What are the "antennas" on these towers?

[IStebleton]

These towers are just north of US30 east of Laughlintown, PA. I have seen these types of towers elsewhere and always wondered what they were for.

Also, I apologize but I wasn't sure where to post this thread.

 

[mmckenna]

That is an old AT&T Longlines site. Those are the TD-2 microwave antennas for point to point work. This site would connect to other sites in line across the county.

AT&T Long Lines Places and Routes

 

[IStebleton]

That is an old AT&T Longlines site. Those are the TD-2 microwave antennas for point to point work. This site would connect to other sites in line across the county.

AT&T Long Lines Places and Routes

Oh that's cool! I never would've thought of that! Thanks for the help!

 

[EMT1301]

One of them (the red one) has been repurposed by AT&T and currently functions as a cellular tower.

 

[mmckenna]

Jennerstown PA Longlines site:

Jennerstown, PA Microwave Station

 

[iMONITOR]

That is an old AT&T Longlines site. Those are the TD-2 microwave antennas for point to point work. This site would connect to other sites in line across the county.

AT&T Long Lines Places and Routes

I used to see a lot of those years ago. And people think cellular towers are unsightly!

 

[mmckenna]

I used to see a lot of those years ago. And people think cellular towers are unsightly!

I've visited quite a few in the western US. Yeah, unsightly and wouldn't get built today. But at the time it was an amazing network.
Most of them are still in place and many still have the horns in place. Once you recognize them, you'll see them all over.

 

[prcguy]

Those are "cornucopia" antennas, essentially a round horn antenna pointing straight up then a reflector at the opening at about a 45deg angle to aim the signal near the horizon and at the other end of the circuit. These antennas have a lot of gain and really good side lobe suppression.

 

[n3obl]

On the smaller tower is a translator for a pittsburgh TV station.