Towers powered or not?

[Flydive]

Recently scouted a tower in my local area that is begging to be jumped... perfect landing areas on all sides, nothing around for miles, hole already cut in the fence suggesting current use?...but it is covered with signs warning of electromagnetic radiation hazards, way more than I've ever seen at a tower. First question... every tower I've ever been to has, at a bare minimum, a building with a bunch of air conditioning units and power units and generally making a racket from all the juice it's transmitting. This tower is dead quiet, not making a sound. The only sign that it even has power are the red lights every 100 feet or so on it. Is it safe to assume that this tower is not transmitting due to the apparent lack of noise from any of the associated shacks at the base?
Second question... if it IS transmitting, and it has all these warning signs on it... what are the ramifications of climbing it?

[Colm]

Flydive,

First of all, I know very little about towers in general. And secondly my experience level is neither broad nor deep. I'm just suggesting this in case it is helpful, and anyone with an overriding opinion is welcome to shoot it down and I will be the wiser for it. I'm just relating personal past experience with similar questions.

Attached is a picture of a nameless electrified tower. Not many signs, just a lot of barbed wire. But check out the elaborate insulation at the base. You can also clearly see the conduit coming out of the building. There wasn't an excessive amount of noise, as I recall. It also appears that the guy wires may be insulated above the anchors. I think this one would light you up like Times Square. I showed the pictures to a buddy who used to work on antennas and he confirmed that the insulation is typical of highly energized antennas. (Since it isn't going to be jumped any time soon, and is not readily identifiable, I imagine it's safe to post here. I'll take it off if anyone objects)

Grounding yourself on this tower would probably mean electrocution at best. Even if you could get on such a tower without grounding yourself, being near such high radiation can't be good for you, or your boys (girls?), can it?? In other, possibly more likely, cases there may be smaller, less-obvious transmitters mounted above, which could cause burns or other damage. Maybe you are lucky and it's still under construction?

Like I said, I don't know much about such matters. I know it doesn't exactly answer your questions, and you probably have a lot more tower experience than me. I mostly just thought it was a good picture Does your tower have any components resembling this? Even if it doesn't, that's no guarantee. Doing research, or being showed by a more experienced person, would make me feel better. There is a lot of info to be found in past posts and commercial websites. And I'm definitely interested to hear what others have to say!

Colm

[Tom Aiello]

Flydive,

Where are you located? In the US, you can read the FCC number off the gate, go to the FCC website, enter the number and find out if the tower is live or not.

[Flydive]

Tom,
You have that website by anychance? I couldn't find a tower entry window on fcc.gov...

[Mac]

Tom,
You have that website by anychance? I couldn't find a tower entry window on fcc.gov...

Flydrive, I have sent you a PM.