Tower Cost?

SKYNET156 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 01:32 AM

Just out of curiousity,
How much does it usually run to put a repeater on a rental tower?
And what is needed to do that?

N_Jay · #2 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 07:57 AM

from 100's to 1000's depending on the site and equipment.

tekshogun · #3 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 01:58 PM

Tower space is always a premium.

Sometimes, depending on who you approach, how nice/accommodating they are, and their tower situation, you may, like the other person stated, rent the space for hundreds to thousands of dollars.

In some cases, especially if you approach with the repeater being for emergency communications, you may only need to pay for power for your repeater setup, cut the grass around the tower site (and guy wire stations if it is not a self-supporting tower), or you may get it all free.

Where I am, we have various situations. My club's VHF repeater sits on a television tower, well over 1000ft in the air (two antennas, one for RX and another for TX, with either at something like 1300ft and 1600ft, I don't remember the exact numbers). At that site, we only have to keep the grass and plants cut back around the control building, tower base, and the guy-wire stations. Very small price to pay for one of the best repeater setups in the piedmont triad area of NC.

Another is a UHF repeater. It is in a bad tower position as the antenna is blocked by the tower on one side, so it limits coverage, but it does work fine if you're in the capable zones and is on a government emergency services tower and at no cost.

There are various other tower and building locations available that may be provided free of charge or at cost of power.

Radioman96p71 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 06:23 PM

One thing to keep in mind if you get one of the above mentioned 'free' rental by maintaining the site is that if a paying customer comes along that needs space, you are the first to go! But free is free, so enjoy it!

tekshogun · #5 (**permalink**) 06-13-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioman96p71

One thing to keep in mind if you get one of the above mentioned 'free' rental by maintaining the site is that if a paying customer comes along that needs space, you are the first to go! But free is free, so enjoy it!

This is true, but tower space is so premium that unless a ham radio operator or a club sponsoring the repeater has a massive source of income, chances are, even if you are renting space, if a customer comes along willing to pay more money, any lease in place would be dropped by its end unless there was a clause to end it sooner anyway, so most of the time, no matter what you do, unless it is your tower, you are at the mercy of the site owners.

n8emr · #6 (**permalink**) 06-14-2009, 08:50 PM

In addition to to the actual rent, You have to figure in insurance, Coax run's and in most cases now a days hiring a professional to install the antenna and feed line. Many tower dont allow coax runs and force hardline only, often a specific maker to fit with all the cable runs they already have.

tekshogun · #7 (**permalink**) 06-14-2009, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n8emr

In addition to to the actual rent, You have to figure in insurance, Coax run's and in most cases now a days hiring a professional to install the antenna and feed line. Many tower dont allow coax runs and force hardline only, often a specific maker to fit with all the cable runs they already have.

Oh yeah, forgot about all of that. The insurance for our repeater isn't too bad but if is definitely the biggest line item on my club's budget each year.