Climbing a tower that is not meant to be climbed, and putting a new light on it!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 มี.ค. 2024
- I climb my first-ever “monopine” and replace an Obsta LED beacon with a Drake one. This tower put me to the test and I have to say I enjoyed the challenge. This site is located in Madison Mississippi in a very nice neighborhood. And no, I am not paying for power director, ignore the watermark.
If you actually watched the whole thing and read the description, thanks! - เกม
Back in the 1960s, as a navy electrician, I used to volunteer to fix the ship's aircraft warning lights when necessary, a couple times at sea. Really enjoyed it and always took my camera with me.
Your comment about engineers struck a nerve. I’m a retired nurse, 50,yrs ago,a new addition was added to the hospital. They never did talk to the nurses about what we needed in the rooms. Their designs made a lot of extra work for us. A different hospital new build 20 yrs ago, same thing. I guess it is the same in all fields. Engineers need to get in the field to see the world & see reality. I give you credit for that climb, but the risk of grips & the limbs (like a bird was rest on them!), just added $$$ to the cost of the build, while making your job more challenging. What was the total time of the climb? Thanks for sharing! God bless!
I like how the branches start right around the tops of the trees. Nobody would notice a tree that 100ft taller than everything around it.
One of these days you're going to regret cutting off those extra wires, you never know when you're going to need them. I don't do tower work but when I am doing electrical work I never cut away extra wires in a hard to get spot that way I know I've got two extra in case I need them always easier to hook them up than to pull new cable. Looks like fun up there, it looked like a hell of a climb be careful buddy.
I doubt he’ll be climbing up there again
Wow! My wife and I have been on the edge of our seats for the entire video! Quite an experience. Would liked to have seen a few more minutes of when you got to the ground. Perhaps next time. Great video, though.
When the North Sea oil boom was on, I had to clome a mast of an experimental catamaran tug to repair a radar that gave a very accurate range measurement for survey position fixing.
The first time I ever climbed a height took ages to get up and froze and took ages to come down.
It was a very calm North Sea at the time, like a duck pond, as flst as mirror, very spookey.
At least it was clear of the stupid tree like branches.
Rather you than me.
Thank's for the video.
Of course, the builders of these poles don't have the maintenance technician in mind.
As simple as a ladder and pulleys on the side, maybe a tool bucket.
DAMN! It's a Phillips head!
At least it's not a smart antenna with 12 seven eights lines coming out of a four inch porthole. Don't take me personally please. I did this for 29 years and my career ended in a head on car wreck on the way home from work one night. Watching these videos is the only way I can be up there with you.
Whatever he said…
I hope you are doing better nowadays! That truly sucks. Life ain’t fair, that much is certain! I used to climb radio antenna towers, but never cell towers, and certainly nothing even close to the one in this video!
Bro my hands are sweaty just watching you change a light bulb. Bravo to you
What a Mess to have to a Climb through. 👍🙏
He created the mess if he brought the proper gear his climb would of been significantly smoother
Okay, you have reached a point in your climb that is making the blood drain out of my limbs. Heights are not my bad and I respect you for being able to do this type of job. Pays good from what I understand but dangerous too. Stay safe!
I watched workers install one of these "fake" trees in my hometown, very interesting that they used man lifts most of the time. When traveling, I like to look for the "fake" tree towers, and I like to think they can't fool me!!...Awesome video, stay safe!!
@@rdaw33 tell the whole “man lift” thing to all the people complaining about the title 😂😂
Freakin crazy, climbing through an obstacle course 100's of feet off the ground with 15-20+ pounds of gear plus a 30-40+ pound light hanging off your a$$ that keeps going on the wrong side of branches, gave me butterflies just watching it.
@@papagator7007 most of the time it’s pretty rewarding though. and this one was definitely an outlier, most of the towers we do are way easier than this but also way taller.
@@shephene4483 how many feet was that tower you had climbed up
@@redbone1015 it was only about 150’
Looks like it was a good learning experience. Preperation makes life way easier
Now that looked like a pure cluster. I wondered how you'd get down through that tight passage without dumping the contents of your bags. I bet that beacon looked like it had been through a hail storm by the time you made it off the tower.
@@xodusxodus7544 it actually wasn’t too bad lol. My boss kept it for his collection. We don’t ever work on this kind of system. Hence my unpreparedness
What a difficult job you have. I hope you are paid well, for what you do.
