[Clegg] RE: [Remotebase] Tower Installation

[Chris Boone]

Doug,
You are taking the wrong path if you state in your application you plan to
use the tower for anything other than TV reception...the OTAR rules EXCLUDE
amateur radio...if you don't put a TV antenna on the tower, they can force
you to take the tower down. IF you put any amateur antennas on the tower
that they can tell are NOT antennas allowed under the rule, they can legally
have you remove them or remove the entire tower (Yes they can....lawyers
have already confirmed this).

Just a warning....do NOT think this ruling gives you carte blanche for your
ham antennas...it does not...it only allows for TV reception...and a 30ft
tower may be deemed too high for such if the broadcast towers are close
enough and within line of site. (The OTAR rules allows for "reasonable"
height to permit reception..anything 12ft above the roof line can be subject
to zoning regulations!) See http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Chris
WB5ITT

> -----Original Message-----
> From: remotebase-bounces at mailman.qth.net 
> [mailto:remotebase-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Doug 
> Fitts W7FDF
> Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 1:42 AM
> To: Remotebase
> Subject: [Remotebase] Tower Installation
> 
> My last posting for 2005 with a question:
> 
> My home owners association with their CC&R's and other regs 
> [here in my community of Vail, Arizona] has "seen the light" 
> regarding new FCC legislation on antenna and tower 
> installation parameters and height restrictions. They [the 
> association] recently sent me a monthly Newsletter [December 
> issue] which specifically acknowledges word for word, that 
> the "Federal Communications Commission [FCC] passed 
> legislation that prohibits associations from restricting 
> individual members from receiving adequate transmission signals".
> 
> Yes, I did after reading this fired off an email to the 
> manager of the association [this morning] asking that they 
> send me what is called an Architectural Improvement form so I 
> can submit my "project"...to install a 30 foot Rohn tower for 
> my 900 mhz antenna system and other antennas related to 
> repeater/remotebase and other link systems [a.k.a, antenna 
> farm on a tower].
> 
> My question on a typical tower installation and please keep 
> in mind...I have no experience in this area other then as a 
> "helper" with other installations years ago.
> 
> Can someone direct me to a website or specifically explain 
> how best to "lay the foundation" to install a 30 foot Rohn 
> tower without guy wires. 
> Yes, I plan, once I purchase the tower sections [working on 
> that with a local Ham] to secure the second bottom section to 
> the eave of the house. 
> In short, I think I want to sink/install the first five foot 
> section of the tower into the ground, use rebar for added 
> support and firmness, pour cement to "fill the hole" at the 
> base of a five foot section of the tower, then secure the 
> upper section to the eave of the house with steel brackets 
> [that I may have to have formed and bent to the right config].
> 
> I am new at this so any and all suggestions on/from this list 
> would be appreciated so very much. This will be my new 900 
> mhz repeater and remotebase project for 2006!!  The wife and 
> I have been living in our new home now 15 months and I really 
> desire to install a quality antenna system for the three 
> repeaters I currently operate and maintain.
> 
> So please comment/send thoughts and suggestions on your own 
> experiences with tower installatons. I am looking forward to 
> "getting my hands dirty", digging the hole for the tower and 
> rebar and pouring the cement...and at age 62, I NEED the exercise!!
>