I bought my own as well. $500 for a one acre tract at 3000' (1000 ft HAAT). It was a ex-American Electric Power microwave relay site.
Right now it's sitting empty except for the old transmitter building and antenna masts. I would really like to use it for a repeater (or a weekend getaway cabin) one day, but security concerns (like those in the "Copper Theft" thread) have left me wary--I'm 45 minutes away. I've also marketed it to cell and tower companies over the last couple of years with no real nibbles. The local birding club does use it seasonally for hawk counts, but I don't think they even know that I own it. Maybe if I could get a solar panel, one of those monster "Union Switch and Signal" cabinets like the railroads use, and an ATV to haul it up the mountain I might have a go of it. It only costs $42 in property taxes per year, so I'm not really concerned. --- In [email protected], "Chuck Kelsey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I would have to agree with Ron. My solution was to buy a site. > > Chuck > WB2EDV > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ron Wright" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2008 8:00 AM > Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Obtaining a Repeater Site (HOW) > > > > 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. > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > >
