[GreenKeys] AT&T microwave tower

[boatanchor at martasystems.com]

It's not just the towers AT&T disposed of...  check this out. Still waiting
to see if the wrecking ball shows up. I went to 28 school (in the building
next to the river) while working at this facility in 1974.

http://www.jamesburgdish.org

John  WB6AZP



  -----Original Message-----
  From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Don Robert House
  Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 01:53
  To: Larry Tighe
  Cc: Greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
  Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] AT&T microwave tower


  I communicated with a man in California that bought an ATT microwave tower
and turned it into a museum.
  The older links that are still used (mostly for backup and alternate
routing) are across the Rocky Mountains.
  You will notice that the only large RBOC that little at&t (aka SBC) has
not bought is Qwest.  The former Mountain Bell.
  That is because Qwest has the highest facility maintenance costs in the
nation.


  Don




  On 8 Jan 2009, at 12:02 PM, Larry Tighe wrote:


  Go here for ATT towers.

  http://www.drgibson.com/towers/

  I recently sold mine....5000 sq ft bldg, 1 ft thick walls and atomic bomb
"proof" built in the '60s to resist Russian attacks on the NYC and Phila.
area...tower was 250 feet tall with 4 horns.  Generator was 150 KW !!!

  Last surviving ATT microwave links I've heard of were out west and
survived a massive forest fire.

  lar
    ----- Original Message -----
    From: amourdutigre
    To: Greenkeys at mailman.qth.net
    Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 12:56 PM
    Subject: [GreenKeys] AT&T microwave tower


    The microwave tube on e-bay stirred a question in my mind that would go
nicely here...

    When I was a young boy, I remember seeing along the country highways
these relatively low, broad for their height unguyed towers that had giant
microwave horns shooting in opposite directions. They were fed with what I
assume was wave guide. There was always a huge red aviation warning light on
top even though the towers were relatively short, and there was always a
late forties early fifties vintage brick and masonry building at the base of
the tower with fence around it and a locked gate. I remember seeing these
from the mid sixties to the mid seventies, and I assume that they were
around a lot longer before. They were usually along the old
(non-interstate...most of those had not been completed at the time) country
highways. I have not seen one in many years.

    Along the same lines, many of the old telephone buildings had a
rectangular enclosed tower on their roofs that had the same type of horn
array. Now, only one telephone building any where around where I live has
one left, probably because it has not been dismantled. The telephone
building in Kansas City, MO had one on it for years before it was removed,
and it used to be a prominent part of the skyline. Now it is gone.

    Are there anymore of these microwave links left? Just before I started
noticing that they were disappearing, I noticed that the horns were being
replaced with passive reflectors that were themselves being illuminated by
dishes at the base of the tower shooting straight up.

    I would love to hear more about these facilities, and any of the history
surrounding them. Though I have never worked in the telecom industry, I have
always had a great fascination with it, and have collected many artifacts
associated with it.

    Best and 73,

    Joe KB0TXC



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