Stingers

[TwoPly]

I've found a few new freestanders in my area and after recon missions, I think they're good to go. Now almost all of my jumps are from antennas and these will be my first without guywires. I've always noticed small stinger-looking antennas about 2-3 feet tall at various heights on towers that stick out a few feet off the stucture, but never gave it serious thought. These new towers have several. What are they?

So then I searched through the archives about concerns about exposure to anything emitting from our lovely antennas and many answers point to the FCC website. That's good but many of the terms used are greek to me. They don't refer to things as being "nasty" or "testicle cooking." A few pointers about key words to beware of would be most helpful and appreciated by me.

Thanks!

Mike

[TVHigley]

Those "stingers" can be a wide range of things. They could be FM rods. If they are, you should not hang out around them (20ft below or above). If they are Blue fiberglass rods, they are omni-whip (cell) and only radiate 200-300 Mhz. I am not an expert on this subject; I asked a friend who works on these towers. Hope that helps.
-TODD

[Technically]

just an idea......
Wear a CD player. Listen to music during the climb. When you reach these stingers, listen to the music. Then, grab one. If the music goes wacky, or all you hear is fuzz, that answers the question about radiation emission. as in.....THERE IS.
Let go. Climb up the top and jump. if CD player keeps playing.
I have heard rumors of teeth fillings heating up, or 3-rings heating up.
Anyone ever hear of this? Metal heating up on A's?
Does that mean bad stuff?
Also, don't AM antennas like to ZAP people if not properly approached? What does the bottom look like? Is it sitting on GLASS/CERAMIC insulators? I hear that is a bad sign also.

[base587]

>>Also, don't AM antennas like to ZAP people if not properly approached? What does the bottom look like? Is it sitting on GLASS/CERAMIC insulators? I hear that is a bad sign also.

Jim Dias, BASE 67
Cancer
"Jim succumbed to cancer, and while no direct link is proven, it started people
thinking that climbing around on live AM radio antenna towers may not be such
a good idea. Jumpers on live AM towers are being dosed with large amounts of
electromagnetic radiation."

http://juliabell.home.att.net/

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(from personal observations only) At the base is a porcelain insulator and large interlocking loops or brass orbs. The guywires are also insulated. There is no hardware (i.e. dishes) on the tower. They can be found in groups of 2 or more. 'High Voltage' warning signs on a surprisingly accessible fence, birds don't land on 'em...and what's worse is your FRS radio can pick up Barry Manilow tunes :(

[TwoPly]

I'm pretty confident that this tower is not AM. I've observed no insulators of any kind at the base including the "magician's rings" or funky looking strapping, just steel directly connected to concrete. There are also a few other miscellaneous items such as a dish of some sort and the stingers, like I mentioned. It is alone in a field also.

Thanks again

Mike

[bandito]

Careful, most free standing towers aren't too high.

Sounds like you are describing "side arms."
Two side arms attached at the apex are called "a-arms."
A configuration that surrounds the tower is a candelabra.

Regardless what they are called, they almost always have an antenna hanging up, down, or point out from them.

Do not EVER touch one!!!

Most likely nothing will happen, but some of these have extreme amounts of energy provided to them and you may be burned, or worse.

I work on all sorts of towers and antenna and have never found my teeth hot. I'm not saying this is not possible though.
One thing most don't know is the threat of burning your eyes. There are no pain receptors in the eye. Freq. with wavelengths close to the width and length of the human body are readily absorbed and thus turned into heat. Sound scary? Pure physics baby.

The upside is these are microwave FREQs above cell phone bands.
Also, microwave antenna are directional, MOST of the energy is directed away from the tower. So don't hang out near them and never cross in front,(except maybe jumping)


Yes, AM towers are "HOT" If you touch one while you are grounded...well, I think you get the idea. AM towers are 2 or more directly in line and the same height.

My advice would be go find a nice guyed tower.
Good luck

Rob :-)