Posted: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 11:27 am

The Messenger 12.08.10

The University of Tennessee at Martin is building a new communications tower, scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
The project will benefit WUTM-FM and WLJT-DT, as well as the UT Martin Office of Housing, Maintenance Center, Depart-ment of Public Safety and ham radio operators’ frequencies.
The project includes engineering, supplying and installing a new 300-foot, three-leg, self-supporting communications tower, foundation and all appurtenances and a precast concrete building.
The new tower includes a climbing ladder with anti-fall system, transmission line support ladder and brackets, obstruction warning lights, antenna mounts, grounding and lighting protection and site signage according to Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Communications Commission and all other regulations.
The existing tower will be removed under a separate contract once the new tower is in place and fully operational.
“The new location of the tower is such that it will allow for better use of the property and better access for future tower maintenance,” said Tim Nipp, UT Martin Physical Plant director.
“One other key element is the structural integrity of the new tower. This upgrade will provide a safer campus tower for years to come,” he said.
The new tower and equipment building offer improved features such as updated tower lighting, backup emergency power and security. This ensures the public safety communications equipment, WUTM-FM, UT Martin’s student-operated radio station, and WLJT-DT public television station can stay on the air during emergency situations or power outages.
“Connectivity to the new facility also gives us the ability to monitor key functions at the site such as tower lights, heating and cooling and power,” said Rodney Freed, UT Martin instructor of communications.
“When the tower and building are complete, transmitting antennas and cabling on the tower will be installed. We’re hoping everything can be completed by May,” he said.
Kenneth Robinson, director of engineering for WLJT, added, “We will benefit from the added security for the fiber equipment and microwave transmitter, due to the enclosure layout of the tower building, and the UPS/generator system, which should supply power 100 percent of the time. The new tower building will also have proper cooling, which should extend the life of the equipment it houses.”
The project designer is SSR Ellers Inc. of Memphis and the contractor for the tower project is Diversified Contractors Inc. of McKenzie.