 Most viewed - Non-Camouflaged Sites
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Flush Mount Cell Site on PG&E Transmission Pole - San Jose, CA Airport2261 viewsThe interesting point about the cell antennas mounted to PG&E's transmission pole (seen in the right side of the photo) is that the antennas are not out on arms. Usually power companies require carriers to mount antennas on arms to insure adequate climbing space under NESC/CPUC GO95.
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Sprint microcell - Omnidirectional pattern1981 viewsOne of the secret ways from the San Fernando Valley into West Los Angeles (or is it the other way around) is via Havenhurst Avenue. Sprint's customers know the route, and Sprint's capitalized on it by adding this omni site to cover the commuters.
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Sprint microcell - Omnidirectional pattern1968 viewsOne of the secret ways from the San Fernando Valley into West Los Angeles (or is it the other way around) is via Havenhurst Avenue. Sprint's customers know the route, and Sprint's capitalized on it by adding this omni site to cover the commuters.
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Cell site in parking lot1557 viewsNotice the addition of the lot lights.
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Pole-mounted Microcell1222 viewsThis wireless microcell provides uninterrupted coverage on a busy major highway in a steep winding canyon on the Southern California coast.
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GPS and LMU antennas1148 viewsThe GPS antenna (the pointed white dome) is used to receive satellite-delivered timing signals used to sync a large-area wireless network.
The LMU (Location Measuring Unit) antenna, which in this photograph is mounted on a bracket to the left of the GPS antenna) is used to help a wireless carrier locate its users as required by the FCC for wireless E-911.
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New Concept: A wireless site without antennas or base station equipment1103 viewsThis SCE tower features a three sector panel mount without panels. It also lacks any base station.
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Cell site, microwave mounted on wood pole983 viewsWe don't need no stinking steel tower!
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The Tower Works LTD739 viewsThis structurally attractive tower is in Mangonia Park just north of West Palm Beach. The tower is just over 500 feet tall. I had a delightful chat with Marlin of TTW about her tower. She shared some great stories - and frustrations - about this and other towers she's been involved with.
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NextG Distributed Antenna System Node710 viewsNextG's DAS node located in Encinitas, California. The carrier supported by this node is Cricket Wireless. The DAS equipment manufacturer is Andrew Corporation. This DAS node is a member of Andrew's ION ("Intelligent Optical Network") line of products. The cover at the top of the DAS housing covers a cooling fan.
Under SDG&E rules, this site does not consume enough power to require a power meter; merely a breaker box (located to the right of the DAS node).
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Pad-mounted Base Station658 viewsThis is a concrete-pad mounted cell site base station. The powering is to the right, and the GPS antenna is seen in the top-background attached to the ice-bridge. The ice-bridge protects the coaxial cables, mounted below the bridge, from falling ice.
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Co locate site for multiple cell structures658 viewsThis multi-tower site is along next to Interstate 405 in Irvine, California.
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Sprint microcell - Two Sectors649 viewsPole mounted Sprint microcell in Brentwood, California (Parkyns St.). The panel antennas should have been painted brown or green to afford some measure of camouflage. This site is near OJ's former home on Rockingham in Brentwood, California. It's a much nicer area than were he now lives in Nevada.
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"We Come In Peace!"642 viewsWater tank cell and microwave site south of Sacramento, California along I-5
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Microcell mounted in traffic signal light standard632 viewsThe cell antennas are pointed to cover short street segments on Ventura Blvd east and west of Laurel Canyon Blvd. San Fernando Valley, California.
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Lambert Ranch - Irvine, California629 viewsThis view shows the separate fences for the varioud sites. Notice that the walkway between the Nextel site (left) and the Sprint site (middle, foreground) passes right under the various panels.
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Lambert Ranch - Irvine, California614 viewsAs of early 2006, Verizon, Nextel, and Sprint have sites here, above the Lambert sisters home. All of this property, save for the homestead and trees, is being developed. The cell site is to be relocated. Notice he ripe red yummy things in the foreground.
