RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

Rick Kunze Wed, 05 Nov 2003 10:00:29 -0800

I'm using the following:

In the bed of my pickup, I mounted the tilt base for a Rohn 25G just behind the cab. On that I put the top 25G section that comes together at the top for a mast. In the mast pipe I slid a 10'er of 1.25 mast material (thinwall pipe) with a 24dBi grid on it, and an APPO. In the truck is my laptop with DeLorme Topo software and a Garmin GPS on the dash plugged into the laptop. On the topo map is a mark where my tower is. I go out to the customer's location and (using GPS) I mark a spot on the map then draw a line back to my tower. This gives compass heading. I lower the tailgate of my truck, extend the 10'er and clamp it down, then tilt the whole thing up watching for over head power lines. (Important safety tip!) Then using Simplemonitor I can read signal strength. (I have the mac of my truck's APPO listed on all APs everywhere for obvious reasons. This method makes for a few extra steps but the upside is that it generates a map of all your customers.

Works like a charm.

Rk

At 05:20 PM 11/4/2003, you wrote:

Derek, "how high" is a good question. The shorter the better for my
bottom line, and since most customers are considerably close, I don't
think I need to get crazy with it.

Without getting into detail, the location is on a valley floor and the
main issue is foliage. The field I'm intending to locate a tower is
clear of trees for about 500 feet is all directions (actually, the
direction I'll need to point the antenna. I'd assume there is less than
25' variance on the valley floor, but some customers would be on either
hillside.

Speaking of topography, I'd assume the only *real* way of surveying is
first with a GPS, then with a access point and a simulated CPE (a jeep
or the such). I have pretty much all the equipment to do so, but it begs
the question: How-T-F do I get an AP temporarly raised to an elevation
like we're talking? Am I barking up the wrong tree (i.e., should I do
some math and make estimations that "at x feet it should broadcast y
distance, with LOS")

By the way, has anyone used topo software with any success? I've tried
Garmin's TopoUSA, and while its cool, it lacks the detail I think I'd
need.

--
Aaron Bennett
(707) 527-5997
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Breiland, Derek
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 4:26 PM
To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]'
Subject: RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower


How high do you think you need to be?  A 80' Trylon guyed tower is
$2400.00 list without installation - 96'is $2,800.00.  When looking
around E-bay for used tower it seems that there are often towers in CA
that have been taken down and are being sold.  You do not have to be
tall at all to get .2 to 1.8 miles away depending on ground
elevation/tree height/and structure obstruction which it does not sound
like there is any or you would not be asking this question.

Trylon makes a decent tower for the price (www.trylon.com) especially if
no need to go real large. Guyed and self supporting.

A silo may be useful if you have a local farmer who would want to rent
the storage space from you to help pay for it, but I do not thin
inexpensive unless you can find a used one.

-----Original Message-----
From: Aaron Bennett [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 4:47 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

Hey all,

I can't say how informative this mailing list has been... I've been
holding my question for a while to get a better grip on everything.
Here's my deal:

I am planning on beginning WISP operations in a fairly rural town in
Northern California. I have run some numbers and it all seems feasible,
but there are a number of variables I was curious if someone had more
information about. I've priced out a T1 line (which seems to be the
least expensive way to start, and I'm sure I'll be able to fill it with
enough subscribers to return investment.

I've been searching for suitable locations for my main antenna (or at
least the one that I'll start with). Unfortunately, I have not found a
suitable structure for elevation, although I have found an excellent
location that a structure could be made/placed. The site is outside the
end of town, allowing me to broadcast in one direction. The bulk of all
subscribers would fall within .2 to 1.8 miles away.

Because there is no structure existing, I was curious what someone may
use as a structure. I was considering finding an old farm windmill, and
placing an APPO + 90* sector on that. I am fortunate enough to have
power at this location, and a property less than 500 feet away that
could serve as my NOC.

I figured that an old metal frame windmill would be a) fairly
inexpensive, b) good height (80'? Or so?) and c) easier to explain than
something looking like a cell tower or the such. Does anyone have
opinion on this? Also, if there's anyone in northern CA that has
experience with what legal limits are for structures, or what kind of
permits are necessary, I would be eternally grateful.

Sorry for the somewhat OT post; I am, however, planning on using SB
equipment. I've played a little on a aBO and it seems suitable for what
I envision.

--
Aaron Bennett
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List
To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe
smartBridges <yournickname> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in
the body type unsubscribe
smartBridges)
Archives: http://archives.part-15.org
The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List
To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe
smartBridges <yournickname> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in
the body type unsubscribe smartBridges)
Archives: http://archives.part-15.org

The PART-15.ORG smartBridges Discussion List To Join: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type subscribe smartBridges <yournickname> To Remove: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (in the body type unsubscribe smartBridges) Archives: http://archives.part-15.org

RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

Reply via email to