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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Dangers of cellphone towers? (Viewed 969 times)
vov35 


Location: Maryland
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Dangers of cellphone towers?
< on 6/24/2010 11:22 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
so...
I figure the cellphone towers within my area are currently less than a 5 minutes jog away, and I need somewhere to test out my climbing gear.

Plus my area is rather subject to diffusion of responsibility and such so nobody will bother me for it.

The question is:
How significant is the electrical/microwave danger present on these towers?
Anything I need to be aware of?

I've seen a few suggestions of climbing them being a better idea than high voltage lines, and I'm trying to decide if I should...

"Only sheep need a shepherd." -- Voltaire
aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 1 on 6/24/2010 11:31 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Cell towers are fine as long as you don't get close to the antennas (there should be a sign that tells how how far away from them you should stay). Just make sure that there is nothing else on the tower that could kill you (often, towers are used for multiple purposes).

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

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vov35 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 2 on 6/25/2010 12:09 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
ok, they looked concerning with the eight or nine or five (idk lol) ~1" thick wires running to them.

They have exclusively the vertical rectangular microwave antennas. (I think they're patch antennas, but I'm no good at guessing this)

There are no other lines running to the towers; they're purely cellphone towers as far as I can tell. Also I know of a water tower with cellphone antennas on it, but that's for another day... :p

I was hoping to get the the very top of it though, as there are two triangular approximately two metre platforms for service/supporting the antennas along their perimeter.

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AnAppleSnail 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 3 on 6/25/2010 1:29 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by vov35
ok, they looked concerning with the eight or nine or five (idk lol) ~1" thick wires running to them.

They have exclusively the vertical rectangular microwave antennas. (I think they're patch antennas, but I'm no good at guessing this)

There are no other lines running to the towers; they're purely cellphone towers as far as I can tell. Also I know of a water tower with cellphone antennas on it, but that's for another day... :p

I was hoping to get the the very top of it though, as there are two triangular approximately two metre platforms for service/supporting the antennas along their perimeter.



Note that the top platforms may only be safely accessible when some antennaes run at reduced power. Are you -sure- that it's only cell towers? Some broadcast structures are hard to spot.

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Yield 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 4 on 6/25/2010 6:39 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
where's that picture of the two people who touched that tower and melted into it together? scarred me for life but that's what this thread made me think of.

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aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 5 on 6/25/2010 7:23 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
You don't have to worry about electricity with cell towers, just pylons and AM towers. You should see if you can find any AT&T longlines (all were abandoned, but most are converted into cell towers and still safe to climb). They've all got the distinctive horns on top like so:

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
vov35 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 6 on 6/25/2010 9:34 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
http://www.livelon...0phone%20tower.jpg

That pretty much looks like it except the bottom row is on an identical triangular platform to the top.

EDIT: I'd take a photo of my destination but my crappy 7mp p&s screen broke. I refuse to use a cellphone camera.

And I think I know my radio equipment enough to recognize a cellphone tower. ):<

j/k all is good.

I was thinking though, the antennas are designed to be directional, are they not?
Why should it be concerning to be behind them? I've been within a few meters of 50kw microwave drum antennas and been fine just because of being outside of the broadcast zone.
[last edit 6/25/2010 9:47 PM by vov35 - edited 1 times]

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aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 7 on 6/25/2010 9:39 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by vov35
http://www.livelon...0phone%20tower.jpg

That pretty much looks like it except the bottom row is on an identical triangular platform to the top.

And I think I know my radio equipment enough to recognize a cellphone tower. ):<

j/k all is good.

I was thinking though, the antennas are designed to be directional, are they not?
Why should it be concerning to be behind them? I've been within a few meters of 50kw microwave drum antennas and been fine just because of being outside of the broadcast zone.


You should be fine as long as you pay attention to what the sign on the fence says. Just don't, you know, lean out in front of them or something.

Edit: don't bring your cellphone up there. I know people who have had theirs get fried while climbing cell towers.
[last edit 6/25/2010 9:40 PM by aurelie - edited 1 times]

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
vov35 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 8 on 6/25/2010 9:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
well duh the sign on the fence says keep out....

but I think that's more against sabotage & having to deal with idiots falling off their tower...

"Only sheep need a shepherd." -- Voltaire
aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 9 on 6/25/2010 9:52 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by vov35
well duh the sign on the fence says keep out....

but I think that's more against sabotage & having to deal with idiots falling off their tower...


Well, yes. But most of them have a sign for workers that tells you the distance that you should keep from the antennas.

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
metawaffle 

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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 10 on 6/26/2010 12:16 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
What was it that ulive climbed that fried his camera and phone?

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aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 11 on 6/26/2010 12:28 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by metawaffle
What was it that ulive climbed that fried his camera and phone?


A water tower with cell antennas on it, if I remember correctly.

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
AnAppleSnail 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 12 on 6/26/2010 12:31 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by vov35
well duh the sign on the fence says keep out....

but I think that's more against sabotage & having to deal with idiots falling off their tower...


There will be a sign saying something like "Keep at least 3 feet from antennaes, contact AT&T Wireless for service."

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metawaffle 

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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 13 on 6/26/2010 2:10 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by aurelie


A water tower with cell antennas on it, if I remember correctly.


That's prolly relevant, then.

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alwaysDifferent 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 14 on 6/26/2010 1:23 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Yield
where's that picture of the two people who touched that tower and melted into it together? scarred me for life but that's what this thread made me think of.


okay i HAVE to see this pic...

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that we're free to do anything.
janus zeal 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 15 on 6/27/2010 11:18 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Cell phone antennas can't be perfectly directional. The antennas at the top point outward, but there will be a bit of microwave radiation that is directed back at the platform. It's not going to kill you but it's not healthy. You shouldn't be near any part of the antennas for very long. Never stand in front of them for any amount of time.

Also don't bring anything electronic you value to much up there, the traces on PCBs will act as microwave antennas and probably will ruin the device. Bring a film camera if you can, the radiation isn't ionizing so the film will be fine.

https://docs.googl...YKc0vik7sv5kMmgOWc

aurelie 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 16 on 6/27/2010 11:50 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I have taken digital cameras up on them before without incident, but I suppose that depends on how far away your camera is from the antenna.

reckless thoughts abide; anachronistic and impulsive.

loosely jacketed against the cold and ten thousand worlds for the choosing.
janus zeal 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 17 on 6/27/2010 11:54 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by aurelie
I have taken digital cameras up on them before without incident, but I suppose that depends on how far away your camera is from the antenna.
It's kind-of unlikely anything will be damaged, but it's possible. Better safe then sorry when you're talking about expensive devices.

Yield 


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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 18 on 6/27/2010 11:57 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by alwaysDifferent


okay i HAVE to see this pic...


I can't currently find it, I'll pm when I do

Yield's Peer Review:
~Doesn't give a fuck, total badass, and one of my ue-besties.
~Genuine, has positive character and this thing called integrity. Knows when to be serious. Passionate about productive things. Human being. ~fish fish boxing boxing bestest friend evah
janus zeal 


Location: Seattle, WA, USA
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Re: Dangers of cellphone towers?
<Reply # 19 on 6/28/2010 12:11 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Yield


I can't currently find it, I'll pm when I do
I'd love to see it as well. :3

UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > Dangers of cellphone towers? (Viewed 969 times)
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