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Sprint Monopole in Lebec, California614 viewsSite is controlled by TowerCo (soon to be SBC).
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Hot zone? What hot zone?598 viewsThis roof-top site (now removed) used cheezy plastic safety cones with pasted-on warning signs to alleged mark the edge of the general population/uncontrolled RF zone. Note the two cones at rear-right that have blown over. A very effective warning technique, eh?
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YMCA Monopole595 viewsA shorty monopole site at a YMCA camp in Thousand Oaks, California.
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Awful AT&T Antennas594 viewsThis rather awful antenna site, from AT&T wireless, is located at 10239 1/2 Vassar in Canoga Park, California. The dual band antennas use tower mounted amplifiers to enhance weak signal reception.
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CEV Hatch with Bench571 viewsThe metal bench sits atop the hatch of a CEV (controlled environmental vault) used to house telecommunications equipment in a large, underground room. How large is large, you ask? CEV's are common, but bench tops aren't.
CEVs come in many sizes, but its common for the size of the room below ground to be measured in hundreds of square feet.
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Strand-mounted cell site (Sprint)566 viewsThis is a Sprint cell site using the cable TV system to connect users to the MTSO. Irvine, CA.
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Generic monopole site558 viewsJust another example of a monopole antenna tower.
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Verizon MTSO San Diego 2 of 2557 viewsThis photo shows Verizon's Mobile Telephone Switching Office and tower in San Diego, California. The microwave antennas connect various cell sites back to this MTSO. Telephone company leased data lines (usually T1 circuits) are another means of connecting remote cell sites back to a MTSO.
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NextG RF Safety Advisory Notice551 viewsThis is NextG's RF safety advisory below the DAS node. It clearly spells out the RF safety facts and compliance for this site as it pertains to the general population walking by the site.
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NextG DAS Pole Mounted Site543 viewsA NextG distributed antenna system (DAS) site in Redondo Beach, California.
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Cell site on a Call Box542 viewsThis cell site uses a travelers call box as the antenna support. The equipment is located just beyond the railing in the underground enclosure. Near Pt. Mugu, California.
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Wireless sites on power transmission towers536 viewsA new trend to install wireless antenna arrays on high voltage power transmission towers. These new co-location sites are gaining popularity due their preexisting right of ways and available height.
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Desert Storm!536 viewsVerizon's "Desert Storm" light standard site in Irvine, California.
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Not too compliant with the FCC OET Bulletin 65 Rules523 viewsThe FCC rules require that where visitors (and even trespassers) are expected, a wireless carrier must protect those members of the general population from RF exposure exceeding the uncontrolled standard. This site does not meet that requirement due to the antennas mounted on the exterior fence of this water tank site.
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Das da ticket!517 viewsA close up of the AT&T Wireless DAS antennas. Note several things:
First, the RF warning sign is on the rear of the antenna, where is cannot be seen by someone approaching the antenna. This is not consistent with the FCC RF safety requirements.
Second, these are dual band antennas. In the far antenna, the cellular band antenna feed is on the right; the PCS band feed is on the left.
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Multipurpose monopole516 viewsThis tall monopole belonging to a Southern California radio station is occupied at several levels by various communications services.
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Pad-mounted Base Station515 viewsThis is a concrete-mounted cell site equipment and power package. Note the use of the ice-bridge (left-rear of the equipment) to protect the cables. The commercial powering package is to the right of the radio equipment package.
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Nextel antenna structure on top of an industrial building511 viewsOpen antenna structures have little impact in industrial areas.
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What's that wrapping around the antennas?509 viewsHere's an interesting site (close up in next photo). Notice that there are cars parked in the auto body shop lot directly below the antennas. Perhaps birds like to take aim and, er, hit the cars below. What a clever carrier solution! Put a net around the antennas to keep the birds off.
