RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

Rick Kunze Wed, 05 Nov 2003 10:52:11 -0800

Well, I've not tried any other topo software so I can't give you a comparison. But I'm happy has hell with it! The Profile feature is the cat's meow. You can draw a line between your pop and the cpe, hit the Profile tab and see the ground elevation profile as viewed from 90 degrees to the line like slicing a cake in half. It took me a few tries to get the GPS talking to the software but other than that I'm real happy with it. There are probably a myriad of other ways of accomplishing the same thing. I already had the Topo software and the GPS and I had a bunch of 25G sections laying around from a customer who stiffed me on the installation. I'll post a pic of the truck setup the next time I have it in there. Right now it's removed and only the tilt base is in the bed of the truck.

Rk

At 09:31 AM 11/5/2003, you wrote:

Rick,
        How does the delorme work with the Garmen GPS?  Okay?  I bought the
Garmen Topo software and I am not impressed with it.  It's better than
nothing, but I don't like the imports and the graphics.  I could have done
better writing it in Basic.

_____

Jeremy

_____


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Behalf Of Rick Kunze
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 11:52 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

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]
>
>
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RE: [smartBridges] OT: AP tower

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