SKD Tower comes falling down!

On 6th May 2018 Sunday our client Last Mile Heath complained that the Internet service was not working. My Boss Mr. Haresh called me and informed me about this incident.

We have Access Points at strategic locations all over the city that we normally get a clear line of sight and connect our numerous clients.

One of our AP’s is located on a tower at SKD complex. This client was connected to this AP. There was heavy rain the night before and the whole tower came crashing down around 05:00 p.m. when a big gust of wind came in. 

Internet service to all clients connected to this AP was affected.

The tower is still being rebuilt, as we write this blog, but we had to find an alternate solution to connect our client(s). 

I called our technicians and asked them to be available as early as possible on Monday morning so that we could go to LMH and reposition the AP’s direction to another AP located at Old Road.

Here are some pictures of the fallen giant tower at SKD:

We arrived at the LMH office much before 8 AM on Monday morning to begin our work. Below is a picture of the Internet dish antenna pointed to SKD tower side.

We shifted the direction to old road AP.

We changed IP and SSID. Using MikroTik Interface via Winbox software.

The signal strength from Old Road tower is very good and the internet connection to our client is stable.

Thanks,

Farman Elahi,  IT Technician

Something never seizes to amaze me when it comes to IT, especially networking........

Hello everyone,

It’s been a while now and nice getting back to you guys. Something never seizes to amaze me when it comes to IT, especially networking. One of our clients, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has relocated from its UN Drive, Mamba Point office to the Pan African Plaza building, formal United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Headquarters in Sinkor, Tubman Boulevard. Our task was to create a new Local Area Network (LAN) and terminate all ends in a mounted rack in the server room, transfer and setup all IT equipment including security cameras to function.

The client already had an initial internet service provider therefore, connecting all devices back to same network would have a plug and play setup. Instead, they decided to get connected to another UN agency. Out of 15 LAN ports the new provider offered to connect 6 users which include a network printer and a file sharing server. I entered the server room of their provider and saw a lots of huge Cisco devices; I mean latest Core routers, switches HP & DELL blade servers all mounted in a freezing environment. This was so amazing, getting a glance at them. I have always wished to work in an environment and on live devices as well and that’s going to be soon. The customer provided us with a 24 - port Net-Gear switch which was being used at their old office to connect to their provider, the UN agency, but they condemned the equipment that it was far way below the UN standards. They preferred a Cisco Meraki MS 225-24P HW (PoE Managed Switch) which cannot be found locally and would take up to a week to be delivered if ordered. We left with the option of connecting to the 6 available ports given.

All four users were connected to a real-time high speed internet connection via a Cisco Meraki MS 225-24P HW switch except for the network printer and the file sharing server. To connect the printer and server, I had to get a static IP from the IT officers. All the printers are on a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) therefore an IP must be given from the VLAN range. It took us nearly a week from one floor to another in getting the information from these guys until finally that morning they were able to generate two static IPs addresses for our client, JICA. I started by configuring the addresses into the printer. After several re boots, the printer could not be accessible on the network. Than I compared the subnet mask given to me by the IT officer with that of the one I gathered via windows command interface, I noticed the guy had made a mistake by giving me a slash /24 small network eg (255.255.255.0) network instead of slash /27 eg 255.255.254.0 medium and large networks. Rectifying this issue had the printer hooked up to the network as well as the mini server. As of now, our client has upgraded to a more big and high-speed internet. I am glad to have a hand on these equipment as I am also preparing for my Official CISCO Certifications Exams (CCNA) coming up soon!

Daniel Collins

October blog post 📝

Hello everyone,

As an IT technician, there’s a lot of amazing small and complex issues I encounter on a daily basis and I embrace them with interest as technology is improving every passing day.

On Friday evening we got call from one of our clients in Buchanan which we have a 3-day monthly ICT maintenance contract with.

They informed us that their network had been down for a day. We advised the client to informing the Internet Service Provider (ISP) as they have no IT person on site to be sure before taking an action. The ISP than confirmed that they could ping the network from their server so there was no problem from their end.

I quickly arranged the next morning with all necessary equipment (RB 951 MikroTik router, RJ 45 connectors, Crimper and pitched network cable in case there was any power failure of the core router.

I got to the customer’s Head Office at about 9:30 am. They quickly arranged a vehicle to take me to the effected site, about 1-hr drive.

They were quite happy when I arrived and welcomed me by saying ‘’NATC’’ is here.   Well, this is how most of our client/staff called me even though they know my full name but some prefer calling me that way.

