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[panopticon]

I'm looking for any and all options to economically get an antenna 99' up to get a wireless signal over the trees which surround me.

http://www.anwireless.com/price.html provides some useful pricing information online.

Anyone have suggestions for other economical means to get an antenna 99' in the air?

[artichosting]

If you were really adventurous you could play around with things...

90' hmm, could you not create your own tower at a cheaper expense? Although you would most likely need planning permission for this height (wouldn't you?) and with that come a bunch of health and safety regulations.

How about a miniture blimp above you?

[vselvara]

I like the miniature blimp idea but it would be expensive over time. Is this just for WIFI internet access? Maybe you could try 3G or EVDO based internet access.

[Steven]

mount on in the tree :-D

[trau]

First make sure you are allowed to erect a 100' tower. Then make certain you have enough room to run the guy wires to stabilize it. Last start checking on the ham radio boards for someone selling an antenna tower (much cheaper than buying new).

[panopticon]

Originally Posted by vselvara

I like the miniature blimp idea but it would be expensive over time. Is this just for WIFI internet access? Maybe you could try 3G or EVDO based internet access.

You know it sounds silly to me at first, but I wonder if some sort of tethered blimp or balloon would actually be possible. (not sure yet how zoning would affect something like that.) I could see costs involved - e.g. total replacement due to (unforeseen) wind/storm damage would be a possibility. I suppose it'd have to be an omni antenna vs. directional on a tower - I'm not sure what the implications of that are (I only need to get the signal a mile or so.)

With a tower I have the zoning process with is lengthly - months. I believe if I purchase a $4,000 tower it comes with engineering drawings that would be sufficient - otherwise that could be more expensive than the tower. But I still have the costs of excavation, concrete, a grounding system, crane erection, climbing to aim the antenna.

3G or EVDO are not likely on the horizon -- we don't even have reliable voice coverage here yet (no voice cellphone coverage at all in my location just a couple miles from the small cell tower and rural so I don't think the customer base is sufficient to get any interest from large cell companies like sprint or verizon)

[panopticon]

Mounting in a tree would work if there were a decent tower on the other end, but that doesn't exist yet either -- it's only ~55' in the air with some 80' trees between and 50-60' softwood trees at my location.

[Steven]

where do you live panopticon?

[panopticon]

Michigan.

Looking for "flag-pole" like poles for wireless, I found these via google which are interesting: http://www.texastowers.com/maseries.htm - crank up so no tower/pole climbing necessary. But about 20% more expensive than a stand-alone tower and probably not as motionless in weather.

On a related note I found the "fold over" tower interesting - once again no need to climb to change or aim wireless gear - http://www.heightstowers.com/fold_over_kits.htm Adds a couple grand though, so might be cheaper to just hire a climber, even with transportation costs.

[Justin]

This may or may not sound like a dumb idea, but have you looked at there possibly being some way of doing the rigging for you to actually spin the tower on it's base? (as obviously once pointed it's going to be anchored to the ground anyhow, so once done it shouldn't move).

The only issue I can see there is vertical alignment of the antennae.

[siforek]

Originally Posted by panopticon

I'm looking for any and all options to economically get an antenna 99' up to get a wireless signal over the trees which surround me.

http://www.anwireless.com/price.html provides some useful pricing information online.

Anyone have suggestions for other economical means to get an antenna 99' in the air?

Check out http://air2data.com.

[fastdeploy]

Originally Posted by panopticon

I'm looking for any and all options to economically get an antenna 99' up to get a wireless signal over the trees which surround me.

Anyone have suggestions for other economical means to get an antenna 99' in the air?

I don't think you're going to find anything "economical" to go up around 100'.

You will probably basically be spending $8k-$12k to go up that high--assuming you can even be permitted--with an antenna including the permitting and various other costs you are already aware of.

It might be cheaper to spend $2-$3k to take a quality tower climbing safety course vs. getting a collapsable tower, but maybe not.

You might like at more tree-friendly proprietary wireless solutions like the Motorola Canopy. It's been a long while since I've looked at WISP solutions but I bet there's at least several more flexible wireless mesh solutions.