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UCLA? I C LA!506 viewsVerizon's right-of-way microcell monopole site on Hilgard Avenue near Manning just to the east of UCLA. The base station equipment is located underground adjacent to the two vents.
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Close-up of anti-Bird-bomb net over antennas505 viewsHere's a close-up photo of the net placed over the antennas to keep the birds off (and to keep them from bombing the cars below)!
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PCS Base Station below PG&E Power Tower505 viewsUbiquitel's BTS in Olivehurst, California is located in a wood-fenced enclosure below the PG&E power transmission tower.
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Palms guarding cell site - circa 2004499 viewsThis is a cell site 'guarded' by live palm trees. Its the same site I photographed in late 2001 (see that photo in this gallery). Notice how the live palms have grown, and so have the houses around the site!
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Four sector monopole cell site499 viewsIt's relatively unusual to find 4-sector towers. Here's one (although only 3 sectors are in use).
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496 views
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Awful AT&T Antennas496 viewsThis rather awful antenna site, from AT&T wireless, is located at 10239 1/2 Vassar in Canoga Park, California. The dual band antennas use tower mounted amplifiers to enhance weak signal reception.
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Omni-directional Microcell on Sign494 viewsThis AT&T Wireless site, at Fairfax and Pico in Los Angeles, is an example of placing a microcell site atop an existing, small sign.
If you enlarge the photo, don't miss checking out the lid of the vault in front of the pole. The lid is a piece of plywood, apparently to replace the original concrete!
Nope, I don't want to drive my car over that lid, either!
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Freeway wireless site493 viewsThis double wireless array is situated on a building located immediately adjacent to the I-5 Freeway in Los Angeles.
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NextG Distributed Antenna System Node491 viewsNextG is a wireless carrier's carrier. They provide fiber links between the BTS and the antenna site using a technology referred to as Distributed Antenna System (DAS). This is a NextG DAS node located in Encinitas, California. The carrier supported by this node is Cricket Wireless. NextG's Cricket network in San Diego County is thought to be the largest deployment of DAS in the U.S.
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Multi-Carrier Panels489 viewsJust west of Interstate 5 in San Diego County, California. Notice that anyone can walk up to the ground-mounted panel antennas via the path in the foreground. This site is not fenced.
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Cell site on power transmission pole487 viewsThis site in located in British Columbia, Canada.
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Great Scott!485 viewsScottsdale has some very interesting pole mounted sites. This long view of several carriers' sites shows an interesting deployment scheme to cover subdivisions along Shea Road.
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Great Scott! (Some more)485 viewsThis close-up view shows a very stylish use of an iron sculpture to provide an interesting surround to a cell site BTS.
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Utility Wood Pole Top Mount484 viewsCingular's three sector antenna system is mounted at the top of the utility pole it installed (it has a PBM pole number). The equipment cabinets are located to the right of the pole.
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Building top multi-sector cell site482 viewsYet another roof-top cell site. This is a macrosite adjacent to a major freeway in Los Angeles.
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Das da ticket!482 viewsAT&T uses a distributed antenna system (DAS) to light this site on Valley Circle in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles County). The DAS node, manufactured by Andrew Corporation, is the small box affixed to the larger power meter pedestal cabinet.
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Guess which puts out more power?477 viewsThis is a massive power transmission tower that supports two different carriers. Yeah, the tower's REALLY that big.
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Sprint microcell - Base Station, Backhaul, and Powering473 viewsThe base station is the large box. Below it is the interface box that extracts power from the coaxial cable backhaul system. At the bottom, in the small box, is the power regulation transformer. Note that this installation, in California, does not comply with CPUC General Order 95 as it has cables below 8 feet above ground that are not in conduit.
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City Hall Clock Tower469 viewsIrvine, California's civic center is a sight to behold. The clock tower above the site supports public safety radio antennas, and an omni-direction antenna cell site.
