Back to Home

Radio Site Equipment Installation Rules These rules have been derived from experience gained in over 30 years in two-way radio. By Doug Pelley WB7TUJ, edited by Michael Morris WA6ILQ

Editor's Note from Mike WA6ILQ: Over the years there have been a few requests by members of the Repeater-Builder@YahooGroups mailing list for a radio site rules list.   A while back I was made aware of a web site belonging to Doug Pelley WB7TUJ, who operates a commercial radio site east of Phoenix, Arizona.   With Doug's permission, I have copied his "Radio Site Equipment Installation Code" web page, made his requirements generic, and added a few that I learned by experience... for example: On item 5B, I can show you a rack at a mountaintop site that has a contact sheet listing 4 people.   Three have been dead for at least five years.   All the phone numbers show an area code that I can recognize is two splits old.

Items 4C and 4D below are directly applicable to Doug's site, but I have left them in since they are descriptive of how things have changed in the business, and as an example of site-specific differences.

Motorola has a 350 page manual called "Standards and Guidelines for Communications Sites", commonly called the "R56 Manual", also known as the "Fixed Equipment Installation Instruction Manual".   If you are interested in putting up a radio site, it's worth buying a copy (the printed version is part number 68-81089E50, and there is also a CD version, part number 98-80384V83.   The price in early 2005 for the paper version was $118 if you don't have a Motorola account, $85 if you do (plus shipping).   The CD version is about $65.   Honestly, you'll want the paper version, although the CD is handy to do word or topic searches (but they don't give a discount if you order both).  Yes, $85 to $120 is a lot for a manual, but if you stop and think for a minute about how much you are going to spend on building a site, with architects, engineering, tower cost, tower installation, building materials, construction labor, fees, etc, the cost of the book is down in the noise level.   This book is a large ring binder with many exhaustively-covered topics.   While it is written primarily as a how-to manual for cellular telephone installations, it also addresses two-way radio sites.   It covers such topics as site acquisition, handling neighbor resistance, environmental issues, political issues, easements, surveying, civil work like roads, fences, buildings or shelters, towers and the like.   All in all, it is an extremely valuable reference.   Here's the R56 manual table of contents.   If you're a renter, and can find a copy to look at, it's still worth spending an hour or two reading how the professionals do it right the first time. GE has their own information package in LBI-39148B "Standards For Site Construction/Contrac-Install", LBI-39179B "Fiberglass/steel Comp & Lightweight Comm Shelt", LBI-39184A "Concrete Shelter Specifications-Bullet Resistant", and LBI-39185 "Tower Requirements & General Spec - Installation".   The GE LBIs can be downloaded from this web site.

Note that tower sites are regulated by both the FCC and the FAA.   The geographic location required by the FAA is done to the hundredth of a coordinate second (which is about a foot), whereas the FCC is a bit less strict at 1/10 of a second.   Make sure the geographic coordinates on your license are correct (borrow a GPS and take it to the site and verify), the FCC will hold you and your license liable even if you, the renter, can prove the landlord gave you the wrong information.   There have been cases where the coordinates on a license were several miles away from the actual site, especially if the site was constructed in the 1950s or 1960s.   More on this topic at this web page: Where is my repeater?.

Again note that the list below is only intended as a sample, to let you know what type of rules that can be expected.   Every site is different, and some sites have unique rules: I am aware of one site that the only access is through a cattle ranch pasture (private property).   If a site visit is needed the trip has to be coordinated via telephone at least 24 hours before with the ranch owner so that the cattle can be moved, the gate(s) can be unlocked and those restrictions are written into the site agreement.   Another site is accessible by only one road that goes right through a ski resort, and after first snowfall the road is completly blocked until the snow melts in April or May... in fact one of the most popular ski runs goes right over the site road.   The only site access during ski season is via snowshoe or snowmobile, and all work that cannot be done via snowshoe or snomobile access (i.e. tower work) has to be done off-season.   And they stretch the ski season as far as possible (early and late) with manmade snow.... and look very unkindly to anyone messing up the slopes with snowmobile tracks...

