Ulm
join:2006-09-25 | Tower budget...
For those who have done it, what would be a reasonable ballpark figure for the cost of a tallish (200+ ft) guyed tower, installed?
And are there any federal regulations/permits/etc, or is that all local? |
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slipstream1
Premium
join:2005-11-15
Jacksonville, TX
| There are so many variables that I cannot give you an honest answer. The tower is the cheap part.
For a 200' tower you would need a guy radius of 80% or 160', unless there is alot of terrain involved then the guy radius could go up or down depending. Next would be the soil conditions at the site and the proposed loading of the tower. All of these factors would need to be addressed before a foundation could be designed. Then you have the regulatory issues associated with a tower of this size. A 200' tower would need to be lit. It would have to be registered with the FAA and FCC as a navigation hazard and they will determine what type of lighting you are required to have on the tower. The Flash Technologies lighting controllers cost around $25000.00 installed. A red beacon system is much less expensive, probably half.
I did a foundation quote for a 140' guyed tower, based on normal soil conditions and the foundation cost $7704.00 installed with no mobilization costs.
I do not know about your particular situation, but you may want to consider collocation on an existing tower. It is a quicker return on investment and you do not have any liability. If you are a small WISP, like most of us are, it would be much easier to rent than buy.
Just my $200.00 worth of advice. |
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Ulm
join:2006-09-25
| reply to slipstream1
Re: Tower budget...
Well, I'm not adverse to making an investment and I'm not sure what the going rate would be on towers around here. Also I have the advantage of owning a substantial amount of property in the middle of my desired coverage area.
However, I think the important point I'm going to take away is that there is a major difference in cost and complexity between 199' and 200'. Ergo, if I were to look into a tower, under 200' is a given at this point. At the same time, I had probably find out what tower space rents out for. |
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Rhaas
Premium
join:2005-12-19
Bernie, MO
1 edit | SlipStream1 has good advice, I also think it is important to shop around in your area. It is also very important to contact the FAA *BEFORE* building a tower, the height at which you must paint or light a tower is partially dependant on the distance from a runway/airport.
Our last 2 towers we had built are 195' because they were under 200' and not close to an airport they did not have to be lit/painted. The first tower cost ~$12k turn-key, the second was $9k. The difference in cost was due to soil conditions. |
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slipstream1
Premium
join:2005-11-15
Jacksonville, TX | reply to Ulm
Rhaas brings up another good point. The regulatory stuff, FAA and FCC filings have to be done first along with NEPA studies and the soil testing. It is advantageous to build a 190' tower with a not to exceed height of 199'. That lessens the costs. |
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dgilbert
Good Bye My Friend
Premium,MVM
join:2002-06-15
none
clubs:
| reply to Ulm
a local small town that is right next to our airport wanted to put up a 75' tower for their fire dept repeater. FAA said no way. they were too close to the airport for anything above 20 ft over an existing structure. The sad thing is they are perpendicular to the runway, and the trees surronding the proposed site are taller than 100 ft!
we got a letter back int eh mid '90's telling us we had to MOVE our 320 ft tower. seems that in the 50 years it had been up either it or the 60 year old runway had moved over 3 ft and we were now in teh flight path, yet we are 7 miles out and AGAIN perpendicular to the runway.
check with teh FAA and see if there are any siting issues before you build. if you get the ok, you may want to build a shorter tower now that can be added onto later as the need arises. several local tower owners, including us, built most of their towers to around 190 ft at first, then later stacked on an additional 100 or so feet. you just have to buy oversized and prep the site just like you were going to put the full height up now. but by staying under 200 ft you don't necessarily* have to light it right off the bat.
*if you are in the flight path of a Medivac unit, you WILL have to light it if the pilot requests you do so. We found this one out the hard way after long arguments with teh pilot!
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Lack of Preparation on YOUR Part does NOT Constitute an Emergency on Mine! |
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LLigetfa
join:2006-05-15
Fort Frances, ON
| A new WISP is coming to my area and they broke ground for a new 100 metre high tower just 2 miles from me. My house is right on the flight path for the runway approach to the INL airport. I mean they fly directly overhead as they approach for a landing. Guess maybe the FAA has little clout when it comes to Canadian WISPs.
I guess I will have a choice now whether to stay with my current WISP feeding me 512kbps from a 60 foot tower, or the new WISP running Moto Canopy probably at 3 or 5 mbps. I could also run a PtP from my 6mbps DSL in town. Hmmmm... tough choice. |
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