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cell phone towers
Tried some research, found nothing raising huge red flags. Did I miss something? Is there a unique danger in climbing a cellphone tower? 210' to top of tower just under the upper extensions.
Any thoughts/dangers about this type that I am just too blind and ignorant to see?
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
There is nothing dangerous about climbing a cell tower (well apart from the obvious fact you are climbing up a cell tower). That particular tower doesn't look like it has a platform on top though. Rigging up a S/L and and ensuring bridle routing while hanging on the outside is going to be much more scary than the climbing part.
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
Just don't fall off!
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
Obviously latters are better than pegs, & any tower with a platform on top that you can gear up on & launch from is good as well. As far as radiation risk, it is pretty subjective, but mostly harmless if you follow the rule of: GET ON GEAR UP & GET OFF.
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
i imagine touching a transmitter might cause a problem. not being sarcastic...
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Re: [460] cell phone towers
460 wrote:
i imagine touching a transmitter might cause a problem. not being sarcastic...

Yeah, somebody somewhere will drop a call!
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
That tower is bomber. There is no section anywhere on it that 1 or 2 jumpers climbing around is gonna tweak anything. It actually looks like an awesome and easy tower to rig a SL. And those antenna boxes at the top are virtually nothing unless you stand right in front of them for any amount of time, which would be idiotic. Looks like a gem, heinous landing eh?
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
very dangerous - stay away from it
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Re: [DAVE858] cell phone towers
DAVE858 wrote:
Obviously latters are better than pegs,

why is that obvious? i completely disagree.

but to the OP:

i've jumped more than 50 towers like that and worked on hundreds. there is nothing harmful about cell panel emitters unless you were resting your face on it for hours at a time.

that tower is totally freefall worthy, if it's too low for your personal FF limits, i suggest SL below the cell racks anyway. makes for a cleaner exit.

have fun.
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Re: [460] cell phone towers
460 wrote:
i imagine touching a transmitter might cause a problem. not being sarcastic...

you're more likely to get galvanization poisoning from climbing without gloves than anything remotely bad ever happening from the equipment on that tower.

and, i have never had galvanization poisoning.Tongue
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Re: [psf] cell phone towers
look at the video on my profile... similar tower right after i finished doing an inspection on it a few years back. Wink
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Re: [blitzkrieg] cell phone towers
blitzkrieg wrote:
DAVE858 wrote:
Obviously latters are better than pegs,

why is that obvious? i completely disagree.

Why do you disagree?
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Re: [gauleyguide] cell phone towers
I'm with blitz, pegs are usually easier to climb because of how they are space compared to ladder climbs. That type of tower looks like a peg climb and they can be easier to safety off of if you decide to bring a daisy chain and locking carabiner. Not hanging straight from your arms so much with pegs.
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Re: [Spiderbaby] cell phone towers
Is there any danger of shock or electrocution by touching one of the cell phone transmitters? If there is no danger, I would be surprised. Metallic transmitters of any significant power seem like they might be a serious electrocution hazard.
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Re: [460] cell phone towers
nope. i used to work on those things and would literally have my legs wrapped around holding me to them while writing down serial numbers. they are relatively low wattage antennae. now, if you see insulated 10" diameter coax running up the tower, that will be bad to touch at the top where it comes out and attaches to an antenna array, i.e. FM / TV towers. those will burn/cook you and boil the water out of your eyes and nuts within a few hundred feet at full power. limited exposure is not so bad, but it is definitely not good for you. the rule of thumb i tell people is if you taste or feel your fillings in your teeth heating up... it's time to go.Wink
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Re: [gauleyguide] cell phone towers
gauleyguide wrote:
Why do you disagree?

pretty much exactly what Hank said above.

i prefer peg climbs because the pegs are WIDE and it is more natural to climb reaching around the leg of the tower, nothing to hit your rig on (opposed to an inside ladder) and will often have pegs up all 3 sides. this is beneficial to me since i generally jump from LOW altitudes so i may not be going all the way to the top anyway, and just want the corner with the best winds.

ladders piss me off because they are narrow and especially in the tighter inside climbs, i bang my knees a lot if i'm trying to climb fast. i tend to have to climb them kind of crooked and it is awkward for me.

to each their own, just preference. but one is definitely not obviously better than the other. Smile
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Re: [blitzkrieg] cell phone towers
Isn't it something like 10 watts?
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Re: [blitzkrieg] cell phone towers
I'm thinking people initially prefer the comfort and familiarity of ladders. (I find them easier to rest mid-climb.)

Pegs probably suit the fit, experienced climbers better. After climbing one a few times, I began to gain a lot of speed. It surprised me since I always thought I'd always prefer ladders!

ymmv
Smile
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Re: [esiwluap] cell phone towers
i'm not positive, as they vary... but i would bet they're no more than 500w and much less in most cases. i do know they make "indoor" models around 50w. also, they're directional, so standing behind them (on the tower) the exposure is extremely reduced.

compare that to broadcast that is usually more than 5000w and omnidirectional. pretty significant difference.