If anybody has any suggestions on this page please let Mike WA6ILQ know - email at (callsign) at repeater-builder dot com

SITE MANAGEMENT
EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION RULES

These are the Site's Minimum Requirements

1. EQUIPMENT MOUNTING:

• A. Each rented rack space allocated in the building is based on the space required for a standard 19" wide rack space.   Tenants may lease multiple adjacent rack spaces under a single contract.   The actual floor space allowed per leased rack space is 24" X 24" (a square of four 12" floor tiles).   All equipment, whether actually rack mounted or housed in a cabinet, shall not exceed these measurements.   Ventilation of equipment, battery boxes, power and RF transmission lines are to be taken into consideration.
• B. The rack or equipment cabinet is to be securely mounted to the floor to prevent such equipment from being tipped over accidentally while someone is working in front or behind such equipment, or by an earthquake.   Be aware that as part of the final inspection the site manager is going to do a "lean test" and try and slide the rack, or to tip the rack or cabinet over.   No cabinets with casters (even the locking type) or wheels are allowed.
• C. Cabinets are not to be stacked on top of other cabinets without securing the top cabinet to the one below. If the lower cabinet is not owned by the same tenant, then written permission must be gained from the lower tenant prior to drilling or mounting to the lower cabinet.   See the "lean test" mentioned above.
• D. All racks / cabinets will be secured electrically to the earth-ground provided in the building.   This is to be accomplished using heavy copper braid, or a minimum of #4 stranded copper conductor.   If insulated, standard electrical grounding codes require it to be solid green or green with yellow stripe(s).
• E. All RF transmission cable will be routed neatly, and secured in the provided overhead cable trays.   Excess cable is not to be coiled up in the cable tray, nor is a coil to be strapped to the bottom of the tray.
• F. All transmission cables shall be bonded to the tower at the top and every 25 feet down the feedline, and terminated with a "Huber & Suhner" or "Poly-Phaser" lightning arrester unit upon entry to the building.   Jumper cables, from transmission lines to individual racks or cabinets, will be run to equipment racks or cabinets through the cable trays neatly and kept as short as reasonably possible.
• G. No equipment is to be set on the floor around the rack or cabinet space, with the exception of duplexer cavities or transmitter-combining equipment, which will occupy the next adjacent rack / cabinet space. All cavities / combiners should be mounted into a cabinet whenever possible.
• H. All transmission lines will be identified with a color code sequence assigned by the site manager, for example, red-green-yellow.   Home Depot and electrical contractor suppliers sell electrical tape in multiple colors, sometimes called "phase tape".   The feedline end at the antenna will have the color code applied to it next to the connector but outside of any protective covering applied to the connector, secondly just outside the building wall at the feedline entry point, and thirdly just inside the building wall at the building feedline entry point.   A fourth set will be on the jumper cable at the point of entry into the equipment rack or cabinet.   This allows someone to identify the color code at the antenna (even from gound level with a telescope or field glasses) and follow the cable to the entry point and then to the proper rack.   A color code versus building tenant / equipment owner versus rack number list is on the clip board hung on the inside wall next to the door and must be kept up to date.   If someone observes a problem with your antenna or feedline the color code allows easily lookup on the chart, or tracing to your cabinet and the contact information provided there - see item 5B below.
• I. NO FUNNY CABINET KEYS!   Both the site managers and site owner have the common Motorola 2135 and 2553 keys, the GE BF-10A and 1000GE keys, the MRCA key, and the CH-751 key.   We have not had a problem with anyone touching someone elses equipment so there is no need for changing the lock on your cabinet, or even having lockable cabinets.   In fact open frame racks are very common in the buildings.   Despite this, if you chose to use a locking cabinet, make sure that it can be opened by one of the standard six cabinet keys.

