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Finding Cell Sites
Here are steps to aid you in finding cellular sites. They can be obvious or they can be well hidden. The objective is to narrow down the location to a specific structure. You may never see the antennas. Many carriers do not own their cell sites.
Online Resources:

There are lots of web sites that may help you narrow down locations of nearby cell sites. Some are not intended for "cell site detectives", so you may need to tread lightly.

WIRELESS CARRIERS:

TOWER AND SITE COMPANIES:
  • AMERICAN TOWER
    They just own towers. You can't tell who is on it, if anybody.

  • CROWN CASTLE
    Thousands of sites, requires registration and data may not include which carrier is on which tower.
  • GLOBAL TOWER PARTNERS
    An easy to navigate site but no specific information on carriers. Reportedly they will tell you if you call.
  • KGI WIRELESS
    This is an easy site to navigate. They show existing sites as well has some, including buildings, that are available for new installations. They usually list the carrier that uses the site.
  • METROPOLITAN AERIALS
    An easy web site to use with towers in IA, MI, MN & WI. They have maps but no identification of any cellular carriers.
  • SBA TOWERS
    More towers for rent. Yes, many with nothing on them.
  • SKYWAY TOWERS
    Their maps let you click all over the country, but their sites are located in only a few states. There's no information of what is located on their towers.
  • TOWERCO
    They have over 3000 sites in 47 states and multiple ways of looking up their locations. You can't tell what is located on each tower, however, you might if can qualify for an account.
  • TELECOM SITE SOURCE
    This is a combination of tower location web sites, including Sprint's. Usually, you can't determine the carriers.

  • ZAYO GROUP
    This company uses cell sites to connect their broadband network, and in Philadelphia, Memphis and DC/MD/VA they identify some of the towers they use by the cellular carrier who either owns or uses that tower.
MORE CELL SITE LOCATION RESOURCES:
  • THE FCC
    This is a difficult site to navigate. Not all Cellular sites need to be licensed so only certain sites are listed, PCS sites are not listed. The best way to start your search is to click on Market Search, then choose Market Type: "CMA - Cellular Market Area", scroll to your market, then Radio Service Code: "CL - Cellular". Click "Search" and you'll be offered a list of cellular carriers. Click on a Call Sign, then the Locations tab. Another FCC resource is the Antenna Structure Registration which involves large databases and a Search that requires knowledge of the type of structure or licensee you're seeking.
  • ANTENNA SEARCH
    Mostly non-cellular sites but very easy to use and includes new cell sites that might go online. However, some sites are speculative.

  • CELL-PHONE-IN
    A basic list of cellular towers with very little specific information.
  • CELLRECEPTION.COM
    A convenient presentation, although less-inclusive, of the FCC records, which are not a complete list.

  • CELL SITE HUNTING CLUB
    This forum is part of Wireless Advisor and is populated by cellular users who have tracked down cell sites in their areas and posted the results, some with maps and pictures. You can also throw out a question to the group for cell site finding assistance.
  • CELL SITES IN NATIONAL PARKS
    A list of cell sites located within the boundaries of US National Parks and Federal areas.
  • CELLUMAP.COM
    A nice map presentation of cell sites and information about each site. Until you figure it out, the web site is difficult to use and yields information about a limited number of cell sites.
  • GOOGLE EARTH/FCCINFO.COM
    This application overlays FCC files with Google Earth to provide a visual locator for cellular and other RF sites. It's limited to locations that are on record with the FCC.
  • YOUR LOCAL CITY OR COUNTY WEB SITE
    Some jurisdictions have a list showing applications for building permits. Others have minutes of the Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment or City Council meetings that address applications for cell sites. Look for "CMRS", Commercial Mobile Radio Service, entries.
  • YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER
    Do a Search on your local newspaper's web site for stories about cell sites. A new site is a big story in a smaller paper. This also may shed light on local challenges in establishing new cell sites.
  • CELL SITE SEARCH Search Through Our Resources.
  • CELL SITE PICTURES What They Look Like.
  • CELL SITE FAQ
  • COVERAGE MAPS Some Give Hints of Cell Site Locations.


