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Updated: 2007-10-29

Wireless ISP Tower Install

My provider (NetSpectrum) uses Alvarion Breeze Access wireless devices, which use a proprietary protocol to connect using a microwave band. My internet connection used to slow down during the summer months with signal strength issues due to leaf blockage, as the first unit used had a passive antenna fed with LDF4-50 (half inch) heliax.  The solution was to use a new unit with a higher gain amplified antenna and move it higher to clear the path to the North Bay feed.  The new remote unit has a downconverter built into the active antenna, and feeds a 400 MHz signal to the indoor unit using LMR400 coax.  My internet speed has doubled since the install of the new equipment.

	The picture on the left shows the tower with the original amplified 26db gain flat panel antenna on the top of the refurbished Delhi DMX-68 self-support tower. It receives a great signal from the wireless feed almost 18km away. The picture on the right shows the new antenna configuration. The lower flat panel gets its 5 G feed from a different tower 8 km away. The omni antenna on top is for 900MHz WISP distribution in my local neighbourhood. The tower was constructed in 2004 in front of my house where the bedrock peeks through the ground.
		Here are the mounts that Guy (VE3PUP) fabricated for me using 3 x 15 inch channel and a piece of quarter inch metal plate approximately 18 x 4 inches. The base was poured from industrial grade grout in two sections to accommodate the three tower legs.
	The rock anchor bolts are 12 x 1 inch.  The height of the closer grout pad is about 5 inches, which still leaves 7 inches of bolt in the bedrock.

As the elevations on each leg were different, I used wood pieces stacked on the inside of the mounts to support the tower legs while I leveled the tower.  I drilled one mounting hole through the channel iron to mount the base section, then drilled the mounting holes through the grout into the bedrock to mount the plates.  I then drilled the second hole through the channel to secure the tower. While it doesn't show it here, the tower is well grounded. I must have done everything correctly, because the installation survived the storm of July 2006 with no damage.