[TowerTalk] Off Topic: ISP on your ham tower

[Grant Saviers]

There are point to point 802.11 high power (like 1 watt) links that if 
connected to a high gain dish have line of sight ranges that well exceed 
10 miles.  Check EnGenius, but there are others for under $100 per 
transceiver.  So, you need a friend with a tower (or on a high rise) 
with good internet access who will share their isp access.

I've also provided a spot for a 10' section of Rohn 25 on two different 
occasions to 802.11 "isp's" that provide access to many of my neighbors 
for a monthly fee.  They have line of sight over 50 miles across the 
entire Bay Area from my elevation of 1500' asl and have a backbone 802 
link to their fiber 4 miles away.  So, you might find a local provider 
in that business.  The only other choice around my (former) QTH is 
Hughes satellite.  Too far for DSL and too sparse for cable.  When I 
used satellite 15 years ago it didn't work as well as ISDN.  The 
earth-satellite-earth latency is a killer.  My current deal is to get 
two free 8Mb bandwidth connects for the tower site and power (about 100w).

If you let an ISP use your ham tower, it probably converts it to 
comercial use, but your own private link to your equipment at an access 
point wouldn't be commercial use IMO.  My 10 footer hardly rates as a 
"tower" since a tall fencepost would do equally well at my site.   The 
antennas just need to clear the horses and cows.

btw the Bay Area site, a 50 acre ranch with awesome views and radio 
horizon is for sale.  Contact me off list.

Grant KZ1W


On 7/16/2013 7:01 PM, Mike & Becca Krzystyniak wrote:
>    Slightly off topic but I'm looking for any W5 (texas ham) that might be
> able to share info on placing an ISP on their ham tower?
>    I am looking at a rural QTH location that does not even have dial up and
> Cellular coverage is poor.
>
>    Please contact me off list.  Thanks in advance.
>
> 73  Mike K9MK/5
>
>
>
>
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