1500' climb straight up (filmed from a quadcopter)

How many tower climbers does it take to change a light bulb? Only one...with bigger brass ones than I have:

The view, taken via a quadcopter RC remote, gives an amazing view of what it's like climbing a (now defunct analog) TV tower in South Dakota to change a light bulb. Even though the tower is no longer used since the FCC made the mandatory change to digital from analog and leaving some TV transmitter towers simply landmarks until they can either be torn down or get a new tenant, the lighting has to be maintained in order to comply with FCC and FAA regulations so that aircraft aren't at risk.

It's a pretty neat video. They did an amazing job filming a job that takes a lot of "moxie" to do. I hope they pay him well.

If that weren't impressive, the company that filmed this also filmed a 300' tower being taken down in Jackson, MN from ABOVE the tower. 

I'd like to know how in the world that they were able to film sound without the propeller noise drowning out everything?

Tough times for towers

They say things happen in threes, and tower fights are no exception.

Within a week, 3 articles appear online about homeowners fighting neighbors over towers in their backyards:

• In Maryland, residents in Severna Park are up in arms over construction of an 80' tower despite owner Richard Hambly (W2GPS) obtaining all the necessary permits for the tower. Hambly, who designs GPS hardware and is a consultant on Satellite projects (someone who's quite familiar with radio interference issues) is facing complaints that neighbors have about the tower affecting property value and aesthetics and one complained that neighbors were not consulted beforehand. I didn't know hams needed their neighbors' blessings before putting up towers...
  
  An appeal to rescind his permit was on February 9th.
  

• In New York City, residents are complaining that a 30' tower was constructed illegally and is obstructing their view (as if there's much to see in NYC other than more buildings, judging by the slideshow).
  
  Paul Isaacs, W2JGQ contends it was constructed legally but the city apparently revoked the permit.
  
  Citing a work order stoppage, residents are demanding the tower be removed permanently.
  

• And out in Arizona, Lee Winsor, K1VIK is in a dispute with neighbors over 2 towers he wants built (40 and 33 feet respectively) and is claiming his knowledge of ham radio and the need for antennas trumps that of the city planning staff and wants an engineering study performed. Casa Grande ordinance states that towers cannot exceed the height of the roof of the main structure on the property, which in this case is 16 feet.
  
  68 residents signed a petition to have construction of the tower blocked.
  

IL neighbors up in arms over ham radio towers

A ham radio operator in Peoria County has some residents outraged.

Craig Thompson is building several towers on his property and his neighbors are apparently concerned with the view once they have been erected:

Furthermore in the comments section, one neighbor has threatened to install an electric dog fence or resort to other means to impede the use of the towers.

The funny thing is, everything Mr. Thompson has done to this point has been legal, cleared by the county, and it's on his personal property. The county trustee even cited amateur radio's federal guidelines (PRB-1) that allow ham radio to supercede tower restrictions.

Mt. Pleasant, WI is not kind to ham radio

If you're a ham operator, or the father of one, and you or a member of your family have special needs, stay away from Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin.

The town's planning commission ordered that a tower belonging to the Markstrom family was to be taken down after it was determined that the Markstroms did not secure the proper permits to erect it.

But it's not so much the planning commission, as it is the neighbors who all of a sudden claim that the tower's interfering with their TVs. The complaints were brought on after Jim (KB9MMA) and his son Samm (KC9POP) had their community service during severe weather attract unwanted attention by local officials and neighbors. Samm is 10 and has issues with Cerebral Palsy.

Granted, I don't live there, and I'm certainly biased when it comes to ham radio towers and the right to have one (I will NEVER live in an HOA thanks to their micro-plutocracies that base their "laws" on the almighty $$$ at the expense of individuality and the freedom of expression) but when the neighbors call a ten-year old a "media puppet" and are indifferent to the public service he's been awarded, the negative attention given to the neighbors is warranted in my opinion.

It looks like several media outlets have reported the story and there's even a facebook page dedicated to the cause.

However, now that the commission has spoken, it looks to be a lost cause. Jim has said he may sue to keep the tower, but at this point, why bother? Get the hell out of there, and move to a place that has wide open spaces, and welcomes the community service that Samm employs in order to get out of his shell that his disability has encased him.

And if Mt. Pleasant, God forbid, gets hit with a tornado, I would certainly hope they have ample warning. They would, if they'd allow one ham and his son to keep their tower.