Cell Site?

[Der84]

I took a picture of what might be another cell antenna in my home town in Ontario. It's hooked into a part of the mall where a wireless store is located. There is actually a fairly tall apartment building close by that has all three major carriers (Rogers, Telus and Bell) on it, but from where I was taking the picture, you couldn't see it. It's pointing at the Northeastern parking lot of the mall and has a screen around it to focus on a certain spot, with a kind of pointed panel. So I'm wondering if this is just a small site to fill in a gap where the apartment building doesn't hit.

I figure I'd just post this first to find out for sure before putting it in the album.

Any ideas??

[Jay2TheRescue]

Its an antenna, but I don't think its cellular, at least not a tower site. Maybe the mobile store has a repeater installed?

[spleck]

Originally Posted by Der84

I took a picture of what might be another cell antenna in my home town in Ontario. It's hooked into a part of the mall where a wireless store is located. There is actually a fairly tall apartment building close by that has all three major carriers (Rogers, Telus and Bell) on it, but from where I was taking the picture, you couldn't see it. It's pointing at the Northeastern parking lot of the mall and has a screen around it to focus on a certain spot, with a kind of pointed panel. So I'm wondering if this is just a small site to fill in a gap where the apartment building doesn't hit.

I figure I'd just post this first to find out for sure before putting it in the album.

Any ideas??

Is the antenna aimed at the apartment building with the carrier sites, and is the wireless store a corporate store for one of the carriers?

It could be an external antenna for a data card to handle the stores internet/data traffic, or like Jay said, a repeater to give good signal in-store.

It could also be some other frequency mobile radio antenna, but it looks like its directional, and fairly narrow at that--which suggest a point to point link.

[Der84]

Originally Posted by spleck

Is the antenna aimed at the apartment building with the carrier sites, and is the wireless store a corporate store for one of the carriers?

It could be an external antenna for a data card to handle the stores internet/data traffic, or like Jay said, a repeater to give good signal in-store.

It could also be some other frequency mobile radio antenna, but it looks like its directional, and fairly narrow at that--which suggest a point to point link.

No, the antenna is not pointing in the direction of the apartment building. It's pointing more Northeast, whereas the building is more Northwest of it.. The store is called Wireless Wave, so no it's not a corporate store for one of the carriers.

Now that I see these options, I'm leaning more towards either a repeater like Jay said, or like you said, an antenna for a data card.

[RadioRaiders]

Interesting. I agree with spelck that the upper, curved antenna looks like a point-to-point link. The lower flat-panel could be anything. However, the installation doesn't look fully professional, the way the upper antenna mast is clamped on to the lower one. I doubt a professional installer wouldn't do something like that. So I don't think this is something put in by a cellular carrier, but maybe something more "home-made" by the wireless store.

[spleck]

Originally Posted by RadioRaiders

So I don't think this is something put in by a cellular carrier, but maybe something more "home-made" by the wireless store.

It's possible this might not even be active anymore. If its an independent wireless store, they may have needed a repeater to get a signal in the mall--it might be aimed at what was the closest cell site at some time past. It's hard to sell cells with no signal.

[Der84]

Originally Posted by spleck

It's possible this might not even be active anymore. If its an independent wireless store, they may have needed a repeater to get a signal in the mall--it might be aimed at what was the closest cell site at some time past. It's hard to sell cells with no signal.

Yeah, I think it is still active, but I'm not sure. I couldn't even tell you how long it's been up.
The store is called Wireless Wave, it's a Canadian franchise with stores located in B.C. Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario. I've never looked to see if they have any antennas like this at any of their other locations. I might have to keep an eye out.
There is a Bell Mobility tower in the direction that it's pointing, but I wouldn't think it's close enough.

Good thing I didn't post the pic in the cell site gallery then.

[Wireless Mechanic]

it looks like an antenna to catch signals, and one which is a sector that broadcasts signals. could be part of a repeater network or in-building coverage.

[Der84]

Alright, well that pretty much sums it up then. I really didn't think it was a cell site, but, I didn't want to be second guessing myself and thinking it was.

[TelcomJunkie]

Wow, certainly a hokey install. I'm definitely leaning towards the repeater idea, but that lower panel is throwing me.

[Der84]

Yeah, it is a different installation.
Today, I thought I saw a panel that looked quite similar to the lower panel in the pic. It was peaking out the back of a Rogers Wireless store.