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All classes held in Monroe

40 Hours of Intense Training

The "Basic Tower Construction" class is an intense five-day overview of the complex issues of constructing and maintaining wireless communication sites. Since most of these sites involve towers, we teach the skills and regulations necessary to build turnkey sites. In this class, we take the student from a general understanding of demand for towers through the stages of selecting and constructing a site, and into the maintenance and inspection of the finished site. Along the way, you will learn the numerous skills required to build and maintain these very specialized structures.

The course is constructed to provide advice on areas of concern to project management and contractor evaluation as well as the construction skills. Issues of communication (field to office, field to client, field to manufacturer,etc.), bidding/RFQ development and change orders are as important as connecting transmission lines.

This class is intended to be used as a tool by everyone responsible for, and working at, wireless communication sites. Satisfied past students have included tower owners, commercial wireless communication managers, tower techs., riggers, project & contract managers, directors, commercial service suppliers, broadcast engineers, and new hires.

The “Basic Tower Construction” course is taught by eight (8) instructors to increase objectivity and response to questions.
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TOPICS & WORKSHOPS INCLUDE:

History and Overview:

A brief history of both analogue and digital wireless communications leading up to the current explosive demand. Topical overview of the process of construction of a wireless communication tower site introduces the majority of separate topics covered by the text.
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Surveying:

Use of professional equipment and calculation to perform plumb and tensioning. Teaches how to measure torque along with measurement of antenna heights without climbing, leveling and site layout (Workshop by: Willett, Hofmann & Associates).



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Foundations:

Excavation, rebar, concrete, testing forms and structure, record keeping and trouble shooting.



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Tower Erection:

Stacking the steel, relationship to other special areas, layout, planning, communications, tools and equipment, safety, jin poles, winches, plumb and tension, cranes, and guy wire installation.


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EIT/TIA Standards:

Introduction to fabrication and erection standards. Wind/Ice loads, plumb, twist, hardware, plans and markings, climbing devices, foundations, guy wires, grounding, and inspections.
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Basic Electricity:

A basic training in both AC&DC electricity, circuits, flow, terminology, symbols, diagrams, basic formulas.



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Knots & Ropes:

Study one of the most critical machines in tower technology, soft lines, and wire rope, construction of, inspection of, maintenance, storage transportation, knots and strength ratings (Workshop by: ComTrain LLC).



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Tower Rigging:

Basic rigging as required in vertical work on towers. Gravity, center of gravity, slings, blocks, reeving, strength calculation of system, power sources, winches, hydraulics, tagging, helicopter usage, riding the winch line and rigging hardware (Workshop by: The Crosby Group).



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Lighting and Marking:

Paint, lighting and strobes. FAA and EIA/TIA standards and regulations, temporary lighting, installation, inspections and maintenance.




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Connectors, Weatherproofing & Grounding:

Introduction to antennas, RF and relationships to electricity, types, radiation patterns, transmission line construction, installation, testing, inspection, connectors, grounding, and weatherproofing (Workshop by: Andrew Corporation).



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Safety:

Overview of major regulated safety issues on site. Hazard assessment, PPE/OPE, PFAS, excavations, lockout/tagout, safety plans and meetings and documentation (Workshop by: ComTrain LLC).




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Testing, Adjustments and Maintenance:

Path alignment, troubleshooting, tower maintenance, sweeps (FDR&TDR) reporting.




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Inspections:

Documentation, planning, techniques, standards, communications and record keeping (Workshop by: Legacy Communications).


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All “Basic Tower Construction” Attendees Receive:

“Basic Tower Construction” Textbook (over 600 pages)
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"Tower Riggers" Dictionary




Certificate of Completion





Certificates from various workshops such as:
Andrew Corporation

ComTrain LLC

Crosby Group Inc.


Knot Knut


Workshop texts & assorted reference materials