I'm new, sorry if im not with program lol

Anyways, there is a cool radio tower near my house. Ive done some research on the UER about radio towers and found out this is a FM Radio tower...Blah blah, apparently I wont get radiation like a AM from touching it.

Theres a few concerns I have:

1.) The wires behind the ladder, although insulated I read that some are very high voltage and if accidentally touched could be bad.

2.) Not planing to go to the top (Not experienced enough) but about half way up there is a few dishes. Obviously I am worried about RF Radiation and cooking myself like a hotdog. Not my specialty ;)

Heres a few pics of the tower. (The ladder is on the left side)



The radio dishes about half way up (Zoomed in, Higher Resolution)


The top:

I'm just putting it out there, that this is only my experience, so take it with a grain of salt, but so far, every wire that I've encountered that has been attached to a ladder or post, is safe to touch. If it wasn't it would just constantly be conducting to the metal it's near, and not you. I believe the ones that aren't safe to touch that you're thinking of are the power lines that are suspended between poles, as those are insulated, but if you climb up and touch them while you're grounded, you'll be electrocuted. In terms of the actual dishes, if they are dishes only, as long as you stay behind them so they are facing away from you, you should be ok.

Remember that this is only advise. If something happens, I'm not responsible.

You might also want to read over this thread, as the comments are quite informative: http://www.uer.ca...1&threadid=118759

I just heard some stories of holes in the insulation and stuff because of weather tear...Anyways, the chances of ME touching that EXACT spot where its weathered, yeah not that high.

I forgot to mention the ground (entry details removed) Bonus!

Thanks for the advice

Even if there are no tension power lines, whatever they are blasting out of those dishes can be hazardous either from mild radiation to electrical shock. I love to climb stuff, but I don't think I would ever attempt a functioning radio tower.

If you are really set on doing this it sounds like some more research/recon is in order. Find what power levels they are working with and on what frequencies. Get close to the tower and trace some of the cables and whatnot. You would also be surprised to find that any hazards are likely posted as signs as required by OHSA so that can make things much more simple.

Apart from that, just worry about protecting from a fall.

...OR I'm pretty sure there are some great old buildings around that you could explore - just sayin'. Remember, this is a risk vs reward hobby. The views may be great but unless you know for sure what the situation is with the wires and what that thing is pumping out (nevermind the falling) in terms of radiation it seems pretty risky to me. I would research the shit outta this thing before attempting it. Get some close ups of the insulated wires you mentioned and the dishes. Try to find out what frequencies they are broadcasting from and maybe have an electrical engineer look at em.

Not sure if you've read Access All Areas but Ninja threw out a ton of warnings about towers and that guy was fearless! With that being said, if you do climb that thing I cant wait to see the pictures!

Alright, I agree.

I didnt realize radio towers pose that much risk.

Im going to keep searching, who knows there might be some abandoned ones.

Posted by IFreeClimb Im going to keep searching, who knows there might be some abandoned ones.

There are indeed some abandoned towers. Do some research on AT&T Long Line Towers.

Also, take a look through some of these threads:

Radio towers:
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=111761
http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=65012
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=118332
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=110548 (rooftop antenna safety)
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=100989
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=100956
http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=90468
http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=81595
http://www.uer.ca/...asp?threadid=86543
http://www.uer.ca/...asp?threadid=89242 (cautionary tale)

Hm, interesting.

I read about those AT&T Towers in a different thread a while ago. I cant seem to find much information. I presume these are just old ways of communication, and are way outdated. Does anyone know how I could locate these? I seemed to only find a map route of the US. (Im in Canada)

Its like trying to find a needle in a hay stack lol. Not much information on these towers. Or at least I cant find it.

Edit: HOLY! I just found a map of where I live of these towers. There is literally one in my small town of 5000! Know I just got to locate it (OR maybe its torn down )

Edit2: Could this be the old long line tower? Maybe the horns were taken down?

