Re: [smartBridges] Radio Station Tower

Fri, 15 Aug 2003 07:58:27 -0700

You'll not get "several miles out" with an api and no amp.  3 to 5 is a much safer number.
 
Oh yeah, don't try to make up for the lack of an amp by using a 12 or 15 dB omni.  They suck!  The vertical pattern is way too narrow.
 
marlon
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 6:09 PM
Subject: Re: [smartBridges] Radio Station Tower

Thanks for the information. We are going to be on a tower that is about 130 feet from a AM station.  This tower houses low wattage repeaters for the local city police, and several paging systems.  A Cell site is planned, but not on there yet.
 
I talked with the stations engineer, he said that the 2.4 gig and the range of the tower from the AM station, and the power of the station should not interfer too much.
 
As far as using amps, we are not going to drop on any amps. There are locations that can see the tower directly from several miles out, and some big subdivsions that have not high speed internet.  We are hoping to startup with a single omni with a API.  Once cash gets flowing, then we will drop in 4 APIs and 4 90* maxrads.  Also, no amps. 
 
Any other comments, and again, thanks for the advice. We also meet with the station engineer again next week to plan the installation.

Dennis
 
----- Original Message -----
From: RFMS
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 8:17 AM
Subject: RE: [smartBridges] Radio Station Tower

Dennis,
 
Marlon has told you correctly about not installing your equipment on the AM tower site.  It is something that
apparently you have not researched quite enough or have had some very bad advise provided to you.
 
It appears, too, that you have not spoken with the Station Engineer yet, from your statements.  If so, then he is not telling
you what he should be.  Even it the structures themselves are not base-fed, (i.e. "hot"), and are used to support the
vertical radiators, the induced RF will likely cause some very odd problems to your equipment.  Anything located
in the near-field of the radiators will be "rf hot" and difficult to handle.
 
Recognizing the alternative you have is not the best available either, it still is better than what you think will be good here.
You do not want to do this, unless the AM site is "dark" and will not be resurrected in the future.
 
Last thing: if you are still having to amplify the output to cover the desired area, due to foliage absorption problems,
it likely  will not benefit you enough for all the effort needed to get it accomplished.
 
Good luck in your endeavors, but don't waste good time trying to use a AM facility unless you ARE the Station
Engineer and know what the pitfalls are and are capable of accomplishing the steps to overcome them.
 
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Dennis Burgess
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 12:26 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [smartBridges] Radio Station Tower

Marlon.. I very much appreciate your comments. 
 
I am going to mount my equipment around the 150-175 foot mark on there 250 foot tower.  I may come lower if needed.  I was convinced in using a amp cause of the trees that are in the area.  Most homes do not have line of sight without some trees. I understand what you are saying though. 
 
What kind of range could i expect from a 8db omni assuming line of sight?
 
dennis
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 10:46 PM
Subject: Re: [smartBridges] Radio Station Tower

I stay away from the station towers as much as I can.  The massive quantities of rf can and often do shut our gear down.
 
By far my most troublesome site is on a radio station tower.  I wished then and do now that I'd have had somewhere else to go, anywhere else to go!  Especially now that they've increased the power on the radio station.  Got 400KBps coming in and 70 going out.  yuck.
 
Other systems up there (at ground level rather than up on the tower) will deliver 250ish out at 12 miles!  Grrrrrr.
 
Stay as low as you can.
 
Also, please note that I've MOVED this thread to the wisp list rather than the sb list.
 
marlon
 
 

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