Dr. Jonathan Kramer's Cell Tower Photo Gallery

Copyright 2000-2023 Dr. Jonathan Kramer

Image search results - "pine"
P1070045.JPG
AT&T's Upgraded Tree at Camp Pendleton Rest Stop501 viewsAT&T has just upgraded this monopine site to 4G and materially improved the camouflage. Much better than before. N/B I-5 at the rest stop.
P1070050_output.jpg
AT&T's Upgraded Tree at Camp Pendleton Rest Stop544 viewsAT&T has just upgraded this monopine site to 4G and materially improved the camouflage. Much better than before. N/B I-5 at the rest stop. Note the camo around the microwave antenna.
cells_nm_santafe_52OldLasVegasHwy_monopine_20091228_DSC_0126.jpg
Sickly Monopine1169 viewsOff of the Old Las Vegas Highway outside of Santa Fe, this poorly designed monopine stands out like the sore thumb it is. The branch coverage, branch count, and panel antenna socks are inferior. A properly designed and executed monopine would not all the antenna stand-off arms to be seen, much less be painted a highly visible green.

By the way, in this case, Las Vegas refers to Las Vegas, New Mexico, rather than to Lost Wages, Nevada.
cells_towerco_sprint_2035Cal_Corona_20090825_DSCN1369.jpg
So-So Sprint Monopine Close-up1234 viewsThis is a close-up of the panel array located at Sprint's monopine, located in Corona, California, is a good example of what happens when the antenna array extends past the branches. Also note the degraded and falling-off panel covers (socks). This site is now managed by TowerCo.
cells_towerco_sprint_2035Cal_Corona_20090825_DSCN1365.jpg
So-So Sprint Monopine2029 viewsSprint's monopine, located in Corona, California, is a good example of what happens when the antenna array extends past the branches. Also note the degraded and falling-off panel covers (socks). This site is now managed by TowerCo.
cells_towerco_sprint_2035Cal_Corona_20090825_DSCN1361.jpg
So-So Sprint Monopine1491 viewsSprint's monopine, located in Corona, California, is a good example of what happens when the antenna array extends past the branches. Also note the degraded and falling-off panel covers (socks). This site is now managed by TowerCo.
cells_sprint_murrieta_monopines_20090703_DSCN1078.jpg
Monorock, Interrupted952 viewsA pair of monopines in Murrieta, California. The right side monopine has a fairly decent but hardly great design and result given the lack of sufficient branch coverage; the left side monopine is very poorly designed/executed given the antennas extending out beyond the canopy of the branches.
cells_santafenm_asr1256669_195MuttNelsonRd_20081227_DSCN0467.jpg
AT&T Monopine in Santa Fe, NM845 viewsAT&T's monopine site is above the 599 Bypass around Santa Fe, New Mexico (Mutt Nelson road). Note the BTS cabintes are mounted on a raised grill (good for drainage; snow, etc.).
cells_santafenm_asr1256669_195MuttNelsonRd_20081227_DSCN0457.jpg
AT&T Monopine in Santa Fe, NM994 viewsAT&T's monopine site is above the 599 Bypass around Santa Fe, New Mexico (Mutt Nelson road)
cells_santafenm_asr1256669_195MuttNelsonRd_20081226_DSCN0450.jpg
AT&T Monopine in Santa Fe, NM811 viewsAT&T's monopine site is above the 599 Bypass around Santa Fe, New Mexico (Mutt Nelson road). View from SR599.
cells_monopine_2008_dsc02162.jpg
Monoblah (Oops...Monopine)910 viewsThis monopine, photographed in 2002 is in Culver City, California. It abuts the I-405 freeway near Washington Blvd.
cells_culvercity_20020429_DSC02166.jpg
Monopine in Culver City738 viewsThis is a monopine, constructed in 2002, in Culver City, California.

By today's standards, this would not make the grade (low branch count; no antenna panel covers; bare; etc.).
wa.nextel.caltrans.wla.20051203.DSCN0643.JPG
Can a Faux Monopine Have a Faux Disease?776 viewsNextel (now TowerCo) can take 'great pride' in its economical design of this monopine, located in a CalTrans yard at the intersections of the I405 and I10 freeways in West Los Angeles. References to Christmas trees owned by a certain person with the last name of Brown are appropriate.
cells.lakeelsinore.monopine.20050426.P4260027.jpg
Monopine - Lake Elsinore, California1642 viewsThis monopine has some of the hallmarks of a good design, including very good branch coverage and the use of camouflage antenna panel covers.3 comments
cells.shoppingcenter.P8090017.jpg
Cell Pine - Overview556 viewsHere's an overview photo of a cell pine (monopine) standing alone in a shopping center in Walnut, California.
cells.shoppingcenter.P8090021.jpg
Cell Pine1023 viewsHere's a good merged image photo close-up of a cell pine (monopine) in Walnut, California. Notice the large 'acorn' (microwave dish antenna) that's front and center on the trunk. In most case in metro areas, the purpose of having a microwave dish is (1) to provide back-haul from the cell site to the mobile telephone switching office (MTSO), and (2) to save the cost of leasing data lines from the local phone company. The first purpose is required; the second should not be considered a valid justification in most metro cases.

Also notice that most--but not all--of the panel antennas have slip-on camouflage covers. This photo highlights the significant difference in appearance between covered and merely painted panels.

