A Skyscraper So Tall Builders Can't Use Walkie-Talkies

[blantonl]

If you want to build a skyscraper 2,275 feet tall, you will face engineering challenges comparable to those of the Space Shuttle just because its sheer size. One of them is communications. When the unbelievable Burj Dubai started to get really high, the construction workers discovered one problem that seems obvious now: their walkie-talkies stopped working as they climbed the structure.

Link on Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5040550/a-skyscraper-so-tall-builders-cant-use-walkie+talkies

 

[chrismol1]

If you want to build a skyscraper 2,275 feet tall, you will face engineering challenges comparable to those of the Space Shuttle just because its sheer size. One of them is communications. When the unbelievable Burj Dubai started to get really high, the construction workers discovered one problem that seems obvious now: their walkie-talkies stopped working as they climbed the structure.

Link on Gizmodo: http://gizmodo.com/5040550/a-skyscraper-so-tall-builders-cant-use-walkie+talkies

now thats a interesting and funny story
i wonder what they were using maybe a 1 watt or .5 watt
could a 5 watt work?

so instead they spend lots of money for a company to come in and setup "hotspots" and terminals all over?

 

[citylink_uk]

We've installed many systems for Skyscraper construction here, most installations consist of two repeaters, one 1/4 way up & one near the top with down fire TX antennas and linked them together using VOIP or network links. The radios were then set to scan & vote for the best repeater, this usually works well.

These were probably using FRS or some other back-to-back comms.

 

[motomeso]

A repeater off site on an adjacent building probably would have given them the coverage needed.

 

[chrismol1]

A repeater off site on an adjacent building probably would have given them the coverage needed.

or sat comms!!! with a 900MHz repeater that is connected to the sat coms!!

 

[bpckty1]

Get some PRC-6 radios. The USAF uses them to communicate between Italy and Germany (mountaintop to mountaintop). They should work at a 2K-ish tall building.

 

[blinddog50]

Have they heard of nextel in Dubai?

 

[chrismol1]

Get some PRC-6 radios. The USAF uses them to communicate between Italy and Germany (mountaintop to mountaintop). They should work at a 2K-ish tall building.

yeh, like in Behind Enemy Lines where hes on the mountain top talking to the aircraft carrier

heres something from a website about the PRC-6
"The new AN/PRC-6 (often called the "prick-6" or the "banana radio") was intended primarily as a replacement for radio set SCR-536. AN/PRC-6 had to be compatible with radio sets SCR-300 and AN/GRC-3 through AN/GRC-8 (vehicular radio sets) with a range of 300 yards in jungle and one mile in rolling terrain"
300 Yards to 1 mile!!
hey maybe work from Italy to Germany

I wonder what the company used to get better comms?

 

[mancow]

Yea... uh.... a PRC-6 is a vietnam era low power lowband thing. That would be as efficient as using a hand held CB.

 

[bpckty1]

"hey maybe work from Italy to Germany"

Mountaintop to mountaintop across the panhandle of Austria is not that far.

 

[chrismol1]

"hey maybe work from Italy to Germany"

Mountaintop to mountaintop across the panhandle of Austria is not that far.

yeh maybe
were off topic now

anyone know what the company used to solve the problem?

 

[b7spectra]

What about "leaky coax"? I worked in a building that we dropped that down the length of a shaft and never had a bit of trouble. And the repeater was less than 5 watts! If I was in the basement and tried to talk simplex to the 40th floor, it would really break up, flip over the the repeater side and presto!

 

[ab3a]

Dear me. These folks are using a sledgehammer to swat a flea. FTA:
"Fortunately for them, they turned to mesh networks, which are similar to the ones used in mobiles, but local. For that they used a company called Firetide, using several Wi-Fi-enabled VoIP phones over a HotPort wireless mesh, which also serves as the transport for the security video in the site."

There are so many ways this problem could have been solved had they talked to a real communications engineer...

DE AB3A

 

[MDFR_TCOMM]

I think this is a perfect scenario to use "OpenSky" literally...

 

[ScannerDude244]

A repeater off site on an adjacent building probably would have given them the coverage needed.

I wonder what the coverage would be like if they put a repeater at the top?

 

[chrismol1]

I think this is a perfect scenario to use "OpenSky" literally...

theres a use now for a $22 million system!