Gary, Tower or repeater sites are gold today with the influx of cell phones where a provider will pay $20k/yr for a single site.
Also, the insurance influences a tower owner for the more he/she has the higher the insurance. Also, few tower owners want to bother with a non-paying customer. Again tower space is gold these days. I have found one needs someone on the inside. Contact your local EOC, not the police or fire, but a department that handles disasters. Here in Florida all counties have large EOCs with money. They also have the power to get things installed above the other gov radio shop personnel. The EOCs know and respond to Ham Radio if they are convinced you can provide a service. This last issue is often hard to get together and maintain, but if done can be a plus for getting a site especially if it will not cost the county any money, only space. About all major sites, 200 ft+, here in my area have someone inside. A broadcast engineer or a Ham who can get the attention of the powers to be. My site was provided by a FM station where the Chief Engr was a devoted Ham. Got a site 1175 ft above ground and use of 1300 ft of 1-5/8" feedline sharing a UHF installation. You simply showing up with a dog and pony show will do little. You are often talking to someone who knows little about Ham Radio and really has many other issues to deal with. I know of few repeater owners in your position and it is like pulling teeth. Most tower owners will give you encouragement, but in the end do nothing to help. A repeater is a liability to a site owner, not an asset in their eyes. Definitively use the community service approach...ARES/RACES, Skywarn, public service. This goes a long way. 73, ron, n9ee/r >From: garyp609 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: 2008/04/22 Tue PM 05:18:18 CDT >To: [email protected] >Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Obtaining a Repeater Site (HOW) > >I hope this isn't off topic but I am hoping that someone can help. >I am trying to secure a site for our repeater club in the Atlantic >City, NJ area. Does anyone have any pointers on how to obtain a site. I >have been getting a run around from most of the casinos and tower >locations in the city. Nobody seems even remotely interested in giving >us access. I showed and told them about the benefits of Ham Radio and >the service we provide but it falls on deaf ears. Any help, suggestions >or connections would be appreciated. >73's >Gary K2ACY > > > Ron Wright, N9EE 727-376-6575 MICRO COMPUTER CONCEPTS Owner 146.64 repeater Tampa Bay, FL No tone, all are welcome.
