Basejumper.com - archive

So a couple weeks ago I was arrested and charged with felony trespass (trespass upon key facility) here in Michigan which no one in my area even knew was a possibility. I am trying to fight these charges, if the antenna is not active or "key" to the areas communications or does not have the proper signage it cannot be considered a "key facility" by definition of the law. The first tower had zero signage so that one will be easy to fight. The second tower is still owned by American Tower and has the signage as defined by the law. It does not have anything on it besides the old "horns" and what looks to me like very outdated dishes. But if someone that knows better than I can advise on what they see in the picture attached that would be excellent.

Thanks

Higher res photos would help to see how new & clean the dishes are.

That's a backhaul tower, it looks like they're on their third antenna update. It's line of sight so pull it up on Google Maps/Earth/antennasearch and try to find the tower or facility that each side is pointing to. Then see what their antennas look like and if the tower is still listed on here: http://www.americantower.com/...air-access/index.htm. (This tower is probably not listed on there)

If you can't get close enough to the facility without breaking the law to listen for the transformer to see if it's running, you could buy/borrow/rent a FLIR camera to look at the transformer/microwave dish's heat signature. Or mount it on a quadcopter to get closer (if that's legal in Michigan).

Your other option is to find someone nearby with a ham license (preferably AE) and see if they (ahem) detect enough interference to warrant a complaint to the FCC. Complaints are taken very seriously and the reply may very well divulge whether that facility is in active use or not.

I jumped the tower and did not hear any noises that would indicate any power running on the tower. The previous tower in line of sight I also jumped and that one is totally overgrown with weeds and no longer owned by American tower and has zero signage except the FCC number.

So if there's no transformer running...this indicates that the tower is not active? Also this tower is 260' and there's another new tower that's a skinny guyed one a couple hundred yards away that is significantly taller. I was thinking that most likely considering the proximity that the taller guyed tower would be the choice for anyone looking to have something active on it.

Thanks for all the info btw I appreciate any responses and knowledge I can get.

"allegedly" :)

Well they do have my go pro... but yes allegedly. so I searched the site and it shows up on the map as Asset Class: wireless does this mean that it is for sure active or just available to lease space on it for wireless communications?

Also what is a backhaul tower? what does it being on its third tower update mean?

also the direction the dishes are pointing do not seem to have another tower in line of sight.

Backhaul links transfer data from one point to another. Line of sight can mean anything from a couple miles up to ~100 miles, you can calculate the maximum distance based on the height of the tower + the earth's diameter.

Removing antennas is very expensive and dangerous so it looks like they just added the new antennas each time below the old ones and kept connecting to the same towers (antennas pointing in the same direction as the old antennas).

Not sure about that asset class, it's possible that these only run for specific events, as a backup, or when there's high load. But if you can find out that they're not in full time use that should help your case.

Thank you for the info