subject: Type of Antenna Towers - Guyed Tower vs. Lattice Tower [print this page] Type of Antenna Towers - Guyed Tower vsType of Antenna Towers - Guyed Tower vs. Lattice Tower
An antenna tower is one of the most essential components of any communication network. It is used transmit the radio waves across the network.
To be effective, antennas need to be installed or mounted at great heights. This can be achieved by constructing a tall composition or a tower and then mounting the antenna on it. It is important these tall towers are designed properly and the right type of tower is chosen for the specific requirement and location.
The height of the antenna tower is decided depending upon the usage. The type of radio wave to be transmitted is a key factor in deciding about the tower height. If the tower is too tall, the waves will be misdirected, if it is too short, the waves may get absorbed in the ground. Once we have decided how tall the tower should be the next step is to choose what type of tower will be most suitable for that location and height.
There are 2 types of antenna towers that can be built:
Guyed Towers
Guyed towers are single long-pole towers that are fixed into the ground and tied by strong cables on their sides to provide stability.
When installing a guyed tower a tall structure needs to be supported against the swaying forces so that it is not uprooted. Take palm trees for example. They are tall and sway vigorously in the wind. The trees ability to bend helps it to stay rooted and not fall over.
Similarly, a tall guyed tower would sway and the rigidity of the tower will cause it to tip over and the base to be uprooted. To help the tower stay straight and bear the winds, it is tied by strong cables, generally steel, which are fixed to the ground on the sides of the tower. These cables that support the tower are called "Guy" wires. Depending on the wind velocities in that area, guy wires are tied to the pole on the relevant sides and anchored to the ground. These towers have a limit on the height they can reach because the taller the tower, the wider is the base.
After a certain diameter, it does not make sense to put up this type of tower due to various constraints of construction.
Lattice Towers
The other type of antenna towers is a lattice tower. This is structure built by joining smaller pieces of steel in a way that the entire structure is tall, strong and stable. Built with either 3 or 4 legs supporting the entire structure, these towers are the most popular as they are easier to build and offer much more stability than that of guyed towers.
The sections of steel that are generally used to build these towers are called "L" sections because they are pieces of steel molded in the shape of "L". These L sections, of required thickness and width, are welded together to make a lattice tower.
The specialty of a lattice tower is that it is a freestanding structure, meaning that there is no external support required. These towers are also used for power transmission lines all over the world. The other specialty is that it is a framework structure meaning that the entire tower will be only a skeleton and no filling or walls are required for this type of structure.