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Sign me up!465 viewsSprint's site, at the intersection of I-405 and I110 in Gardena, California, is built atop a commercial enterprise sign. See: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=gardena,ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.025693,55.107422&ie=UTF8&ll=33.857997,-118.283083&spn=0.000873,0.002701&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=33.857997,-118.283083&panoid=cnzdeipYOjdDXyBwyMclfQ&cbp=12,307.77006332815694,,0,-20.14375050524673
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Cell Call Box463 viewsWhere there's nothing else vertical, some carriers will build cell sites on call boxes. This call box (now replaced) was installed on the Pacific Coast Highway near Point Mugu, California. The base station equipment was located in the flush vault in the foreground.
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Two levels? No problem!462 viewsThis cell site, located on Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay serves both levels of the Bay Bridge.
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Chester, PA Cell Site460 viewsAttention KMART shoppers! Now you can show for sundries and signal at the same time!
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Lambert Ranch - Irvine, California454 viewsNextel's site is to the far left. Sprint's site is in the foreground. Verizon uses the short tower in the rear-right of the photo.
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Surface mounted antennas sometimes just require matching paint453 viewsThis surface mount wireless site is less visible due to the use of matching paint on the antenna radomes. Less visible, but not a true camouflage site.
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Wood You Please Support These Antennas?451 viewsUbiquitel uses wood panels to replace antennas not installed on the two-antenna mounts atop this PG&E power tower in Oakhurst, California. This site is at 2765 Powerline Road.
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Antenna arrays mounted on transmission towers448 viewsClose-up view of an antenna array mounted on a power transmission tower.
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NextG Distributed Antenna System Node447 viewsNextG is a wireless carrier's carrier. They provide fiber links between the BTS and the antenna site using a technology referred to as Distributed Antenna System (DAS). This is a NextG DAS node located in Encinitas, California. The carrier supported by this node is Cricket Wireless. NextG's Cricket network in San Diego County is thought to be the largest deployment of DAS in the U.S.
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Two on a Stick446 viewsSprint's BTS equipment is located in the large flush-to-grade vault. It's flush vents bracket the BTS vault.
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Das da ticket!446 viewsAT&T uses a distributed antenna system (DAS) to light this site on Valley Circle in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles County). The DAS node, manufactured by Andrew Corporation, is the small box affixed to the larger power meter pedestal cabinet.
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CoLo Site - Escondido, California446 viewsMesa Rock Road north of Deer Creek Road, Escondido, California.
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A well lit monolight brought to you by Verizon441 views...in the San Fernando Valley. A Verizon site. The base station equipment is located in one of the mall stores, which Verizon has taken over and added a new interior door.
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Semi-camo tower438 viewsThe Santa Monica Mountains frame this cell site, located along Interstate 405 near the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
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Side Saddle Microwave Dish Installation438 viewsAnother view of this cell site which uses a microwave dish antenna system to provide backhaul to the MTSO. The interesting note for this site is the side saddle (offset) installation of the dish antenna. In most metro installations, a microwave antenna saves the carrier the cost of leasing a telco dataline, but at the expense of adding visual loading to the project.
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Spectrasite Co-Lo Multisector at Different Levels437 viewsSpectrasite tower supports a three sector wireless system, with one of the sectors lower than the other two (to help shape coverage). Also, this site supports an omnidirection carrier (the vertical antennas on top of the tower).
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Das da ticket!433 viewsAT&T uses a distributed antenna system (DAS) to light this site on Valley Circle in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles County). The DAS node, manufactured by Andrew Corporation, is the small box affixed to the larger power meter pedestal cabinet. Notice that the node is not directly affixed, but is held via stand-offs.
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Cell site crowning a power transmission tower432 viewsThis cell site, in Walnut Creek, California, is atop a PG&E power transmission tower.
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It's a sign...it's a monopole...it's a sign...it's a monopole432 viewsWhy, it's both, in Henderson, Nevada.