I opened the server rack and found the main Juniper router on with all status led(s) linking green. That was good enough to know that internet was reaching the device but not being distributed. I started by pinging the switches IP addresses and surprisingly the main Cisco switch could not be reached, but the power adaptor led of the switch was blinking. Immediately I replaced the adaptor with a new one, I could ping the switch, desktops and laptops were connected, and network printers automatically started printing out stored job and so on. All the departments I checked were working okay accept for the Field Department. The switch was on but there were no sign of signal.

By using my cable tester found out that one of the RJ 45 connecters was damaged. I replaced both ends using my crimping tool to restore network for that department.

I informed the Site Manager and Head Office on progress made.

When heading to have my lunch, an accountant staff complained that any Microsoft Excel email attachment received in her inbox opens blank and really don’t know what could be the issue. I told her, me take a look. She turned on her computer and displayed the problem to me.

I have seen this issue several times before. So, I knew exactly how to figure it out in less than a minute. The lady insisted that I show her how to resolve this issue in case it happen and I’m not around. Though we have an ICT contract with them and wouldn’t be an issue even if she complains hundreds times. As a technician, I’m there to resolve problem. For me, she sounded very smart. I told her yes we can do it together.

Here are the few steps to go on resolving issue like this for any Microsoft version. Now, open the Excel again that opens blank.

Open Microsoft Excel.

Click the File tab and select Options from the drop-down menu.

Click Advanced, then locate the ‘’General’’ section.

Uncheck the box next to Ignore other applications that use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE).

Click OK and restart the Excel.

In a joking and friendly manner I asked her. ‘’Now everything works fine. Anything else I could help you with? Can I get back at the canteen and have lunch now’’?

After a heavy lunch, I drove back to Monrovia the same day and resumed work at my office the next day.

Reach out for NATC, the one stop IT Solution Company!

Prepared by: Daniel W. Collins (Senior IT Technician) New Africa Technology Company (NATC)

Dear Reader:

On February 15^th 2017 we received an email request for proposal from International Foundation For Electoral Systems (IFES Liberia) for supply and installations of V-sat internet links for internet services at 19 (Nineteen) National Elections Commission Magistrate offices in Liberia. It was such an exciting news to hear.

1.       Lower Montserrado……… Brewerville

2.       Grand Cape Mount……….Robertsport

3.       Bomi County…………………………….. Tubmanburg

4.       Gbapolu County………………………...Bopolu

5.        Montserrado County……………….. Bentor

6.       Magibi County…………………………...Kakata

7.       Bong County…………………Totota

8.       Bong County………………..Gbarnga

9.       Nimba County…………….Saniquille

10.   Nimba County……………Tapita

11.   Grand Gedeh County……..Zwedru

12.   River Gee County…………….. Fish Town

13.   Maryland County……………… Harper

14.   Grand Kru County…………… Barclayville

15.   Sinoe County………………………. Greenville

16.   River Gee County……………………………... Cestor

17.   Grand Bassa County………………………….Buchanan

18.   Lofa County………………………………………Voijama

19.   Lofa County……………………………………..Kolahun

In the absence of the Head of Operations and CEO, I held two important meetings along with my technical team with IFES and NEC on challenges or issues we may face with equipment and, how to go about resolving them with one understanding between the two parties since traveling in the rural and remote areas in Liberia is a challenge by itself.  Our timeline was delivered and all discussions went well.

We contacted our provider in Israel GILAT SATCOM Ltd. and provided them with the geographical coordinates for all 19 sites, total bandwidth required for all sites, iDerect X3 & X1 modems serial numbers etc. Immediately we received all IP addresses, Sites ID and Option files to be loaded into the moderns to activate these links. 

Now the deal was ready but all equipment was not available so we had to contact a local distributed/supplier but the deal didn’t go well in purchasing these equipment.

The timeline given to IFES/NEC was drawing closer every day, so we had to contact other suppliers from Nigeria. Our Head of Operations had just returned from his short break in a few days and quickly arranged me a ticket to fly with Air Cote d’lvoire and handed me the contact details of suppliers. The next day I took off for Nigeria and meet with the suppliers. Mr. Rasheed (V-SAT Specialist), a colleague to one of our old business partner (Tunde Kashimo) and Jimtop Nigeria Ltd. This tells you the good working relationship we have almost everywhere.

