 Last additions - Non-Camouflaged Sites
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Lots of BTS Equipment in the Sidewalk Area466 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').Nov 29, 2004
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Lots of BTS Equipment in the Sidewalk Area353 viewsThis AT&T Wireless base station is located in the right-of-way. The smaller pedestal to the left of the BTS houses the power company meter.Nov 29, 2004
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Two Sectors - One into a hillside!410 viewsOkay, here's a panoramic photograph of Sprint's excellent RF into the accessible hillside.Nov 29, 2004
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Two Sectors - One into a hillside!411 viewsAs seen in the accompanying photo, the left-pointing antennas (sector) seem to provide excellent coverage for the hillside, and not much beyond it. It would be interesting to know how much power this site and antennas produce, and whether any portion of the hillside is in an RF controlled zone. The hillside, as you can see in the photo, is quite accessible to the general public.Nov 29, 2004
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Two Sectors - One into a hillside!380 viewsThis sprint site isn't for roadway coverage. One sector (the one facing right in this photo) faces a group of homes. The sector facing left in the photo points DIRECTLY INTO A HILLSIDE! Very strange! See the accompanying photo for more details about the aiming of the left-hand sector.Nov 29, 2004
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Sprint - Microcell using Sanders CATV radio425 viewsSprint (especially in conjunction with Cox) deployed a significant number of the Sanders cable TV/cell interface. This site uses very low gain antennas (the two outside antennas are for reception from the users, and the center antenna is for transmission to the users). Sprint has built its own CATV-like wireless system to connect many of its sites back to its MTSOs. Nov 29, 2004
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Microcell - Two Sectors399 viewsYet another pole-mounted two-sector cell site.Nov 29, 2004
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Microcell - Two Sectors396 viewsTwo sectors facing up/down the highway. That's the San Fernando Valley in the background (on a VERY clear day!).Nov 29, 2004
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Microcell - Two Sectors501 viewsHigh gain (directional) antennas facing up/down the highway.Nov 29, 2004
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Microcell - Two Sectors432 viewsNotice the GPS antenna (the mushroom shaped device) on the crossarm.Nov 29, 2004
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Microcell - Two sectors442 viewsA two sector microcell on an Edison pole. Note the old (now abandoned) Metricom packet relay transceiver just below the cobra light head. Metricom is no more, but the equipment lives on.Nov 29, 2004
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Rooftop macrocell400 viewsYet another rooftop macrocell site. Santa Monica, California.Nov 29, 2004
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Ground level wireless site on hilltop - Overview387 viewsThis is a pull-back photo of a cell site atop a hill above a major Interstate Highway. The antennas are mounted at ground level.Nov 29, 2004
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Ground level wireless site on hilltop - CLOSE UP516 viewsThis is a close-up of a cell site atop a hill above a major Interstate Highway. The antennas are mounted at ground level.Nov 29, 2004
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Color can make all the difference - Close up422 viewsThe antenna panels, while not camo, are nicely blended into the underlying structure.Nov 27, 2004
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Color can make all the difference378 viewsThis non-camo site is tastefully painted to blend in with the underlying structure. Better than most, not a good as some.Nov 27, 2004
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Power transmission pole - L.A. Dept. of Water & Power375 viewsThis power transmission pole, located in Tarzana, California, supports a cell site.Nov 27, 2004
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Sprint microcell - Omnidirectional pattern2077 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.Nov 27, 2004
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Sprint microcell - Base Station, Backhaul, and Powering591 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.Nov 27, 2004
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Sprint microcell - Omnidirectional pattern2102 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.Nov 27, 2004
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Sprint microcell - Two Sectors414 viewsThis two sector microcell provides spot service along Mulholland Highway in Los Angeles. Note the good use of brown paint to provide some blending with the pole and arms.Nov 27, 2004
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Sprint microcell - Single Sector458 viewsA Sprint single sector microcell site on Mullholland Road in Los Angeles.Nov 27, 2004
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Now you See it, and Now you Do351 viewsThis non-camo/camo site is located near a major freeway and arterial roadway.Nov 27, 2004
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After the COW...359 viewsBefore and during the construction of this Nextel site on US Government property, the firm used a COW to provide service along I-405 in West Los Angeles. A photo of that particular COW may be viewed in the non-camo section of this gallery.Nov 27, 2004
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Omnidirectional to Sectorized390 viewsThese poles formerly supported omnidirectional cell antennas. The carrier increased capacity by replacing the omni antennas with sectorized panel antennas.Nov 20, 2004
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Power transmission pole - Underground equipment shelter490 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.Nov 20, 2004
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Old Local Market Sign Cell304 viewsThis is most likely a capacity site filling in along a stretch of well traveled roadway in Santa Monica, California. View 1 of 2.Nov 18, 2004
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Old Local Market Sign Cell316 viewsThis is most likely a capacity site filling in along a stretch of well traveled roadway in Santa Monica, California. View 2 of 2.Nov 18, 2004
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This signal ISN'T watered down365 viewsNote the panel antennas well below the tank.Nov 18, 2004