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About three hundred years apart431 viewsYes, this is big iron in Bird in Hand, Pennsylvania. Yes, it's in the middle of a field being tended by local Amish citizens. Yes, this photo captures technology spanning about 300 years. Amazing!
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CellSign Updated430 viewsThis AT&T wireless site has been modified since the last time we photographed it. Search for "Pico" to find the original site configuration. Originally, this was a single band site; now this is a dual band site. The boxes adjacent to the amplifiers are called "tower mounted amplifiers" (TMAs).
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Unipole in Lacey, Washington428 viewsA T-Mobile unipole site in Lacey, Washington at the King Oscar Motel. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=kings+car+motel+lacey+washington&sll=33.857997,-118.283083&sspn=0.000873,0.002701&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=47.061194,-122.766165&spn=0,354.468384&t=h&z=8&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=47.061194,-122.766165&panoid=dqNvyTifCTgz-nLk-Ftupw&cbp=12,3.8848713226988707,,0,-6.115048506611214
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PCS at City Hall427 viewsThis Sprint site at the Redondo Beach, California City Hall also supports public safety radio antennas above and below the panels.
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A true Solar Cell427 viewsThis is a photo of AT&T's solar powered cell site just north of CA52 at Mast Road in San Diego. This site connects back to the mobile telephone switching office via a microwave antenna (behind the panel).
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Yerba Buena Island Site Serving the Oakland Bay Bridge424 viewsFrom July, 2001: This multicarrier site is pumping RF along the upper and lower spans of the Oakland Bay Bridge. Located on Yerba Buena Island (on the south side of the spans), this is an interesting configuration, employing "tip-to-tip" construction.
June 2008: This site no long exists. It has been removed to make way for construction of the new Bay Bridge connection to Yerba Buena Island. -jlk
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Equipment Cabinets, GPS and LMU antennas421 viewsCingular's equipment cabinets are mounted in the hardscape area between the curb and sidewalk.
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Flamingos Have Antennas!421 viewsI always focused on the tail feathers of Flamingos. Who knew that they had antennas, too!
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Cell site on power transmission pole420 viewsThis site in located in British Columbia, Canada.
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Wireless, with Cables418 viewsSome of the base station equipment cabinets (cellular, paging, etc.) at the upper landing of the Mt. Roberts Tramway in Juneau, Alaska
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Big Iron CoLo in Lacey Washington417 viewsNextel and AT&T Wireless share this tower in Lacey, Washington. Notice the climbing space through the bottom platform.
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Das da ticket!416 viewsAT&T uses a distributed antenna system (DAS) to light this site on Valley Circle in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles County). The DAS node, manufactured by Andrew Corporation, is the small box affixed to the larger power meter pedestal cabinet.
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Got Desert?415 viewsThis little Verizon 3-sector site sites atop a wood pole in Victorville, California. The BTS equipment is in the fenced area to the left, and the telco and power panels are to the right.
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NextG Distributed Antenna System Node414 viewsNextG is a wireless carrier's carrier. They provide fiber links between the BTS and the antenna site using a technology referred to as Distributed Antenna System (DAS). This is a NextG DAS node located in Encinitas, California. The carrier supported by this node is Cricket Wireless. NextG's Cricket network in San Diego County is thought to be the largest deployment of DAS in the U.S.
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What's Red and Whilte and Radiates All Over413 views...it's this T-Mobile lattice tower in Gridley, California.
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Major Macrocell Site (multiple carriers)411 viewsThis is an example of a traditional multiple carrier macrocell site. Note the large microwave antennas facing to the right: They are used to provide high-reliability connection of this site to the MTSO some 25 miles away.
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Generator Socket410 viewsThis is a standby power generator socket to provide power to the cell site during local commercial power failures
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Cell Site Generator Plug and Breaker/Switch-over Panel409 viewsMany cell sites must operate 24/7, even in the event of a commercial power failure. Most carriers have standby power generators that can be driven to cell sites and plugged in to a generator plug such as the one shown to the right of the breaker/switch-over panel. This facility is owned by AT&T Wireless. It's in the western part of Los Angeles.
