Notebook Tower Stuff

REASON FOR VARIANCE

To install an antenna tower and associated antennas for use with a federally licensed amateur radio station that consolidates existing antennas and improves appearance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In addition to this cover letter, there is a number of drawings attached that will help to visualize the existing antenna layout and the proposed changes. Neighbors have been notified of the proposal and statements, as could be obtained, are included. There is a Neighbor Interview Summary attached that summarizes the comment process. The wind load analysis has been included to show that careful consideration to engineering and safety are of paramount concern.

PURPOSE AND USE

The purpose for the variance is to improve the safety and aesthetics of the existing installed antenna systems and to provide more efficient communications. There are several existing antenna supports that will be removed and some of the antennas will be reused on the tower.

The use of these antennas and supporting tower is exclusively for amateur radio operations (also known as HAM radio). There will be NO CB type of operations at any time. The station is operated within the FCC part 97 rules and there has never been any interference complaints from neighbors since operations commenced in January 1995.

The station is used for many public service operations in times of disaster. In remote disaster situations, the station is used to pass messages through a National Traffic System when normal means of communications in the affected area has been interrupted. In local disaster situations, the station is used in conjunction with local service agencies such as the American Red Cross and EMA to coordinate volunteer damage assessment and victim aid. In times of severe weather, the station is used to directly relay observed weather conditions to the National Weather Service.

When there aren’t any disasters, the station is used for hobby type communications that include global contacts that bolster international good will.

LOCATION CONSIDERATIONS

The following items were considered in locating the antennas and support structure.

1) Ensure that any support structure failure will not cause the antenna or the structure to touch power lines.

2) Ensure that any support structure failure will result in minimal risk to normally occupied areas of the yards.

3) Locate the structure close to the operating position of the station to minimize feed line length and associated interference problems due to excessive feed line lengths.

4) Use the house to strategically distribute tower loads to minimize the size and number of required guy wires and guy supports in order to maximize aesthetics.

5) The location of the antennas should minimize the possibility of interference.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The following items were considered in designing the antenna support structure.

1) Sustained winds above 80 mph will cause antenna and mast bending failures that will lighten the tower wind load to reduce the chance of a catastrophic tower failure.

2) The guy wires that are secured to earth have been elevated to eliminate the chance of personal injury.

3) The guy wires attached to the house are tripod mounted to reduce roof stresses.

4) Foundations and guy supports have been designed so that removal of these items, in the event that the house is sold, will not leave any "eye-sores" to contend with.

5) The height was chosen with several factors in mind.

a) To be above the local power distribution lines in order to minimize receive interference.

b) To be below the high tension lines in the area in order to minimize receive interference.

c) To comply with FAA height restrictions and lighting requirements due to the heliport at Lorain Community Partners Hospital (175 feet).

d) To comply with FCC height restrictions without special permission (200 feet).

e) Balance the height to maximize effective communications and improve aesthetics over the existing installed antenna systems.

6) The earth mounted guy supports are to bend, yet, return to their original shape for all wind loads below 90 mph.

7) The roof mounted tripod guy support is not to cause any roof damage for any wind load below 90 mph.

8) The additional height of the antennas reduce the possibility of interference.

9) Winter conditions in this area are conducive to ice build-up. Include ¼" ice loading into the design for load analysis.