2. ELECTRICAL WIRING:

• A. All equipment connected to commercial power must have the standard grounded three-prong plug, and the safety ground must be intact on the plug.   "Twist-lock" type plugs are required as the outlets are mounted on the ceiling, facing downward.
• B. Outlet strips and outlet boxes used to operate several pieces of equipment inside a rack or cabinet must be permanently affixed to the rack or cabinet and the "green wire" bonding ground must be intact from the power panel through the rack power cord, through the outlet strip or box (or all of the outlet strips or boxes) all the way to the radio equipment frame.   Expect the site manager to test this on installation inspection.
• C. All backup batteries must be housed in a nonflammable box (or boxes) with a lid.   This will avoid accidental access to the battery terminals, and will also contain any chemical leakage.   All batteries should be kept within the allocated floor space for that rack.   Additional space for batteries if needed will be considered on a case-by-case basis.   Even if it's obvious which rack they are hooked to, battery boxes must be labeled with the system owner's name, the rack number, and the total string battery voltage and capacity, for example "XYZ Ambulance Inc., Rack #14, 14 volts 80ah".
• D. Wiring from batteries to equipment must be neatly run, and any connections to the batteries must be protectively fused as close to the batteries as possible.
• E. All cabling and harnessing required for a given rack or cabinet will be neatly tied, or dressed, to the specific rack; or in the case of cabinets, all cabling will be neatly routed inside the cabinets.   No cabling is to hang or drape outside of the cabinet(s).

3. RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSMISSION:

• A. ALL LMR and PAGING TRANSMITTERS not equipped with a Pass-Notch duplexer, will have an additional pass cavity installed to prevent spurious emissions and minimize ambient RF noise to the other equipment installed at this, and adjacent sites.   An isolator is also required between the transmitter and the cavity.   There are to be no PA decks, isolators or circulators looking directly into an antenna, even a temporarily unused one.
• B. All non-rigid cable used as jumpers between transmitters and transmission line will consist of good quality cable such as Belden type RG-142, RG-213, RG-214, or RG-400.   Cables of the RG8X "Minifoam" and similar cable will NOT be allowed, as these cables do not meet required shielding specifications for use as transmission cable.   Single shielded cable may be used for "receive" purposes only.
• C. All cabling from the building to tower including on the tower to the antenna, shall consist of a minimum of 1/4 inch jacketed corrugated copper "Heliax" type cable.   Semi-rigid "LMR-400", "LMR-600", etc. cable and non-rigid cable, such as RG8, RG, 213, RG-214, RG8X, etc. will NOT be used as transmission cable exiting the building.   Unjacketed cable of any type will NOT be allowed.   All jumper cables from feedline to antennas will be no more than 6 feet in length.
• D. All RF connections to the antenna feedlines are to be kept waterproof and wrench-tight.
• E. All RF cables, from the tower to the building, must be terminated on equipment of proper impedance, or if not connected to equipment then the cables are to be attached to a termination load of proper impedance.   RF cabling un-terminated is impedance mismatched and will have the potential ability to radiate inside the building and cause interference to other users.
• F. All transmission cables will have the outer shield bonded to the tower every 25 feet down from the antenna.   Each feedline will also be bonded to the earth-ground provided when entering the building at the cable entrance.   "Andrew" type grounding kits are the preferred method to accomplish this.   This may also be accomplished using copper braid with a minimum width of 1/2 inch.   The braid is to be secured to the outer conductor of the feedline by soldering to the conductor, or by means of a stainless hose clamp of the appropriate diameter.   This connection is to be waterproof.
• G. All penetrations of the exterior walls for feedline will be done with the written permission of the site manager.   Once the feedline is installed all holes will be plugged per the site managers directions to make them waterproof and preclude all local wildlife from entering the building through the new hole(s).   If a tenant observes an unplugged wall breach s/he is urged to plug it and notify the site manager.
• H. No transmitting antennas of any type are permitted to be installed inside the buildings.   Use common sense discretion when transmitting with cellphones and hand held radios while inside buildings.
• I. No non-continuous duty rated transmitters are to be used in a continuous duty application.
• J. No transmitters without operational harmonic filters.
• K. Pressurized feedlines requiring a nitrogen cylinder shall have the cylinder fastened to the cabinet in such a way that they can not be tipped over.   Alternatively the cylinder may be fastened to the wall under the appropriate cable tray using an approved wall bracket system (with an intact, code-compliant and in-service backup safety chain) and a nitrogen hose run through the tray to the injection fitting.   The cylinder valve or hose will be labeled as to which rack it feeds, i.e. "XYZ Ambulance Inc., Rack #14". The site manager will be consulted before the bracket is mounted to the wall.