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Lots of signal!409 viewsThis is a co-location site located south of Worcester, MA.
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Wireless, with Cables409 viewsThis multicarrier site is at the upper station of the Mt. Roberts Tramway in Juneau, Alaska.
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Close-up of Cell Antennas and GPS Antenna on Traffic Signal/Light Standard408 viewsThis is a close-up of the antennas mounted on the traffic signal. Note the two coax cables into the bottom of each panel antenna. One is for transmitting and the other is for receiving.
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Monopole407 viewsA monopole site between Victorville, California and Littlerock, California. Carrier unknown.
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406 views
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Palms guarding cell site - circa 2001405 viewsHere's a photo of a PCS site I photographed sometime in 2001. Notice that its 'in the middle of nowhere.' Fast forward to the shot of the same site I took in October, 2004.
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Use a Cell Phone: Go to Jail404 viewsSpotted in Las Vegas, New Mexico
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Central Sedona Arizona401 viewsThis multicarrier site is located at Fire Station 4 in Sedona, Arizona.
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Spectrasite co-location site399 viewsThis Spectrasite cell/microwave site is located in Carson, California. The tower is registered to what is now Verizon Wireless. Note how the microwave antennas are identified by code to permit identification of specific microwave antennas from ground level. It's located in an "Enterprise" zone (sorry...inside joke).
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Sprint Conducts a Drive Test399 viewsWhen a wireless carrier selects a candidate cell site it will usually conduct a 'drive test' to determine actual coverage. The drive test consists of elevating an antenna to a predetermined height. Inside the truck is a portable PCS transmitter powering the antenna. In a separate vehicle (call it a 'rover') the carrier will drive the streets around the test site out to a predetermined distance from the site. The received signal level and GPS location information are stored in a portable computer inside the rover.
After the test is concluded, the received signal strength and location information are plotted on a street map. That map then serves to guide the RF engineer to select a final candidate site, and to design the antenna system to cover the desired area without causing unreasonable interference to other cell sites on the same network.
Attached to the left of the antenna (and blowing in the breeze) is a measuring tape used to determine the height of the antenna.
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Rover's Roof399 viewsOn the roof of the drive test 'rover' is a GPS antenna (the square antenna in the center of the roof), plus two PCS omnidirectional antennas for signal measurement and communications purposes.
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Ground level wireless site on hilltop - CLOSE UP398 viewsThis is a close-up of a cell site atop a hill above a major Interstate Highway. The antennas are mounted at ground level.
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Park'n the Signal on the Roof397 viewsNotice how the coax ground wires are far from supported, attached, and protected at this site. This is a violation of the NEC 810.21(C) and (D) et seq.
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Power transmission pole - Underground equipment shelter396 viewsThis cell site, on a power transmission pole, is connected to a controlled environment vault ("CEV"). The CEV is an underground room housing the equipment. The hatch for the CEV is the green box show below and to the left of the pole.
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Multi-carrier cell site and TVRO downlink395 viewsThe multiple carrier tower isn't connected with the TVRO satellite antennas in front, but it makes for a nice picture. This site is located in northern San Antonio, Texas at a very large church facility. An interesting note: The antenna structure registration number shown on the site is, per the FCC's database, cancelled. Interesting!
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Nextel's Interesting Lattice Tower395 viewsA Nextel site using an interesting lattice tower to support its antennas and microwave antennas.
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Parking lot cell site392 viewsHere's another, wider view of a cell site mounted on a parking lot light standard in San Francisco.
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Co-location cell site390 viewsThe lower array was added after the tower was constructed. How do we know? Many of the cables for that array are mounted on the outside of the pole on the righthand side.
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Microcell Bolted on Parking Lot Light390 viewsSpotted in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, this microcell site is bolted to the top of an existing parking lot light standard. Notice the equipment mounted in the grass area (hey, guy, open that car door slowly or you might hit something).