The bark cladding stops at about the level of the microwave dish. It should have gone all the way to the top as you can see the flat, more reflective metal surface above the cladding.
cells.shoppingcenter.P8090029.jpg
Cell Pine Cable Port545 viewsConsider this a shot of the roots of the cell pine. Actually, it's one of two cable ports on the side of our little tree.
cells.shoppingcenter.branchattachment.P8090026.jpg
Cell Pine Branch Attachment644 viewsThis close-up shows how the branch attachments occur on this cell pine tree.
cells.lake.elsnr.tree.20050713.P7130011.jpg
Overlooking Lake Elsinore, California (View 2 of 2)866 viewsA close up view of a Sprint site in Riverside County above Lake Elsinore, California (thanks to Larry for the update!).1 comments
cells.lake.elsnr.tree.20050713.P7130012.jpg
Overlooking Lake Elsinore, California (View 1 of 2)754 views...with this monopine antenna. Note the equipment located down the hill from the private home. This is a Sprint site that's actually located in Riverside County (thanks, Larry!).2 comments
cells.nh.temple.cellpine.P5120031.jpg
Cell Pine - North Hollywood, CA713 viewsAt a temple.
cells.hesperia.cellpine.sprint.jpg
Yet Another Sad Cell Pine762 viewsThis Sprint site in Hesperia, California sports sparse branch coverage, and lacks bark cladding. 1 comments
P3090020.JPG
Battle of the Mono's...824 viewsIn this case, a sickly monopine and a basic monopole, both located at the top of a hill next to a water tank. Not much can be said for the monopole, but the poor branch coverage of the monopine sure sticks out like a sore thumb. Successful monopines have great branch coverage, antenna covers, and bark cladding all the way up the tree (unlike this example).2 comments
P3090014.JPG
Sort-of-Monopine776 viewsThis sickly Sprint monopine is located next to a water tank. Extremely poor branch coverage makes the overall appearance something less than stunning. No bark cladding. No antenna covers or branch coverage.2 comments
P3090002.JPG
Camo Monopine836 viewsBranch design and branch coverage are the keys to a great...or poor...monopine design. This multi-carrier monopine, adjacent to an interstate highway, has relatively poor branch coverage. The bark cladding stops at the lowest level of the branches, leaving exposed flat metal surfaces above.
cells.sprint.temescalcyn.i15.P3090072.jpg
Sprint Camo Cell Pine1161 viewsThis Sprint site, under construction as photographed, features a tree designed and installed by Radian Communications Services Corp. The branch coverage is excellent, and the panel antennas are virtually invisible due to branch coverage and camo covers. So, who says it can't be done right? Quite nice!1 comments
cells.irvine.tree.aircraftlight.tmobile.P3020037.jpg
T-Mobile's Take on a Cellular Pine952 viewsThis T-Mobile cell pine tree is located near the John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Of interest is the almost total camouflaging of the antennas by careful design/placement of the RF transparent "limbs". The limbs could have come down much further on the trunk.

Oh, yes, there's that aircraft warning beacon that helps the illusion.
1 comments
cells.cellpine.baldwinpark.DSCN1281.jpg
Building A CellPine...698 views...one branch at a time. Notice that this is another example of failing to have the bark cladding all the way up the pole. The break point stands out, as does the painted metal above.
cells.pine.lakeels.ca.PC150036.jpg
Cell Pine805 viewsThis cell pine is located on a hill in Lake Elsinore, CA. Good branch coverage. Notice the round microwave antenna on the tree trunk.1 comments
cells.yucipa.amtwr.underconstr.200308.DSC03200.JPG
Cell Pine under construction - Close up1060 viewsHere's a close-up of the branch attachment pegs for this cell pine. Notice how well the cables, seen at the very top of the photograph, are hidden by the branches. Also, notice the faux pine needle cover on the antenna to the right of the trunk. A good job by American Tower.
cells.yucipa.cellpine.underconstr.DSC03201.JPG
Cell Pine under construction841 viewsThe branch attachment pegs are visible in this photograph. Note the relatively random layout of the pegs, and the fairly good coverage of the antennas at the top. This is an American Tower site in California.
cell-i5-SanDCA-P1300007.jpg
Is that an AIRCRAFT warning light on the tree?1057 viewsThis site is on USMC property in San Diego County. The red light on the trop of the cell pine tree warns off low flying helicopters. Notice how the bark cladding stops at the level of the lowest branches. Also notice how much reflective the trunk is without the cladding. The bark cladding should have been extended all the way up the tree trunk.
westale.caltrans.PA170033.jpg
Fake Cell Pine Diseased Tree1471 viewsThis has got to be one of my favorite cell trees...perhaps the worlds worst cell pine design. Yes, Nextel is to be commended on this design, not found in nature, spotted in West Los Angeles, California. Compare this to Nextel's truly good design for a cell pine.2 comments
nextelSR91I110PA070039.JPG
Cell Pine with Antenna Panel Covers1248 viewsHere's a Nextel site at the intersection of the CA SR91 and I110. It's a good design, and uses what I lovingly call "pine needle slip covers" on the panel antennas.

Good branch coverage down the trunk. Good texturing on the trunk, too.

Nice job, Nextel!
camoDSC02695.jpg
Close-up of antennas on pine tree stealth site1234 viewsHere is a close-up of the antenna mounting pattern on the pine tree stealth site.
camoDSC02691.jpg
Pine tree stealth site2138 viewsWhile it stands alone above the hill, this is actually a very good camouflaged site. Sufficient faux foliage coverage to hide antennas. 1 comments
DSC02410.JPG
Another sickly cell-pine1956 viewsIt looks like hardly any imagination was used to design this sad tree tower site.1 comments
   
37 files on 1 page(s)