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Cell-on-a-roof343 viewsThree sector cell site on a commercial building rooftop.Nov 18, 2004
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Generator Socket505 viewsThis is a standby power generator socket to provide power to the cell site during local commercial power failuresNov 18, 2004
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Pumping more then water...364 views...from this water plant in Hartford, CT. Note the antennas on the righthand smokestack.Nov 13, 2004
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Lots of signal!501 viewsThis is a co-location site located south of Worcester, MA.Nov 13, 2004
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Two monopoles - Co-location site.354 viewsThese towers are located near Worcester, MA.Nov 13, 2004
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The signal is Smok'n from this site!339 viewsThis is a cell site constructed on an old mill brick smokestack. Located in Westborough, MA.Nov 13, 2004
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Smokestack BTS equipment363 viewsThis is the base station equipment cage next to the smokestack site in Westborough, MA.Nov 13, 2004
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Self-supporting cell tower - Mass Turnpike363 viewsThis co-location site is in Newton, MA along the turnpike.Nov 13, 2004
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Wireless site on a major transmission tower, Irvine, CA392 viewsUtilizing the powerline ROW, this wireless site makes use of a transmission tower. If you enlarge the photograph, you'll see another wireless site on the pole behind this one.Nov 02, 2004
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Simple, single carrier wireless site352 viewsSimple monopole with a single carrierNov 02, 2004
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Co locate site for multiple cell structures771 viewsThis multi-tower site is along next to Interstate 405 in Irvine, California. Nov 02, 2004
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Close-up of transmission tower wireless installation, Irvine, CA344 viewsUtilizing the powerline ROW, this wireless site makes use of a power transmission tower. Nov 02, 2004
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Multi-sector wireless site with microwave interconnect364 viewsNov 02, 2004
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Multi carrier array367 viewsThis is a co-location site with an omni-direction carrier (the antennas up/down from the platform) and a sectorized (panel) antenna configuration. Spotted in Irvine, California.Nov 02, 2004
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A cell site on a power transmission monopole375 viewsIn Thousand Oaks, California. Note that the BTS equipment is underground.Nov 01, 2004
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Monopole Power Tower Cell Site400 viewsThis is a cell site on a power mono-tower in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Notice the microwave antenna for backhaul located on the lower portion of the tower.Oct 30, 2004
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Waves of Power417 viewsA fairly standard power transmission tower with a cell crown. Spotted in Walnut Creek, California, this photograph graces the cover of Paul Valle-Riestra's book, "Telecommunications: The Governmental Role in Managing the Connected Community" published in 2002.
Oct 30, 2004
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Parking lot cell site470 viewsHere's another, wider view of a cell site mounted on a parking lot light standard in San Francisco.Oct 30, 2004
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Parking lot cell site397 viewsThe cell antennas are mounted on the light standard on the roof of a public parking lot in San Francisco.Oct 30, 2004
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San Mateo Bridge433 viewsTo provide for high power, focused coverage along a significant portion of the San Mateo Bridge spanning the Bay, carriers use high gain antennas. Here's a co-lo cell site on the east side of the bay.Oct 30, 2004
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Salzburg, Austria cell site - Apartment Building429 viewsThis is a cell site on the roof of an apartment building in Salzburg, Austria. I snapped this photo from my hotel room after having just lectured on cell siting at the Center for International Legal Studies.Oct 30, 2004
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Salzburg, Austria cell site374 viewsThis is a cell site on the roof of a bank in Salzburg, Austria. I snapped this photo from my hotel room across the street after having lectured on cell sites at the Center for International Legal Studies.Oct 30, 2004
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Cell Call Box579 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.Oct 30, 2004
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GPS and LMU antennas1278 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. Oct 30, 2004
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Pad-mounted Base Station765 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.Oct 30, 2004
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Pad-mounted Base Station626 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. Oct 30, 2004
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Guess which puts out more power?575 viewsThis is a massive power transmission tower that supports two different carriers. Yeah, the tower's REALLY that big.Oct 30, 2004
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Co-location external generator sockets465 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]).Oct 30, 2004
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Co-location cell sites on paired power transmission towers434 viewsThis is an example of co-location sites on adjacent power transmission towers.
Notice that the antenna panels and cables were not required to be painted to match the towers. Painting those elements would have positively impacted the result.Oct 30, 2004
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Cell site on power transmission tower441 viewsHere's a fairly standard non-camo wireless site on a power transmission tower.Oct 30, 2004
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External co-location monopole450 viewsOne way a co-location wireless site is created is by externally-mounting the cables and antennas to an existing monopole. This example shows what can happen when the added cables are not covered or otherwise specified to minimize visual impact.
