some business, calm the locals, ...everyone would be Winning Duh!
It would be interesting to have a webcam but what difference does it make if you can see the ice. You still don't know if the ferry will run. It was shut down most nights @ 9:30pm when there was hardly any ice.
I dont know. A web cam at the ferry? Would be nice. But are we really that lazy? Especially if we live on the island, we cant pick up the phone, or drive over there to see if it is running? Yes, sometimes it takes awhile to get through, however the updates are fairly current. Also there are enough people on or off the island at some given point that you can call to see whats happening. Again, I really dont see wht the big deal is here. Its not like we have never had ice before, this has been happening for years and will continue unless the river runs dry. Get used to it and quit complaining. If you dont like it, move!
First of all...I know about the Ice situation...since I have lived here for 40 years...lol How long have you lived here??? David?
I have to laugh...I am anything but "Lazy". The convenience of a web Cam would be just that..Convenient!!!
No One is complaining here...it is just a conversation....quit trying to cause Drama!! I think you should be the one who moves, you have your opinion and you are entitled but come on!!! You don't have to be so crabby!
Besides, I have a kid in school...I don't always go by what someone else says....I make my own decision weather or not I'm sending my kid to school...I don't let the ferry or anybody else make that choice...so if there was a cam...I could decide if I'm going to get her out of bed or not....whatever! It was just a thought...chill out!
First of all islandgirl, Im not crabby, complaining, or raising any drama here. How dare you accuse me of that. Im not allowed to speak my opinion? You are the crabby ones who only want it your way. I happen to be a
4th generation islander. My great-grandparents came here in 1889. Second of all I gave good accurate ice reports to try and help those who werent on the mainland to see the ice coming. Whatever you say. Because we all know the double standard. If you werent born on the island, even though youve been there your whole life, you arent an islander. Thats exactly why I moved. I dont see how I wasnt nice. Whatever.
Moral of the story, dont ask someone what you think if you dont want to hear the other side.
Post a Comment