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how tall tower???
I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are
driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. |
how tall tower???
In article ,
lorentsonci wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. If this is a homework/exam question... well, in that case, stop reading and go hit your books, OK? You'll be better off in the long run if you learn to figure such things out for yourself. If the tower isn't too far away (too close to the visual horizon) then you can probably treat the distance between you and the tower as a flat, horizontal surface - that is, ignore the curvature of the earth. If that's the case, then you can calculate the distance using trig if you know the distance to the tower and the angular height of the tower. You can measure the latter with a plastic protractor. If the road you're on is straight, there's a relatively easy way to figure out how far away the tower is from the road. Do the following: - Drive along the road until the tower is directly off to one side - the line from you to the tower is perpendicular to the road. - Use a protractor to measure the number of vertical degrees that the tower covers. - Make a note of the odometer reading. - Drive straight, on the road, until you have to look backwards at a 45 degree angle to see the base of the tower, and then stop. Use the protractor to confirm the angle, so you know right where to stop. - Take another look at the odometer. - The difference between the two odometer readings - that is, the distance you've driven from your starting point to your stopping point - is identical to the distance from the starting point to the tower. - Multiply the distance you drive, by the tangent of the angle which describes the tower's apparent height at the starting point. This will be the height of the tower, plus/minus whatever errors crept in to your measurements. - Go through the geometry to truly understand why this works. - Use a fluorite-lens transit and a properly charged flux capacitor to confirm that there are no thermal or gravitational anomalies which might have distorted the light or the distance. If the road is curved, or the land is hilly, or the tower is far enough away towards the horizon, then you'll need a more complex approach... e.g. go measure it, or call the owner and ask, or do a lookup in government records (FCC) to find the operating license permits for the radios on the tower. -- Dave Platt AE6EO Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads! |
how tall tower???
there are lots of ways depending on how close you can get to the tower and
what is around it. one simple one, if you can see the base and a person or building near it hold your arm out and use a finger or pencil or something to measure the person or building then step that up the tower to see how many times taller the tower is. "lorentsonci" wrote in message ... I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. |
how tall tower???
On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci
wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. Short of using geometry, I can only think of one other way. research all the cell tower manufacturing companies' catalogs and get to know their model numbers and sizes. Then when you recognize a particular model, you will know how tall it is. -- 73 for now Buck N4PGW |
how tall tower???
"lorentsonci" wrote:
I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. Here's a technique that I learned 60 years ago in Cub Scouts. With your back to the tower, bend over and look at the tower between your legs. Walk backwards toward the tower until you can't see the top of the tower. The distance that you are from the tower is close to the height of the tower. -- 73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp |
how tall tower???
"lorentsonci" wrote in message ... I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. Hi cl Is it OK to wait till you arent driving to measure it?? Jerry |
how tall tower???
The only other thing you missed Dave, is dropping and measuring a plumb
line from a hot air baloon while stationary above the tower. Of course the FCC will want you to calculate RF exposure to those in the baloon, but this is another low tec / low math approach! Make sure you bring a sliderule since the RF might cook a calculator. Oh yes, you do need to know how to use that sliderule as well. WB3HUH |
how tall tower???
Tried the Cub Scout method but keep coming up with a length of 6 inches!
hi hi hi hi hi hi |
how tall tower???
"lorentsonci" wrote in message ... I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. Measure the length of the shadow, and record the time. Look up what the height of the sun was at that pouint in time from tables, and use geometry. Tam/WB2TT |
how tall tower???
Measure the length of the shadow, and record the time. Look up what the height of the sun was at that pouint in time from tables, and use geometry. The original poster didn't indicate he could get to the tower, but if he could, there's a better way than above that doesn't require "tables". ..... simply measure the length of the tower's shadow. Then with a yardstick, or equivilent, measure the length of the vertical yardsitck's shadow. You now know the height and shadow length of the yardstick. You also know the shadow length of the tower. The two are proportional. The height of the yardstick divided by the length of its shadow is equal to the height of the tower divided by the length of its shadow. A simple algebraic expression ... easy to solve for the height of the tower. Ed K7AAT |
how tall tower???
Ask the HOA - They will measure it to the microinch, then tear it down.
Ask the City (County) Engineer -- they will respond "Ain't no tower there" Seriously -- how about this one Wait for a sunny day! Measure your shadow. Stanley tools makes a device for this (;-). Measure the tower's shadow. Calculate the tower height using the following: Height of tree Your height -------------------------------------------------------------------------- = -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tree's shadow Your shadow Alternatively, you can place a calibrated pole upright and measure it's shadow in place of measuring your shadow. About 2200 years ago a greek guy - Eratosthenes used geometry to estimate the circumference of the Earth. Dog gone if he didn't come close! URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eratosthenes -- CL -- I doubt, therefore I might be ! Lo! I cast a shadow, therfore I be ! "Tam/WB2TT" wrote in message ... "lorentsonci" wrote in message ... I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? |
how tall tower???
A Boy Scout technique from 55 years ago comes to mind.
It requires one arm, one thumb, and two eyes. It needs a little geometry associated with similar triangles. Extend your arm with one eye closed and your thumb at one extreme of what you want to estimate. Open that eye and close the other. Estimate the difference in distance between the two observations. Multiply that distance by 10. Not bad for a first 'gesstimate'. BTW, do the Boy Scout still teach this? /s/ DD lorentsonci wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. |
how tall tower???