People Resources:
You'll be surprised how much you can learn if you just ask. This is a list of places to look for the right people. Some will ask your intentions. Normally, if you're honest and polite, they'll share what they know. You may need to be persistent, but always be nice.
  • The Nearest Cellular Store. These employees are best approached in person. They should know nearby cell site locations, but often don't. If you visit a corporate-owned store, seek out the "geek", maybe the guy who fixes phones, and ask. Better are independent cellular stores, possibly Radio Shack, who have a broader knowledge of each carrier's facilities.

  • Your City or County. These people can normally be reached by phone and there should be several people who should know site locations. The task is to find the right person. Virtually all cell sites require a building permit so the Building Department should know them all. However, these are busy people so you may need to ask around to find someone willing to help. Most cell sites need 'special consideration' so often a "Community Development" or "Facilities Coordinator" gets involved. Don't limit your search to public 'officials', normally the 'coordinator', clerk or even a secretary knows more than the boss. Don't overlook public entities who control large real estate holdings like your Department of Highways or school board.
  • Building Managers. You may see or suspect a cell site located on the rooftop of a nearby building. Call the building's manager. Some buildings have a receptionist who may have spoken to the cellular installers and repair persons and know which carrier they are working with.

  • Utilities. Cell sites can be found on water towers, power poles and other infrastructure. These organizations are often large and it may be difficult to find the right person to help you. Being nice helps your cause.

  • Your Homeowners Association. Cellular carriers normally notify your HOA about nearby cell site installation and some actually rent space in your common areas. If you haven't contacted your HOA before, this is a great reason to look them up.

  • Wireless Construction Companies. They could be as close as your yellow pages. These could be very small and you might end up ringing the owner's cell phone. Make a friend here, though, and you'll be golden. A 6-pack might help the exchange of information.




Technical Tools:

Equipment is simple: a cellular phone is all you need to find cell sites. You are entering the world of "DF", Direction Finding, where even modest equipment can pinpoint a cell site's location.

  • Your Current Phone
    The simplest and roughest way to find a cell site is to look at your phone's signal meter...the "bars". If you see "full" bars everywhere, you need to find a way to reduce the signal to the phone. You can wrap the phone will aluminum foil with just the screen exposed. The idea is to drop the "bars" on the phone's screen. Another possible method is to leave the phone on the floor of your car. Then, walk or drive in any direction. If the bars rise, you are approaching the cell site, if they fall, you are traveling away from it. Average the distance between where you find the 2nd highest reading and found your most likely location.

    To further refine your search, travel in a perpendicular line to your previous search to find another average point of maximum signal. Where the two lines cross indicates the most likely location of a cell site. Radio signals can fool you, though. Your areas of greatest signal could be locations where your phone only happens to "see" a strong signal from a distant site.

  • Enter Your Phone's Programming or "Debug" Menu
    This site search method is the same as above, but your phone can give you a more precise signal measurement. You need to access your phone's Programming Menu. Unfortunately, every phone is different in how it accesses it's menu. A web search with your phone's model number and "Programming menu", or "Debug" may yield results. The most common code for US CDMA phones was "040793". Enter the code and look for a screen that shows a number that is constantly changing...this is the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) which will vary as you move the phone around, even slightly. In the image on the right, that number is "F3". The number is normally shown as negative ("-"), and the weaker the signal, the greater the number. However, as in this case, some screens show a hexadecimal number, such as that on the right. The RSSI of "F3" is within a range from "80" as the lowest, to "7F" as the highest. As above, finding a way to reduce the signal at the phone provides more useful results. Don't drive and watch the screen!
  • Try an Old Phone
    Some phones are easier than others to access their digital signal indicator. Older phones may be easier to "hack," although information on older models is disappearing from the web. Old digital phones are available at cheap prices at source like eBay. Analog and TDMA phones are not useful for searching.

  • Cell Signal App's.
    There are now some downloadable Apps for some phones that reveal the location ID information that is broadcast by some cell sites. The data phone can only "see" sites that are transmitting compatible technology (CDMA, GSM). In many cases the cell site location data is not properly programmed on to the signal.
    One known App for the Blackberry is Cell Signal Location.

  • Serious Direction Finding
    There are serious "DF'ers" who track down radio signals as a hobby or as a life-saving tool. The Wikipedia has more on radio Direction Finding Devices as does the American Radio Relay League. Don't expect to find someone who will actually help you look for a site, but they may explain how to do it and direct you to other resources.

  • This is what you will see when you have arrived.
    Be safe! Always drive safely when searching for cell sites. Keep your eyes on the road.







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