Towers

The growing demand for dense networks has created additional requirements beyond towers to deploy small cells, wi fi and other network technologies closer to the ground and the user.

Key Considerations:

• Weight Loading
• Wind Coefficient
• Zoning
• Cellular, Broadcast, Public Safety, Private
• Compound Access and Power
• Fiber Optics
• Shelter Type

TYPES OF TOWERS

Towers come in all shapes

• Monopole
• Lattice or Self Support
• Guyed
• Stealth
• even Rooftops

Monopole

Monopoles are the most popular type of tower because of its relative ease of construction and footprint. The height is usually between 60 and 200 feet. Galvanized steel is utilized to create a slim tower with either flanged joint design or slip joint.

Self Support

The average height is between 160 and 500 feet and has a smaller footprint as it doesn’t require guy wires or as deep a cement foundation. They have either 3 or 4 legs.

These towers can be broken into a few types:

• Solid Rod
• Most Expensive
• Factory Welded
• Low Wind Coefficient
• Most Antenna Collocation
• Highest wind loading
• Heaviest with high shipping costs
• Hollow Rod
• Tubular Steel
• Light Weight and shipped in sections
• Drawback is Corrosion due to water build up through weep holes.
• Angle Iron
• Low Shipping cost but High Labor cost to construct
• Susceptible to Ice build up
• Lower Load Capacity
• Most Economical

Guyed

Usually between 200 and 1800 feet. Extremely High Strength (EHS) wires in 3 directions usually stabilize the towers. Low weight steel is usually part of the design. Due to the footprint to deploy guyed towers, they are only used where land use is not an issue.

Stealth Towers

Stealth towers were developed to help provide aesthetically pleasing towers when faced with zoning and regulatory conditions. They are generally monopoles and significantly more expensive. Their characteristics such as 60 to 180 feet heights, very high wind coefficient and come in many types as seen below.

• Flag Poles
• Light Poles
• Mono – Pines / Palms
• Steeples
• Billboards
• Etc…

Stealth Tower – Flag Pole

Stealth Tower – Light Pole

Stealth Tower – Monopine/Monopalm

Stealth Tower - Steeples

Stealth Tower - Billboards

Stealth Tower – Etc...

Rooftops and Street Furniture

Providing capacity and coverage requires getting closer to the user when in city environments. Rooftops help provide concentrated coverage around public venues, transportation centers, town centers, and other locations where a tower is not practical.