On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci wrote:
I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. If in the U.S.A., contact the FCC and get the information from their database. Elsewise, contact the wireless regulatory agency of the country that the tower is located in. Jonesy -- Marvin L Jones | jonz | W3DHJ | linux 38.24N 104.55W | @ config.com | Jonesy | OS/2 *** Killfiling google posts: http//jonz.net/ng.htm |
how tall tower???
Allodoxaphobia wrote:
On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. If in the U.S.A., contact the FCC and get the information from their database. Elsewise, contact the wireless regulatory agency of the country that the tower is located in. Jonesy In the USA if it has a light on it then it is over 200 FT tall. If there is no light on the tower it is less than 200ft tall. 200 ft is the magic number for the FAA and the FCC for tower lighting. If you can see the section joins then count them an mult by 20 ft. 20 ft is the height of the average tower section. Your tower could use 30 or 40 ft sections though. You will have to inspect the tower up close to estimate the height of a section. Dave N |
how tall tower???
"Ed" wrote in message . 192.196... Measure the length of the shadow, and record the time. Look up what the height of the sun was at that pouint in time from tables, and use geometry. The original poster didn't indicate he could get to the tower, but if he could, there's a better way than above that doesn't require "tables". .... simply measure the length of the tower's shadow. Then with a yardstick, or equivilent, measure the length of the vertical yardsitck's shadow. You now know the height and shadow length of the yardstick. You also know the shadow length of the tower. The two are proportional. The height of the yardstick divided by the length of its shadow is equal to the height of the tower divided by the length of its shadow. A simple algebraic expression ... easy to solve for the height of the tower. Ed K7AAT You are right, I knew there was a trick to it, but couldn't remember it. Tam |
how tall tower???
David G. Nagel wrote:
Allodoxaphobia wrote: On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. If in the U.S.A., contact the FCC and get the information from their database. Elsewise, contact the wireless regulatory agency of the country that the tower is located in. Jonesy In the USA if it has a light on it then it is over 200 FT tall. If there is no light on the tower it is less than 200ft tall. 200 ft is the magic number for the FAA and the FCC for tower lighting. If you can see the section joins then count them an mult by 20 ft. 20 ft is the height of the average tower section. Your tower could use 30 or 40 ft sections though. You will have to inspect the tower up close to estimate the height of a section. Dave N Almost right, over 200 feet or close to an airport or heliport, in which case the max unlighted height slopes to zero at the airport and follows a slope that depends on the type of airport. Title 47, Part 17.21 and Part 17.17 -- Jim Pennino Remove .spam.sux to reply. |
how tall tower???
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how tall tower???
David G. Nagel wrote:
wrote: David G. Nagel wrote: Allodoxaphobia wrote: On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. If in the U.S.A., contact the FCC and get the information from their database. Elsewise, contact the wireless regulatory agency of the country that the tower is located in. Jonesy In the USA if it has a light on it then it is over 200 FT tall. If there is no light on the tower it is less than 200ft tall. 200 ft is the magic number for the FAA and the FCC for tower lighting. If you can see the section joins then count them an mult by 20 ft. 20 ft is the height of the average tower section. Your tower could use 30 or 40 ft sections though. You will have to inspect the tower up close to estimate the height of a section. Dave N Almost right, over 200 feet or close to an airport or heliport, in which case the max unlighted height slopes to zero at the airport and follows a slope that depends on the type of airport. Title 47, Part 17.21 and Part 17.17 Correct.... But most cell towers are not near airports. Correct... But the protected area is 12.2 kilometers in diameter which means a good number are. -- Jim Pennino Remove .spam.sux to reply. |
how tall tower???
lorentsonci wrote in
: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. That's a tough one, Towers get taller the closer you get to them. You need to contact the manufacturer or installer. m |
how tall tower???
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how tall tower???
"lorentsonci" wrote in message ... I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. This can be done using a barometer. Drop the barometer from the top of the tower, timing the fall. The tower height in feet is 16 times the square of the time in seconds. Alternatively, offer to give the barometer to the tower's owner in exchange for telling you the height of the tower. |
how tall tower???
On Sun, 28 May 2006 22:31:59 -0500, lorentsonci
wrote: I think somone , smarter than me , will have a answer,,,, "you are driving down the hiway and see a cell/antenna tower, it is off the hiway but you don't know how far,,,, and you would like to know how tall the tower is,,,????? Is there a simple (kiss) way to find out? thanks in advance. cl. Although you are going to get a lot of answers the killer is that KISS which leaves an answer of, no...no really, BUT depending on your math skills you can come up with a rough approximation. The accuracy depends on being close enough to get a reasonable angle between the ground and top of the tower. That depends on you and the tower being at the same height. You can determine the distance to the tower by starting with the road at right angles to the tower and driving a measured distance and again using trig to find the distance to the tower, but this depends on things not only being level but the road being straight and level and your ability to find a point where the road is at a right angle to the tower. So rephrased you are using right triangles to find the distance to the tower and based on that another right triangle to find the height. (time to study your trig functions). Depending on your ability to determine the location of the right angle, how level the land, the distance to the tower, and your angle measuring ability you could come up with an error between a few percent and as much as 20% or even more. Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member) (N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair) www.rogerhalstead.com |
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