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BROADBAND TOWER LOCATION
& HEIGHT
Selecting a site for a broadband
tower location. These basic considerations do not include Fresnel
Zones, Fade Margins, Rock Formations, lakes/rivers that might effect
the signal propagation or interference from other sources,
etc.
The following
information is intended as a general guide only. Please contact our
office for a complete path analysis and propagation study.

Different types of towers for
broadboad application
Point-to-point
- Find a suitable, elevated site for your tower;
- Obtain a topographical map and find your proposed location on
it; Record the height, longitude and latitude of the site;
- Check for the highest elevation between your proposed tower
location and identify the topographical height of the originating
signal;
- Draw a straight line on your topographical map, linking the
source of the originating signal with your proposed tower site and
calculate/measure the distance between these 2 points;
- Assume that trees in eastern Ontario grow to a height of 80
feet;
- Allow some extra height as a safety margin;
- Are there any man-made structures in the signal path such as
tall buildings, silos, hydro towers, etc?
- Draw a graph to scale where the X-axis identifies height
referenced to see level and the Y-axis distance;
- You will need to identify 3 points on the graph: The source
signal, the highest elevation between the source and your proposed
location and your new tower site.
- Mark the height of the source signal, the height of the
highest elevation between the source and the proposed tower
location on the graph and connect those 2 points with a straight
line that then continues past your proposed tower location;
- Measure that height on the graph and calculate tower height.
You can also use trigonometry to calculate distances, angles and
height through information obtained from a topographical map.
Point-to-Multi-Point
- Identify your projected coverage area keeping in mind, that
microwave signals need line-of-sight; Claims made by various
manufacturers that their microwave systems do not require
line-of-sight should be taken with caution...
- Use a topographical map and check for changes in elevation.
Your signal sources are now the various antennas (multiple sectors
or panels and/or omni) that will propagate the signals downwards
to your various subscribers.
- Most sectors and/or panel antennas have a mechanical down-tilt
that can be adjusted for maximum performance. Check the radiation
patterns of your antennas carefully so that they can be employed
for maximum performance;
- Line-of-sight during the winter may not be line-of-sight in
the summer. Leafs absorb microwave energy the same way that a
sponge absorbs water;
- A hilly terrain introduces shadow effects that will cause
spotty signal coverage. The higher the frequency, the more
critical is line of sight and the higher the shadow effects;
- Once you have identified the height of tower, its location and
the various antennas required for your operation, you can contact
a company like ours for a quote or you can contract us to do the
site analysis with the required propagation studies.
Accidental cutting (garbage truck) of one of
the first guy cables caused the collapse of this 220 ft guyed tower
in 2004 in eastern Ontario.
Antennas Building Permits Camera Towers Communication Towers Consulting Services Contact Us Fabrication Fall Protection Field Photographs Helicopter Installation Humour
Ice Guards Ice Breakers Labour Rates Lanyard Tote Bags Opposing Towers Photos Request for Tower Quotes Special Projects Summer Student Program Towers for Broadband