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Close-up of GPS Antenna and LMU Antenna390 viewsCingular's GPS antenna (left) and the LMU antenna are mounted at about the 5 foot level adjacent to the sidewalk. It's amazing that they're still there. Hope no pedestrians walk into the bracket at night.
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It Radiates Near Radiation390 viewsThis is a monopole owned by American Tower located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. They work on things there that are better left unspoken (absent a suitable security clearance, that it).
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The Golden Signal388 viewsHere's a close-up of one of T-Mobile's sector antennas and tower-mounted amplifiers at its Chico, California water tank site.
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Tumwater Reservoir, Tumwater, Washington386 viewsNear the Tumwater Airport. Note the airport rotating aerodrome beacon on top of the tank.
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A parking lot light site at the Santa Fe Opera, Santa Fe, NM.386 viewsMulti-carrier sites (on parking lot lights) at the Santa Fe Opera in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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385 viewsClose up of the Fountain Hills three sector site atop a traffic and light standard.
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Two on a Stick385 viewsHere's a close-up of the dual antennas on this wood pole in Santa Monica, California. Sprint is on the bottom; Cingular is that mass at the top. By the way, the palm is not a camouflage element of Cingular's antennas.
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Church bell tower384 viewsThis is a non-camo site atop (well, just below) the bells of a church. Notice the shadowing of the antenna cables on the right side front of the tower.
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A Dam Tall Tower384 viewsThis tall tower, well, towers over Hoover Dam in Nevada and/or Arizona. I guess it depends in which state you live. This tower is on the Nevada side.
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Just park that signal!384 viewsT-Mobile's recently upgraded parking lot site in Long Beach, California.
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Galt High School Doesn't Lack for Signal381 viewsThree out of four light standards at the Galt (California) High School Warrior Stadium are cell sites. Well, that still leaves 25% growth potential!
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Sprint Conducts a Drive Test381 viewsThe tech mounts the omnidirectional antenna to the telescoping mast. Once the antenna is mounted, he'll connect the coax that runs back to the portable PCS transmitter sitting inside the van. Then the tech will elevate the antenna to the desired height, and set the proper output power of the transmitter. With all this done, another tech will drive the streets in the area recording signal strength, latitude, and longitude for later mapping.
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Two on a Stick381 viewsCingular and Sprint share this wood light pole in Santa Monica, California. Cingular's antennas, pictured here, are on the top. Sprint's antennas are on an arm below the bottom of the photograph. Both carriers use completely underground BTS equipment enclosures and flush-to-grade vent systems.
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Oh thank heavens for RF from 7-11380 viewsHere's an example of a microcell designed to illuminate a road segment for adding spot capacity. Notice that the apartment (right of the antenna) is just off the main lobe beam.
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380 views
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NextG Distributed Antenna System Node380 viewsNextG is a wireless carrier's carrier. They provide fiber links between the BTS and the antenna site using a technology referred to as Distributed Antenna System (DAS). This is a NextG DAS node located in Encinitas, California. The carrier supported by this node is Cricket Wireless. NextG's Cricket network in San Diego County is thought to be the largest deployment of DAS in the U.S.
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Microcell - Two Sectors379 viewsHigh gain (directional) antennas facing up/down the highway.
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Penthouse external mounted site377 viewsThis is a plain, externally mounted cell site on a commercial office building. Note the GPS (timing) antenna well above the roof line, which might have been mounted at the roof level to minimize its visibility from ground level without impairing its function.
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Yahoo! What a site!376 viewsThis omnidirection site is in Santa Monica, California. The GPS antenna is the right (north) of the antennas on the roof.
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Building side mount omni site375 viewsNotice that the omnidirectional antennas are mounted on the side of the building near the corner. Even more interesting is that the GPS antenna (used for network timing) is mounted in such a way as to be shielded from about 120 degrees of sky (this site faces northwest).