Due to flight delay in Ivory Coast, I arrived 11-12 A.M, Murtala Muhammed International Airport. Contacting the booked hotel was difficult. Traveling at night with such a huge a cash with an unknown hired taxi cab was dangerous even though he didn’t know I had such. There is a say… ‘’Prevention is better than cure’’. 

While driving from one street to another, I spotted a hotel called Atlantic Hotel and asked the driver to drop me there. I did the calculation from Naira to Dollars and pulled out his payment from my wallet and paid him in dollars. He handled his payment with smile and tried convincing me that the place would be very expansive maybe so we should continue calling until we locate the already booked hotel. My feet and luggage was already down so his tricks couldn’t hold me if that was his intension.

The next morning I phone Mr. Rasheed that I had arrived and needed to start business as soon as possible. He then reached me in a couple of minutes and phoned another supplier name unknown. His prices were very reasonable as compare to Jimtop. He asked us make 60% payment for an equipment that was only shown to us on WhatsApp. Saying his warehouse was locked up due to some payment he have to make. I couldn’t take that chance, which could be a scam so I had to cancel deal. I phoned Mr. Barode, Managing Director of Jimtop Nigeria Ltd. and located him on his address: 7 Unity Road, off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos State Nigeria. From the glance of his office, equipment and transactions with customers, technically I was convinced. We had a brief discussion and then move on as planned. All equipment were brought out of stock, tested and packaged for payment:

1.  14pcs Linear feedhorn 1.8m C-Band Dish
2. 14pcs 5watts BUC C-Band
3. 14pcs Norseat PLL 3220 LNB
4.  1pc iDirect X3 Modem
5. 2pcs power adaptors for X3 Modem
6.  50pcs RG11 connectors
7. 5pce of climbs for feed horn

Total of 50 Kgs was packaged and taken to my hotel room for departure the next morning. It was nice being in Lagos, the same state but different community where I did a training for deployments and installations ofThermographic Cameras here in Liberia during the Ebola crisis few years back. I returned to Liberia the next afternoon with all set to go. Our installations went well. I am was glad that we could finish up the project before the timeline.

Here at NATC, we are Professional, Efficient, and Proactive. Save yourself the stress and reach out for the best.

Prepared by:

Daniel Collins

Senior IT Technician

New Africa Technology Company

End of the year Blog Post

I am Louise W. Gray Office Manager of New Africa Technology Company for the past two (2) months.

My experience with New Africa Technology Company is great and quite different from my last place of work and I love it so much.

I am getting familiar with technical work because this is what we are into.

New Africa is really the best IT company in Liberia. We give out Wide Area Connectivity, Local Area Network, Technical Support, Network Security, Services and Maintenance, Supplies of IT Equipment, VSAT ISP and Wireless fibers and more. 

The most amazing experience is that, the day to day transactions can be collected either from the general ledger or the company;s WhatsApp channel. Every employee will have to get online as often as possible so as to get the daily happenings in and out of the office.

What interests me most is that I am the Office Manager /Accountant. My Responsibility is straightly financial work and office upkeep. But can you imagine, I was in the office one day and a client brought in a laptop for repairs, all our technical staffs had gone on site and I was the only one at the office. I received the item and made a delivery note and the client went away. After some hours, Rita who is one of our technical staff came and I told her about the laptop and give her the form that I filled to receive the laptop.

She smiled and said “You should have filled the Equipment Pickup form instead of Delivery note form." She went on to explain that the Delivery Note will only be used when we are returning the item to the client after we must have solved the problem for which they brought it.

I grabbed the idea and was wishing for a day to come that no technical staff will be around then I will applied what I learned from Rita. After some weeks another client came and I used the Equipment Pickup Form to collect the item from him.

The whole logic behind this scenario is that, I am the office Manager and Accountant but I also feel happy to learn other things outside my job experience.

Finally, like I told you before in my Introductory Post, that my main objective is to move New Africa Technology Company Reports from Excel to QuickBooks.

My Bosses had given me the opportunity to achieve this goal by hiring a consultant who did our QuickBooks software setup and is conducting an excessive training on how to operate my financials in QuickBooks and generate my reports. I have devoted my time from 5pm -7:30pm every day after work.

Presently I am 90%  done because we are reviewing all the reports and making sure that our balances are up to date and I am very happy that I am making progress and very soon my goal will be accomplished.

I want to appreciate the New Africa Technology Company family for believing in me and giving me this great opportunity in making this dream come true.