Vanishing Mobile Phone Masts

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Posted by Hemos on Friday September 20, 2002 @10:16AM from the locking-them-down dept.

babycakes writes "The BBC has an article about the concealment of mobile phone antennae in the UK, where the masts have been disguised as clock face hands, chimneys and so on. The company behind them, The Undetectables (flash site) aim to 'eradicate this architectural acne' - pics available."

12 of 199 comments (clear)

Min score:

Reason:

Sort:

Re:Ha... by Wakkow · 2002-09-20 10:24 · Score: 5, Informative

my thoughts exactly.. Quick search on google comes across this page with *ooooh* pretty pictures.
This has been done here in the US by teamhasnoi · 2002-09-20 10:32 · Score: 3, Informative

I can't find a link right now, but some Tele-company has been hiding antennas in fiberglas pine trees (in the northwest) and palm trees (in the southeast) . They aren't movie-prop quality, but chances are you wouldn't see them unless you were looking for them. They fool the wildlife at least.
They use them in residential areas and national parks. If I find a link, I'll post it.
1. Re:This has been done here in the US by teamhasnoi · 2002-09-20 10:42 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  Here we go Flash free and links to US companies.
Picture... by Frank+of+Earth · 2002-09-20 10:33 · Score: 5, Informative

I found one that is similar here

--
Live web cams
Other options by Openadvocate · 2002-09-20 10:35 · Score: 3, Informative

There are many options and it is great NOT to see these ugly antennas everywhere.
Here is some examples, fake tress, a fake window, or a cross on a church tower.

--
my sig
Re: The Undetectables (flash site) by RollingThunder · 2002-09-20 10:51 · Score: 5, Informative

I'm not sure it's little files - in the headers, there's this line:

meta http-equiv="refresh" content=";URL="

Mozilla, at least, seems to treat that as a zero second refresh to the same location. As fast as it loads it, it reloads it. :/
This is how they Look Like... by ToKsUri · 2002-09-20 11:25 · Score: 2, Informative

Ibelca is a Spanish company that also works in that same area of "hiding" antennas. Here you can see some examples of antenna trees just in case you were wondering ;)
Ibelca

--
__
Sig: Marine Stock Photos
Nice. by Anonymous Coward · 2002-09-20 11:27 · Score: 1, Informative

It's nice to know that here in the UK we have the good sense to hide the antennas in something inconspicuous.
Re:It doesn't beam downwards by silentbozo · 2002-09-20 11:27 · Score: 3, Informative

Depends on the antenna design. You may get unwanted stray lobes of radiation if they've installed it improperly though. I'd rather put my faith in the inverse-square law.
Re:And in church steeples by victim · 2002-09-20 11:46 · Score: 4, Informative

The Kirkwood United Methodist Church in Missouri had to take their rather massive steeple down due to rot. The church was unable to commit the resources for a replacement. AT&T had a replacement built and installed in exchange for antenna rights.

I'd link a picture, but the web site also rotted away. Trust me, the steeple was an integral architectural element and the building looked silly without it.

And for those worried about emissions, no need. AT&T phones barely work in the building. I suppose the antennas don't radiate down very well. Of course we are probably cooking the Christian Scientists and the Catholics next door...
Re:But if they hide all the cellular towers.... by hoagieslapper · 2002-09-20 15:26 · Score: 2, Informative

Being somewhat of a wireless tech, there is a place we call the 'touch down radius'. It is possible to be right under a tower and not get reception due to not being in the Frenel Zone. I will admit though that I do not know the specs on the antenna they use or what downtilt angle, or anything else along those lines.
Re: The Undetectables (flash site) by skookum · 2002-09-20 16:49 · Score: 2, Informative

I agree, that is one ghastly site. There is no good reason to use Flash in this case. Did you notice in the BBC article how they included screenshots of a browser window showing the pictures, because they couldn't link to the pictures properly? I'm sure Berners-Lee is rolling in his grave, but since he's not dead he's rolling in his desk chair.

If you object to this website, let them know:
mail@undetectables.com +44 (0)117 9290400