• Matt Blaze@federate.socialOP
    2·
    4 days ago

    The antenna is in the final approach and takeoff flightpath for SFO airport’s runways 28L/R (and 10L/R), and so the site has special markings to warn pilots of a collision hazard. In addition to the usual tower lights and red/white paint, 3-dimensional “HAZ” warnings were installed around the field. These are easily visible in areal photos; see, e.g., https://earth.google.com/web/@37.5471204,-122.23429544,0.73120256a,577.14725587d,35y,0.01179999h,0t,0r/data=CgRCAggBQgIIAEoNCP___________wEQAA

    • Matt Blaze@federate.socialOP
      1·
      4 days ago

      Also, important safety tip: you can get closer to this tower without clearly trespassing or jumping fences than any other 50KW broadcast antenna I’ve ever seen. I measured a field strength of over 80V/m a bit outside the antenna fence, which is an incredibly strong signal (though still within the OSHA limits at the frequency involved).

      Resist any temptation to jump the fence and climb the (energized) tower. You’ll be electrocuted as soon as you touch it.

      • Zoarial94 :donor:@infosec.exchange
        1·
        4 days ago

        @mattblaze@federate.social With towers over 200ft, the FAA requires lights on the top, and these towers can make the systems that power and monitor the lights act very funky. I never had the pleasure, but I worked with people who did.

        • Matt Blaze@federate.socialOP
          1·
          4 days ago

          @Zoarial94@infosec.exchange yeah, they make special tower light monitoring systems specifically for AM radio stations. Also, maintaining the lights is definitely a job I Do Not Want.