WTH? That tower turned into a tree 😂
Damnit...I forgot my screw driver
When you don't plan on rigging the tower you already know you'll need to. Good to carry a couple hundred feet of parachord because you can lower it and have your ground guy put a rope and block. Plan B always beats having to climb back down for something you either forgot or didn't plan on.
That’s a good idea! I’ve never thought about that. How much extra weight is it? We don’t typically do this kind of work but it would be a good idea to something like that in a situation like this where we had basically no idea what we were up against
Typically we work on guyed and self supports and we’re just fixing lights on them, typically all the parts we need will fit in a bag and most work on those old xenon systems can be done with a Philips head.
@@shephene4483 is it flat or Philips?
Madison is definitely fancy..used to live a bit away in Forest Mississippi and now in Bogalusa Louisiana .
Oh and rope lanyards were outlawed way back in the nineties. You do use your safety equipment correctly though. As best you can where nothing is designed to withstand 5000 pounds. In the future be extra cautious about getting beyond 12 inches on any of those branches. Past the step bolts they're fiberglass and will break off easily.
I'd mostly agree with your statement but the manual for his wire rope grab specifically shows nothing can come in contact with the lanyard or carabiner. He's constantly hooking that pelican for his position lanyard into the carabiner for the rope grab. Might never cause an issue but the manufacturer wouldn't have a picture if it wasn't important.
Did tower climbing a long time ago. This one is a stupid engineering, nightmare. The engineers need to climb this then they would never do another one. Hats off to you. It sucks when you forget a tool been there. Not fun.
Some of the "handholds" available on this antenna, like horizontal threaded rods, do not look like they have a lot of weight bearing capacity. Plus, a lot of physical strength is obviously needed, and these climbers have to be at the top of their game every second. Very dangerous job.
YOU ARE A SMART YOUNG MAN A GREAT ATHLETE GOOD LUCK HOPE YOUR BACK IS BACK TO NORMAL
@@RichardThompson-gc1cf thanks. And actually I’m about to have surgery on my back again lol
While in recovery, please read the manuals that came with your equipment. As a certified competent person who climbs similar every week, i noticed where you stow your positioning lanyard pelican hook. Nothing should be near or on top of your wire rope grab, the weight will slow or stop it's stopping action. Wishing you a complete recovery, we need more climbers.
Whole new respect bro!
@@mnewln1800 thank you brotha
Climber: "ground man, you got a copy"
Ground man: "yes sir, go ahead"
Climber: "I got a air mail delivery heading your way......heads up"!!
More armchair tower experts in this video than there are towers.
Some days,you just want to yell headache and drop what your carrying.
I think if i had plenty of work , i would tell them to shove it on the fake trees.
Great job, i have that same harness fall tech 😂
lol hell ya. Comfiest seat I’ve ever used 😂
@shephene4483 most definitely and I like the color I didn't get what other new guys got which is bright safety orange haha I lucked out forsure 😅
@@davidzen7971 I used a petzl volt for a while and while I liked how light it was, the build quality wasn’t great and it wasn’t as comfy as the fall tech.
You need a raise!
A spool of Kevlar Kite Cord weighs next to nothing and can be used either to ‘pull up’ unanticipated gear or items (that are relatively light), or you can pull up a heavier rope for raising or lowering heavy stuff. The 200 lb. break strength stuff is only 1.1 mm diameter.
@@scruguru someone else suggested something similar, It’s a good idea and I’ll have to try that next time we do something like this. I appreciate the advice
Go go gadget helicopter 🚁..
Love the comments of people saying this or that when 90% of commenter's wouldn't make it 20 feet before freezing up and needing to be rescued. Good job.
I wouldn't even start. I'd look up at that deranged obstacle course and walk away yelling "NOPE! F-- you, I quit" 🤣
Before you said it about engineers, I was thinking it. The trees, no easy access to platform, just horrible after that climb. The trees to conceal it , not for beautification. This is has to be Gwen tower, emf is probably off the charts up top...get a meter. Prolonged Radiation can make you sterile and many things.
That giant tree loves that tower.
When i was a kid i used to clib those towers without safty lines or harnesses just to steal the red glass light cover .
You probably ate paint chips as a kid to huh
When I was a kid climbing trees was fun, this not so much though.
Good work.
A tower not meant to be climbed wouldn't have ladder rungs all over it.
I hope you posted this as a video of what not to do in our industry. If I took a shot every time you said you forgot something I'd be wasted by minute 27.