4. ANTENNA MOUNTING:

• A. All antennas are to be mounted on the tower structures.   No antennas will be mounted to the buildings without prior written approval from the site manager.
• B. All antennas mounted on the tower structure shall be mounted using commercially accepted galvanized or stainless hardware.
• C. No bare copper wire on towers! It's simple chemistry. The copper will eventually chemically etch the zinc out of the tower galvanization. The tower will rust where the copper ground wires are run and touch the tower steel.
• D. All cables run on the older Broadcast tower structure will be secured using stainless steel hardware or insulated wire.
• E. All cables run on the newer LMR tower must be secured to the cable tray / ladder, using only the proper "Andrew" push in hardware made for this purpose.   No cables are to be run on the tower legs.
• F. Antennas are not to be installed or removed at the site without prior authorization from the site manager.
• G. Antenna apertures (patterns) are not to be modified without prior authorization from the site manager.
• H. The site manager must be notified of any “swapping” of radios to antennas in multiple radio / antenna installations.
• I. All inverted antennas must be designed by the manufacturer for inverted mounting.
• J. If a tenant observes an an antenna problem s/he is urged to look up the color code on the feedline (see item 1H above) and notify the responsible person(s) as well as the site manager.

5. DOCUMENTATION AND LICENSING:

• A. All tenants are required to have a current F.C.C. license permitting transmission from the radio site prior to the installation of equipment.   Permission to occupy the site will not be granted without prior written proof of proper license and correct / current coordination.   All transmitters are to have an up-to-date copy of the FCC License for each transmitter’s frequency attached to the specific cabinet or rack for inspection.   This is an FCC rule.   Copies of all license updates and renewals will be provided to the site manager, as well as being posted on the appropriate cabinet.
• B. Next to the license mentioned in item A must be a dated sheet of paper listing all transmitting frequencies for equipment in that cabinet, plus a minimum of three contact names and their associated phone numbers (work, home, cellphone, pager, answering service, etc... whatever is appropriate...).   The tenant is responsible for providing a current copy of their contact list for the site managers office files and keeping the contact information current on the cabinet due to the fact that interference troubleshooting is not limited to just the site manager.   A no-notice contact test may be made at any time at the site managers or site owners discretion.
  
  Yes, items A and B of this section mean that someone will have to mail a copy to the site manager plus do a site visit to post a renewed license, or just to change the contact sheet if a phone number changes or the area code is split.

6. INSPECTION / ACCESS:

• A. All buildings and equipment will be inspected for compliance of this installation and operation code by the site management at any time, especially if necessary in the process of interference troubleshooting.
• B. All transmitters will be inspected to determine compliance of their F.C.C. authorization (frequency, modulation & transmitter power output).
• C. All transmitting antennas will be inspected along with transmitter output power to insure that maximum F.C.C. authorized ERP is not exceeded.
• D. Tenants understand that the site manager requires full access to all areas including inside all radio cabinets, and inspections will be made without notice as needed, especially in the case of interference troubleshooting.
• E. Should a specific transmitter be determined to be causing harmful interference, the contact sheet on the rack or cabinet will be used and the first person will be called, and when contacted be requested to shut off said transmitter immediately.   If the contact person cannot be located, the second name will be tried, then the third.   If transmitter shutdown will be delayed the site manager will shut off said transmitter by shutting off the circuit breaker to the appropriate cabinet if there is no other means of shutting it off.   As stated above, contact information on the rack or cabinet must be kept current.   Systems with in-cabinet battery-backup must have a clearly labeled transmitter shutdown switch on the exterior of the rack or cabinet.   This switch must shut down all transmitters in the cabinet.
• F. Tenants understand that the site buildings are alarmed and that all access code usage is logged (entry and exit).   Tenants understand that that they are given a unique access code and are expected to keep it confidential, and that they are responsible for all access using that code.   Tenants may request an access code to be disabled and a new code programmed once per year at no charge and are encouraged to do so in the event of staff personnel changes, etc.

Back to the top of the page
Back to Home

This writeup is a joint project and is copyright © 2003 and the date of last update by Doug Pelley WB7TUJ and