The dish is most likely microwave range. Be careful with them. They're very delicate just like satellite antenna. If you bump it, it could misalign and mess it up. Some of towers host myriads of services such as emergency communications, and they take security very seriously on those. This being said, it might be better to climb something else...

You guys are right.

Radio towers are DANGEROUS. Its more than just the risk of falling or getting charged with some serious crimes.

Guess I'll look for something else to free climb. Maybe a crane? Yea yea! Thats it theres one right near my house.

Oh yeaaaa

You could find some derelict lookout towers. There are quite a few still all over the USA.

Do you do conventional rock climbing also?

Posted by azuro1125 You could find some derelict lookout towers. There are quite a few still all over the USA. Do you do conventional rock climbing also?

Ah! Those look fun. I'll be on the lookout (Pun Intended)

Yes, I enjoy rock climbing. Although, I dont know much about it. Its also hard to find anything to rock climb because everything is farm land where I live. Indoor is fun, but not many locations and are not as fun in my opinion.

Edit: Im from Canada not USA

Thanks for the advice.

I used to climb back in the 90's. I still have all of my stuff in the garage.

Buildering(building climbing) is a good way to go if there aren't any crags around. I always hated indoor walls. All of the sport climbers you found there in the 90's were annoying post grunge alt guys and girls that acted like God's gift to climbing.

*rant over* : )

Depending on your age, I would suggest bus trips or driving. Tower climbing is shaky, since there is a fair amount of expensive stuff up there you could be held liable for if it gets damaged.

What part of the states do you live in?

Posted by IFreeClimb I'm from Canada and not the US. More specifically Manitoba. I dont have a drivers license, but instead bike around. Buildering is fun, but I almost got in trouble the other day. In a nut shell, he threatened to call the cops and we got the hell out of there. I could see how they could really rack up the liability bills. Not something I really want to get involved in.

I'm from Canada and not the US. More specifically Manitoba.

I dont have a drivers license, but instead bike around. Buildering is fun, but I almost got in trouble the other day. In a nut shell, he threatened to call the cops and we got the hell out of there.

I could see how they could really rack up the liability bills. Not something I really want to get involved in.

Be careful if you find old fire towers. The steps are often made of wood, and can very well be rotting away.. At least all of the ones I've found around me are, anyways.

Posted by alwaysDifferent Be careful if you find old fire towers. The steps are often made of wood, and can very well be rotting away.. At least all of the ones I've found around me are, anyways.

This one was in Central California. Not really a "tower", but still a lookout. You're right though, there was only force of habit holding that place up!

http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=119993

Posted by Waiver Hm, interesting. I read about those AT&T Towers in a different thread a while ago. I cant seem to find much information. I presume these are just old ways of communication, and are way outdated. Does anyone know how I could locate these? I seemed to only find a map route of the US. (Im in Canada) Its like trying to find a needle in a hay stack lol. Not much information on these towers. Or at least I cant find it. Edit: HOLY! I just found a map of where I live of these towers. There is literally one in my small town of 5000! Know I just got to locate it (OR maybe its torn down ) Edit2: Could this be the old long line tower? Maybe the horns were taken down?

Long lines towers were used to get long distance phone calls across the country in the days before fiber optic, VOIP and widespread satellite use. They would position towers about 30-60 miles apart (any farther and the curvature of the earth would block the signal) When you called from say, LA to New York, it would be transmitted to your regional telephone office to the nearest tower, where it would then go from tower to tower across the US. other means were used as well, from coaxial lines (think cable TV), special phone lines, etc. The towers could also transmit TV stations too, so your local ABC, NBC, etcc affiliate in your town could get news and footage from the main office in New York.

Remember, this was before the internet, fiber optic, widespread satellite use, or any of the other technologies we now take for granted.

Most of the long lines towers you see will no longer have the feedhorns or waveguides on them anymore, as these had high copper content and were usually scrapped by the phone company or tower owner after they stopped being used. Some are used as cell towers or point to point microwave, while others, the whole tower was torn down.