23:09
Holy crap !!
I can tell that going down is harder than climbing up.
Também acho. Para descer será um desafio muito grande.
They should really add rungs on these towers with all the obstruction on the cable grab
True that lol. They need to add anchor points as well but a man can dream
@ 47 . 20 "i need a raise" that tower hasn't heard that before .
There used to be a guy on You Tube that would go up towers to change lights, I guess he had his own company, he charges $30,000 to go up a 1200' tower and change the bulb..... Think he retired, he was like 60+ yo. and still at it, that was like 2 or 3 yrs ago .....
We’re just a small company contracted through SBA and towerco and a few other smaller tower companies. We don’t charge anywhere near that 😂 however, the tallest towers we do are around 500-600
He also did inspection and remediation consulting. Not for just light bulb changinfg. Most of us now use LEDs and strobe which gives longer life, but periodic inspections and csrtifications are still mandated.
Respect.
That needs some serious pruning!
You didn't nick any of those wires when you used the wrong tool to remove the outer jacket did you?
It would suck to break or drop the bulb being close to the top
Replacing a obstaflash to à drakelightning beacon and the beacon is hidden by the fake branch
You created all your hardships with that climb. You don’t deserve a raise you deserve the learning experience that you got with that climb. Hopefully you’ll remember to bring everything you’ll need on the next one.
@@joegosselin2888 as I’ve said many times, my company does not work on this type of lighting system. Most of the ones we work on don’t require tools to open and if they do, everything in the light can be done with a flathead screwdriver.
@@shephene4483 and a rope.
He forgot to wear diapers.
@@shephene4483 you told another guy everything is done with Phillips head and tell me flat head lol?
@@joegosselin2888 meant to say Philips. So sorry
Dude … WTF … God Bless man …
I don't know how you can do this. Just watching this video I'm nervous anxious and my palms are sweating.
Why wouldn't he reconnect the cable once he passes the clips? It seems like they would stop him if he fell
Ya after climbing this once it be I'm not working this tower again.its unsafe to climb no safety points higher up for clipping myself to.
Never saw the tree disguise thing before.
If you can find a Craftsman all-in-one screwdriver buy it, one would be perfect for the job you do. It's a multi-bit screwdriver but the bits slide up into the handle and then when you lock it it's just a handle nothing is sticking out it fits great into a pocket. Look it up it's a Craftsman all-in-one screwdriver. They don't make them anymore that's the only problem but if you can find somebody that has it it would be perfect for your job
That is one chaotic tower
what does one climb and light replacement pay?
It depends on who you work for. As well as if you’re paid by the job, hourly, or salary.
@@shephene4483 i work as a subcontractor installing fiber drops and can only assume that the tower climb pays very handsomely lol
Not enough.
@Bill_N_ATX I bet.. lol if the price was right I'd give it a shot
always faster coming down isn't it, just like that dump your going to have same relief
If they only would put pine cones on the branches the cell tower would look likens tree
This is child’s play! Since I was a kid I have been climbing jacks giant bean stalk every week free hand and for free! Only once did I actually take the magic beans he offered.
This is obviously designed to be climbed for repair and maintenance.
yeah, though if they wanted it to be as easy as possible they wouldnt have put up all the fake tree branches
@@GeneralPadron you’re technically not supposed to climb it. Most companies use a man lift instead of trying to rig and climb through all of that but due to certain circumstances we weren’t able to. We also didn’t have to worry about rigging and the equipment on the tower we were servicing was small enough to be carried. It was a crappy climb but we decided it was easier than trying to mess with a JLG in that small of a compound
And another thing ...does that tower have branches?
Camouflage to keep tree hugging Karens at bay.
Did you bolt the light down?
@@richardtruesdell8289 yeah I just cut that part out because it was boring
??? why dont they just leave a bit of space at the cable going up so you dont have to unclip or make a triangle so you can go straight up and down and why on the branches are the bolts not cut off so you cant freaking hurt yourself ?
@@dannynieuwenhuizen2438 engineers 😂
@@shephene4483 howmany times by now did you hurt yourself on the bolts sticking out ?
What is harder going up or going down.
@@FrankTrapani-ny1wg both 😂
@@FrankTrapani-ny1wg typically going down is way easier though
What’s the advantage of the artificial branches on it?
@@Bjhyt please the people that have to live close to it, because you know, people want cellphone service but don’t want to see what makes it possible
@@shephene4483 interesting. thanks. Indiana here. I’ve never seen such a thing.