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Great Scott!374 viewsYet another view of a pole-mounted cell site in Scottsdale, Arizona. Notice the LMU antenna mounted at the top.
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Co-location external generator sockets373 viewsWhen the commercial power fails, many carriers rely on portable power generators to keep cell sites operating. Here are two generator sockets at a co-lo site (Verizon and AT&TWS [now Cingular]).
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Sprint's Drive Test Rover373 viewsThis is a Sprint vehicle used to receive the test signal emitted from the temporary transmitter van. This van drives a predetermined area collecting signal strength data for later mapping.
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Park'n the Signal on the Roof373 viewsThe cable wiring for this site leaves something to be desired. Notice how the cables are attached to wood blocks.
PMBS>Cingular>T-Mobile at The Grand Long Beach Event Center, 4101 East Willow St.
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DAS Outboard on Power Meter373 viewsOnce more, Cingular (now AT&T) employs the cabinet-on-a-cabinet technique of placing its DAS note, here in Rolling Hills Estates, California.
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Sprint microcell - Single Sector372 viewsA Sprint single sector microcell site on Mullholland Road in Los Angeles.
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RF on the Roof371 viewsThis commercial building in Tarzana, California shows how to poorly plan a roof by sticking almost anything (antenna wise) on the roof. A very poor (or good, depending on your view) example of how not to plan a rooftop.
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Lots of BTS Equipment in the Sidewalk Area371 viewsHere's a close-up photo of the AT&T Wireless BTS in the public right-of-way (sidewalk). Notice how tall the equipment stack is (about 6').
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Das da ticket!370 viewsAT&T uses a distributed antenna system (DAS) to light this site on Valley Circle in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles County). The DAS node, manufactured by Andrew Corporation, is the small box affixed to the larger power meter pedestal cabinet.
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Multi-carrier Omnis and Panels369 viewsOn the west side of Interstate 5 in San Diego County, California.
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Tip-to-Tip 2 of 2368 viewsHere are four antennas mounted in a "tip-to-tip" configuration. Notice the faux antenna cover used to blend each of the two vertical antennas on the right side of the pole. Also clearly seen are the antenna downtilt mounts, and pole-mounted pre-amplifiers.
This site is located in San Francisco and shines signal on US101. The equipment cabinets for this site are seen in an adjacent photo in this gallery.
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Cell site and Microwave Relay368 viewsThis site is not a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO). Rather, its an aggregation point for microwave backhaul from other wireless sites. Verizon and Nextel are co-located here.
Why red and white? This site is located adjacent to the Ontario, California airport.
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Elevated Water Tank Cell Site368 viewsArtwork adorns this 4-level multi-carrier water tank site near Philadelphia.
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Old Power Tower = New Cell Tower367 viewsThe power utility removed its wires from this old transmission tower, but still uses it to support a cell site.
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Park'n the Signal on the Roof367 viewsPBMS built this site. Cingular took it over. It's likely now a T-Mobile site. Long Beach, California, on top of the parking lot for The Grand Long Beach Event Center, 4101 East Willow St.
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Co-location cell site - sectorized and omnidirectional366 viewsA single monopole tower can support one or more sectorized carriers. The lower carrier does not use diversity reception (two receive antennas spaced so as to better receive lower power mobile handsets). The upper carrier does use diversity. Usually, in diversity configurations, the two receive antennas are on the outsides of the sector, and the transmit antenna is located inside, adjacent to one of the receive antennas.
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PCS-Transmitter-in-a-Box366 viewsWhen a wireless carrier selects a candidate cell site it will usually conduct a 'drive test' to determine actual coverage. The drive test consists of elevating an antenna (here, an omnidirectional antenna) to a predetermined height. Inside the truck is a portable PCS transmitter powering the antenna.
This is a photo of the PCS transmitter used by Sprint in this drive test. What? You thought it would be larger?!
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365 views
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