If you decide to let the cell system on your property be sure to include an
interference clause in the contract. Make it very clear who is responsible
to solve any problems, even if you decide to add something new or change
your equipment. In the two-way radio field normally the new guy on site is
required to solve any problems, at their cost. That means that the cell
company would provide and pay for any future cavity filters that you need to
use to prevent or minimize interference to your amateur operations.
Also you need something in the contract that addresses them sub-leasing site
space to another user. If that happens you should receive a cut of the rent
that is being paid to the original cell company. Based on what I have seen
on radio sites, due to security concerns most companies do not allow another
user in their building but some will allow a second or third building next
to their building.
Since I live on the other side of the country from you I will not attempt to
name a dollar value for rent but remember a good site is worth money. A cell
company will try to get in as cheap as possible. I will say that I am aware
that to company that I work for was paying over $1000.00 a month just to put
up the building and a short tower. It rent has increased as more equipment
was installed in the building.
Free cell service from that company for as long as they are on your property
with a reasonable limit on your calls. If it would be a benefit to you,
demand it.
Consider the services of a professional site manager to make sure you
receive a fair deal. It will cost you some of your rent but you might be
surprised at what your location is really worth.
73
George
K7WWA
-----Original Message-----
From: vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:vhfcontesting-bounces@contesting.com]On Behalf Of w3sz
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 10:44 AM
To: vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu; VHF Contesting
Subject: [VHFcontesting] Cell Sites
Hello, All,
I am asking for advice from the collective wisdom of the VHF and
VHF-Contesting lists.
I have been approached by a cellular company wanting to put up a tower on
my property and of course to lease that space.
My immediate response on reading the letter was, "Are you crazy?" I had
this response of course because of concerns about EMI in both directions,
me to them and them to me.
I am however by virtue of the fact that my property is quite high, and
probably sees every cell tower for more than 10 miles in all directions
already exposed to multiple cell towers, at least a couple of which are
fairly close [I would guess on the order of 0.5 to 1.0 mile away, but that
is just a very rough guess]. I have a few bleeps and bloops on 903, but
that is it in terms of problems as far as I know. I am not aware of any
desensing on the other bands {I operate 50 MHz thru 24 GHz weak signal
terrestrial, and 144 MHz EME}. I use cavity filters before the preamps on
144 MHz EME, and helical filters on 50 thru 903 MHz before the preamps.
The amount they offer as a starting point for negotiation is not large,
but it would cover my property taxes and in addition leave me with more
money to spend annually on ham radio than I would ordinarily allow myself
to spend. So I am starting to consider this, thinking that maybe
suffering some additional bleeps and bloops on 903 would be a small price
to pay for the financial benefits of such an arrangement. My wife of
course thinks this is a good deal, and has already figured out that if I
do this it will be 'x' years before the rent we receive from the deal will
pay off what I have already spent on ham radio-related expenses I have
incurred at the property. So there are domestic advantages to the deal.
;)
Other thoughts that occur to me:
1. No neighbor problems currently with my present towers. This could
potentially cause some I would think. And if I don't do the deal, and
make that known, it could be a positive if complaints ever surfaced.
2. If the cellular signals are strong enough, I could suffer significant
problems on other bands [besides 903] due to mixing products.
3. I don't know how MUCH rent / other benefits it is reasonable to ask
for. I faintly recall a QST article where I believe the author got in
addition to rent a new tower, antennas, maintanence, etc. Does anyone
have knowledge of the 'going lease rates', which I am sure vary a lot? I
am in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
4. I would need to have some agreement that the cell company would need
to accept any interference that occurred from me, with the worst result
allowed being that they would terminate the agreement. No other damages
allowed. And maybe they would have to leave the tower in place if they
left.
Any thoughts from those who have been down this road, or considered it, or
know someone who has, would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance, and
73,
ROger W3SZ
--
Roger Rehr
W3SZ
http://www.qsl.net/w3sz
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