Getting thru all the fake
Branches.Is brutal..They
Arent meant to hold weight...
That's an odd looking tower
If it isn't meant to be climed , why are there foot pegs on it ??
Dude is filming while throwing the trash into the great wide open . Lol 😂
i hope those carabiners aren't from the dollarstore hahahah
@@Toxic-nx6im very much the opposite lol. You’d be surprised how expensive those little things are
@@shephene4483 oh I know. And I also know you wouldn't by that at the dollar store I am just kidding
Knew in the first 10 seconds it was a cell tower.
Next time tell them that if they want the light changed they need to spring for a helicopter cause it's design is next to impossible to hoist a new light up from below much less climb to the top.
14:02 WHAT THE HELL? That vertical cable (which I assume is a lightning ground) isn't even seated in the insulators!
39:04 screwit just leave it up there. It's their own fault for going with such a PITA tower design.
Note to self: don't forget retrieval rope.
I don't know if this would be any help but it would be easier an safer to use a crane and ride up on the cable boom
@@user-rk3sg2be6k not cheaper unfortunately lol
cuts a hand full of wires.... on a cell tower........... "Good thing I'm super smart"
really dude?
일은 미숙한데 그나마 조심해서 다행이다. 보는 내내 가슴이 졸였다. 힘든 작업 영상 고맙게 잘 본다.
If it's not meant to be climbed,what's the static line and ladder rungs there for?
Should still be a mechanic you say? You hate engineers? I cuss engineers all the time when working on vehicles 😂.
@@slimturner9711 an engineer will climb over a pile of 100 virgins just to F$ck a technician 😂
I think the use of more colorful language would have definetly helped.
My family watches my videos 😂
How tall was the tower
@@charlesbutterfieldbutterfi9081 150’
Them stupid fake branches suck and they honestly look like crap from the ground.
I bet your legs ached for a while after that
Fly out this sunday for training if be lying if i wasnt nevous but im more excited my dad did this my whole life
@@user-ei8yb9hd9d hell yeah! Good luck brother you’ll do just fine
It could have been worse! He could have been attacked by artificial squirrels!
I am just amazed, all the money. In the world would not get me to do that. Are you okay? I worry, no more posts. Thanks. She is cute, your girl.
Why do they have all the fake branches up there
To camouflage or blend in with the natural environment. I've seen a few before. You'll see them along the countryside sometimes, national parks have voted for fake tree towers to keep up with the landscape of the park.
Looks like a pain in the rear to climb though.
Really annoying when they put foot pegs on a tower that’s “Not meant to be climbed”
@@marcussterling4954 with these towers most people just opt for a man lift but due to the location and size of the compound we weren’t able to.
Whatever they pay you, it isn't enough.
Just watched. He is getting paid MORE than he's worth. Forgot everything but the GoPro and cell phone. Generation is doomed to fail.
@@gradyrm237 Could you post your page link so we may all learn the proper techniques? Thank you!
@@billotten5955 Relax friend. I thought it was a funny joke. I'm a fiber s
splicer and couldn't climb towers like you guys. Please admit you forgot more than a couple things. HA. We all do.
How High Was That ??
Somewhere around 160. It’s technically not tall enough to need a light. He only reason it has one is because it’s in close proximity to a municipal airport
Not too long before we got there, a helicopter almost came in contact with it and that’s when they decided to finally get the light fixed. It had been on NOTAM for quite a while before then
I’m surprised they don’t put fake squirrels up there to make the green crowd happy.
BTW how long have you worked for those narcissists ?
That’s looked like an awful job. That was about as well as it could be done.
I’ve been doing it for about a year. We mostly do guyed towers and self supports around 300’ or better. This one was very different for me lol. Also thanks 😂
15 hundred bux ? 1 hr work
not singling him out we all do it. just casually tossing little bits of plastic to the wind lol, its like Garbage it just disappears.
Why does it have branches??? Are they making it bird friendly?
A big tall grey tower is ugly in a forest so.. they try to make it not stick out by disguising it as a tree
But… this only works in the summer when the trees are green
@@billyrummel388 awesome, thank you for educating me!
That is one expensive fake xmas tree! 🤣
Not meant to be climbed but they give you a ladder and rigging for climbing lol. You don’t need to clickbait
@@joegosselin2888 you must not have read any of the other comments
It would lose some limbs 😊