The carriers at this site are Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless (now Cingular Wireless).Oct 30, 2004
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RF on the Roof470 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. Oct 24, 2004
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Four sector monopole cell site625 viewsIt's relatively unusual to find 4-sector towers. Here's one (although only 3 sectors are in use).Oct 24, 2004
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Co-location cell site448 viewsYACS: Yet another co-location site. Note the various microwave antennas on the monopole. Microwave antennas are used for backhaul to the MTSO, and save monthly recurring line lease costs (at the cost of increased visual load at the site). Oct 24, 2004
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Co-location cell site377 viewsYACS: Yet another co-location cell site.Oct 24, 2004
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Co-location cell site - sectorized and omnidirectional471 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. Oct 24, 2004
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Generic monopole site677 viewsJust another example of a monopole antenna tower.Oct 24, 2004
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Co-location cell site491 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. Oct 21, 2004
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Palms guarding cell site - circa 2001505 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.Oct 19, 2004
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Palms guarding cell site - circa 2004607 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!Oct 19, 2004
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Oh thank heavens for RF from 7-11476 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.Oct 17, 2004
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Building side mount omni site481 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).Oct 17, 2004
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Church bell tower478 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.Oct 17, 2004
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Cell Site Generator Plug and Breaker/Switch-over Panel500 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.Oct 11, 2004
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Spectrasite co-location site497 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).Oct 09, 2004
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Omni-directional Microcell on Sign593 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!Oct 07, 2004
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Multi-carrier cell site and TVRO downlink499 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!Oct 05, 2004
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Hot zone? What hot zone?723 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?Sep 26, 2004
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Two levels? No problem!558 viewsThis cell site, located on Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay serves both levels of the Bay Bridge.Sep 26, 2004
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Penthouse external mounted site464 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.Sep 26, 2004
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Major Macrocell Site (multiple carriers)508 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.Sep 24, 2004
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Cell site on a Call Box638 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.Sep 24, 2004
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PGE Transmission Tower Cell Site438 viewsSpotted in Walnut Creek, California: A cell site mounted atop a PGE transmission tower. Sep 24, 2004
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Strand-mounted cell site (Sprint)668 viewsThis is a Sprint cell site using the cable TV system to connect users to the MTSO. Irvine, CA.Sep 24, 2004
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Chester, PA Cell Site550 viewsAttention KMART shoppers! Now you can show for sundries and signal at the same time!Sep 24, 2004
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Cell site in Salzburg, Austria434 viewsWhile in Salzburg to lecture at the Center for International Legal Studies I snapped this photo of a cell site across the street from my hotel room.Sep 24, 2004
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Old Power Tower = New Cell Tower458 viewsThe power utility removed its wires from this old transmission tower, but still uses it to support a cell site.Sep 24, 2004
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Close-up of anti-Bird-bomb net over antennas601 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)! Jul 06, 2004
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What's that wrapping around the antennas?599 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. Jul 06, 2004
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Semi-camo tower528 viewsThe Santa Monica Mountains frame this cell site, located along Interstate 405 near the Getty Center in Los Angeles.Apr 07, 2004
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Cell site crowning a power transmission tower520 viewsThis cell site, in Walnut Creek, California, is atop a PG&E power transmission tower.Apr 07, 2004
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The Tower Works LTD875 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.Mar 28, 2004
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Nextel antenna structure on top of an industrial building594 viewsOpen antenna structures have little impact in industrial areas.Jan 29, 2004
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Antenna arrays mounted on transmission towers529 viewsClose-up view of an antenna array mounted on a power transmission tower. Jan 29, 2004
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Wireless sites on power transmission towers623 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. Jan 29, 2004
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Surface mounted antennas sometimes just require matching paint540 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. Jan 29, 2004
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Freeway wireless site587 viewsThis double wireless array is situated on a building located immediately adjacent to the I-5 Freeway in Los Angeles. Jan 19, 2004
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Multipurpose monopole612 viewsThis tall monopole belonging to a Southern California radio station is occupied at several levels by various communications services. Jan 19, 2004
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"We Come In Peace!"742 viewsWater tank cell and microwave site south of Sacramento, California along I-5Dec 31, 2003
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Cell site on power transmission pole507 viewsThis site in located in British Columbia, Canada.Dec 31, 2003
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Cell site on power transmission pole570 viewsThis site in located in British Columbia, Canada.Dec 31, 2003
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Microcell mounted in traffic signal light standard721 viewsThe cell antennas are pointed to cover short street segments on Ventura Blvd east and west of Laurel Canyon Blvd. San Fernando Valley, California.Dec 31, 2003
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Cell site, microwave mounted on wood pole1131 viewsWe don't need no stinking steel tower!Dec 31, 2003
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Pole-mounted Microcell1327 viewsThis wireless microcell provides uninterrupted coverage on a busy major highway in a steep winding canyon on the Southern California coast. Dec 31, 2003
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Cell site in parking lot1693 viewsNotice the addition of the lot lights. Dec 31, 2003
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