High rise tower crane erected next to our AM tower?

[spinjector]

Last week a construction company erected one of these beauties in the lot next to our AM site, and it's expected to be there for 6-8 weeks:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/13/26/13_26_56---Tower-Crane_web.jpg?&k=Tower+Crane

Now the Nautel is freaking out. The Collins just rolls over and goes back to sleep like a fat cat in a sunbeam, but the boss doesn't want to use it because the electric bill is like twice as big.

Any suggestions? Any FCC/FAA laws to cover this?

Thanks.

[ncradioeng]

I hope you are non-directional.  Running the Collins would be the least expensive way to deal with it as opposed to detuning that thing.  Send the crane company the power bill.

[RadeoEngineer]

I think you're going to have to run the Collins.  See if you can cut a deal with the construction company for some help with the power bill.  6-8 weeks probably isn't enough time to do anything else about it.

[OKCRadioGuy]

I'd make the asumption that you've tried ground it, right?  Sometimes that will help the situation.  If you have some spare AM parts around you may try a temporary detune of the beast.  If you can tune it for non-resonance you're go to go.

Good luck.  I'd say you're stuck on the Collins for a while.  Make sure to note it in your logs when this crap started and of course when things return to normal.

[boiseengineer]

Don’t think detuning will work. Every time they change position and lift something it would detune the detuner..

What are they building? If it's a multi-story steel frame building, you're in for permanent changes to your tower impedance.

Since the impedance has changed, and you can no longer determine your operating power by the method indicated on your license (Amps into licensed R & X), you'll have to file with the FCC for an STA to operate with the indirect method.

[Nostalgia]

I will guarantee that everything boiseengineer states is true having lived with the same situation years ago.  It was a high rise and we lived with it for months.  You could watch the meters on the old RCA swing all over the place as the crane moved and of course raised and lowered its loads.  You will have to file an STA for indirect power measurement since base current is no longer accurate.  Of course when the building is completed, assuming it is a high rise anywhere close to resonance on your frequency and within a wavelength or so of the tower, you will have to sweep the tower again and either confirm, or modify your operating parameters on your license.  Not sure how far you will get, but perhaps a note from your Washington attorney to the buildings owner MAY get some relief for the expenses you will incur dealing with this nightmare.  And, when the building is done, they will want YOU to fix either Aerosmith or Rush blasting out of their toasters because THEY built their building next to your tower!! 

I assume your old Collins has a tube final and may be more forgiving of the swinging load as far as staying on the air, but surely will shorten the life of the finals.  I would not risk frying any of the output modules on the Nautel.
Good Luck!

[wgliradio]

This happened about 10 years ago at WQEW in New York when cranes went up to build a bus depot in Maspeth Queens.  OSHA got involved because workers on the site didn't know why they were getting shocked from the crane.  I will contact a friend who was involved and see how they resolved it.

[RF Man]

Last week a construction company erected one of these beauties in the lot next to our AM site, and it's expected to be there for 6-8 weeks:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/13/26/13_26_56---Tower-Crane_web.jpg?&k=Tower+Crane

Now the Nautel is freaking out. The Collins just rolls over and goes back to sleep like a fat cat in a sunbeam, but the boss doesn't want to use it because the electric bill is like twice as big.

Any suggestions? Any FCC/FAA laws to cover this?

Thanks.

I would have thought that the planner of this site, would have done a study taking
into consideration what problems they would cause to federally licensed towers in the area.
Anytime someone proposes to build a cell tower in my area I usually get a call notifying me that
they will be taking field strength measurements. If a problem is found they detune their structure
at their cost The same should be required from developers building steel buildings.

Hopefully you can get some financial compensation for the trouble.
using steel in their buildings

[audiophile.]

Last week a construction company erected one of these beauties in the lot next to our AM site, and it's expected to be there for 6-8 weeks:

http://www.freefoto.com/images/13/26/13_26_56---Tower-Crane_web.jpg?&k=Tower+Crane

Now the Nautel is freaking out. The Collins just rolls over and goes back to sleep like a fat cat in a sunbeam, but the boss doesn't want to use it because the electric bill is like twice as big.

Any suggestions? Any FCC/FAA laws to cover this?

Thanks.

Hopefully the reason for this crane is temporary and whatever they're building isn't too tall!  A DA station in Ontario had a chemical plant pop up next to it, there was a lawsuit and the chemical company had to pay to move the AM station at the cost of millions of dollars..this was in the 70's...

The station still owns the property next to the chemical plant, and now uses it for FM broadcasts.