DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | how close can a cell tower be to a house? Our neighborhood has recently been invaded by what appear to be cell antennas that are *really* close to homes as you can tell by the example pic.
The questions being asked by residents are:
1) Are there health risks?
2) Should we do something and if so what?
Some residents are also concerned that their property values are going to go down but health is certainly the most serious question.
I checked with the county and they issued a franchise (giving access to the rights of way) that looks fine. But because it was handled as a franchise, there was no notice required for individual property owners; rather, the franchise application simply had to published in some obscure publication that only a county clerk reads to confirm that the franchise application has been publicized as required by law. So needless to say, we had no prior notice.
While our county and the FCC also have cell tower requirements, these were also avoided by instead reusing "existing" telephone poles. "Existing" is in quotes because (it is my understanding that) the local electrical company, which owns the poles, swapped out the regular poles for taller poles. Nonetheless, they are considered existing poles and not towers.
Based on measurements taken by one of the residents, it appears that the antennas violate the FCC max permissible emissions so we have asked the company to do a more in-depth study. Nonetheless, we're wondering if we're going about this in the right way.
I wish I could say precisely which company we are dealing with but depending upon which papers we look at or who we speak to, the names are either: NewPath or NextGen or Crown Castle. Evidently, they're related somehow. (And AT&T is involved as well although perhaps only as an initial user of the infrastructure - this is still unclear.)
Suggestions? |
|
 Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | No more hazard than from power lines which is zero. I guess you don't hold a cell phone up to your ear or have wireless devices in your home?
Really I would not have any problem with the installation. |
|
|
|
 PacratOld and CrankyPremium,MVM
join:2001-03-10
Cortland, OH | reply to DonLibes
That looks more like a lightning strike proximity detector... not a cell relay tower. |
|
| reply to DonLibes
thats not a cell tower.
it has no generator/backup system, no relay dishes or fiber link, no visible connection to the tx/rx box (cant see any around either). |
|
Jack_in_VAPremium
join:2007-11-26
Mathews, VA
kudos:1 | said by fluffy :thats not a cell tower.
it has no generator/backup system, no relay dishes or fiber link, no visible connection to the tx/rx box (cant see any around either).
I think you are right. I missed that. |
|
zurk
join:2009-11-08
Beverly Hills, CA Reviews:
 ·TekSavvy Cable
 ·TekSavvy DSL
| reply to DonLibes
that is most definitely not a cell tower. there is no power line going to it either (unless its at the back somewhere ?). Whatever it is, the main problem is usually the side lobes of a directional antenna. that thing might just be a passive reflector of some sort.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Side_lobe |
|
DonLibesPremium,ExMod 2001
join:2003-01-19 | reply to DonLibes
Here is a close-up of the top as well as a meter at the bottom. (It's not the same pole as the earlier pic - but a similarly configured pole that's I'm able to get much closer to.)
There are some boxes at the base of the pole. I'll get some pics of those other boxes (although I believe they're all unlabelled) but they're certainly big enough to hold a substantial UPS. The county is telling us that this is part of a DAS (distributed antenna system).
All the meters show 4Va and 0kWh. The company tells us the antennas are not yet on but I presume they mean they're in a testing stage and are active but perhaps not fully powered up and not providing service to customers yet. |
|
| ooh. i think its a electric utility meter reading system. reads all those wireless electric meters.
not a cellphone antenna system. |
|
| reply to DonLibes
ok. that a DAS.
i found a pic of it.
»richmondsfblog.com/2011/06/21/de···7th-ave/
its tiny cellphone repeater basically. |
|
robbinPremium,MVM
join:2000-09-21
Leander, TX
kudos:1 | reply to DonLibes
said by DonLibes:Based on measurements taken by one of the residents, it appears that the antennas violate the FCC max permissible emissions
Please post more details. What were the measurements which were taken and what frequency is being used. How was it determined that the antennas violate FCC rules? |
|
 JahntassaWhat, I can have feathersPremium
join:2006-04-14
Conway, SC
kudos:4 | reply to DonLibes
Definitely not cellular. Best guess would be 2.4 or 5Ghz, most likely a version of WiFi. I would go with either for smart-meters or local WiFi Hotspot, but the meters sound more plausable.
Based on measurements taken by one of the residents, it appears that the antennas violate the FCC max permissible emissions
Not to mention the 30kW worth of transmitters i've been known to work around. Those dinky little antennas are no sort of health risk at all. |
|
| reply to DonLibes
|
|
| reply to DonLibes
Stake a chicken to the ground and see how long it takes til it's fully cooked. Then you'll have a better idea if it's safe to go outside. |
|
 John GaltForward, MarchPremium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp
kudos:5 | reply to DonLibes
Probably not a single thing you can do about it... |
|
 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
·Charter
 ·surpasshosting
 ·voip.ms
| reply to DonLibes
It's mini cell sectors to fill in dead zones. There is no health risk.
NextG is a contractor that works for a larger cell company, be it AT&T, Cricket, U.S., T-Mobile, Verizon, Etc...
The only gripe you might have is aesthetics (sloppy install). Of course, the same people crying about the antennas are probably the same ones who piss and moan about their crappy cell service.
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Based on measurements taken by one of the residents, it appears that the antennas violate the FCC max permissible emissions so we have asked the company to do a more in-depth study. Nonetheless, we're wondering if we're going about this in the right way.
I have to call total B.S. on that one. I'd like to know what equipment he used for "measurements", and exactly how did he know what to measure? As you can plainly see by the electric meter, this has not been turned up yet!
--
...because I care. |
|
 macsierraBaby NewfoundlandPremium
join:2003-11-30
Minden, NV
·Charter
2 edits | reply to DonLibes
Italian Cypress |
|
|
peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON | reply to DonLibes
said by DonLibes: 2) Should we do something and if so what? Put a pole or tower on your property as close to it as you can.
Mount a conductive panel to block the RF from your house, and thus a substantial part of their radius, and watch how fast they move it. |
|
macsierraBaby NewfoundlandPremium
join:2003-11-30
Minden, NV Reviews:
·Charter
| said by peterboro:said by DonLibes: 2) Should we do something and if so what? Put a pole or tower on your property as close to it as you can. Mount a conductive panel to block the RF from your house, and thus a substantial part of their radius, and watch how fast they move it. Building code height limits, engineering, city aesthetic codes, etc would make that totally impossible and impractical at best. Even if it did work you would be interfering with vital communications.
--
Jimmy Hoffa’s dad was the last shovel-ready job..
Will Rodgers never met Harry Reid..
Why was I Anti-Obama before it was cool?
Saul Alinsky was also a community organizer & Marxist..
|
|
nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8 Reviews:
·Charter
·surpasshosting
·voip.ms
| reply to macsierra
They (Clear) put several of those stupid tree towers by my house. Those are the most ridiculous things I've ever seen! In no way, shape, or form do they blend in with the MO/IL landscape.
A simple monopole tower would be less of an eyesore than these.
--
...because I care. |
|
| reply to DonLibes
Cell towers can be as close as ON the house itself. Many high rise apartment buildings / condos have cell towers built in and you can see the pieces mounted around the perimeter of the buildings. Most people just don't look up to see them. |
|
