Hello guys, anyone has experience mounting some wisp equipment in an AM Radio tower operating at 5KW?
I hear some tips about this, for example, using a rf choke to decouple power lines, avoid using Ethernet cables (fiber optic instead) and abort the idea of using this kind of towers if are not grounded (hot base towers as some people call this).
I’d like to hear your experience.
Regards.
DO NOT REPEAT DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS.
It does not work. I have tried. Several times. The only way it can possibly work is with a device called an “Isocoupler” (isolation coupler) it’s basically an RF cavity that providers a channel for the RF without cable - an insulator gap. Otherwise, significant voltage is induced in the RF cable.
I have also tired with equipment on the tower. Ethernet would not link up, even with double foil shielded cable.
The only way to run an RF cable up the tower other than the isocoupler is to connect the cable shield to the tower at 1/4 wave spacing… but that introduces significant weather proofing concerns. The right way to do it is an isocoupler - which costs about $10,000 USD last time I asked someone.
Do yourself a favor and forget about using an AM tower!
Thank you for you reply.
What about an FM Broadcast tower?, FM RF has the same effect?
I have equipment colocated with a 50kW FM transmitter with absolutely no problems at all. FM antenna is 398ft, I have 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz equipment at 200ft. Absolutely no RF problems and it’s been deployed for 3+ years.
Just to share my exprience, I have used an FM Tower (600W RF) without any problems, I done several test with the fm on and off and no diference between cases.
Regards.
2,4GHz or 5GHz?
I like your antenna mount 
There is an isocoupler alternative manufactured by LBA Technology. But as others have said, this probably isn’t the best path.