How Cell Towers Work: Hands-On!

Fun fact: when I was selling mobile phones back in 2004, I would spend the store's slow days taking online training courses reserved for my employer's engineers, fascinated by the networks that made mobile phones work. Twelve years (and a change of career) later, my network curiosity still burned strong. So I asked AT&T to let me go hands-on with a cell site - and to my great surprise, the carrier said yes!
Come along as I scope out not one, but two cell sites: one hidden in the steeple of a church, the other perched high atop the tallest mountain in the Northeast. In the process we'll learn about RF energy, what happens when the power goes out, and why the term "tower" isn't always accurate.
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[ABOUT THIS VIDEO]
MrMobile's Tower Tour was produced based on a pitch by MrMobile to AT&T in the Spring of 2016. To make this video possible, AT&T provided access to two cell sites and several network engineering personnel. AT&T also reviewed MrMobile's final script for technical accuracy, but no editorial changes were made as a result of the company's input. Travel expenses were entirely paid by MrMobile/Mobile Nations, and there was no consideration paid to MrMobile by AT&T for the production of this video.
[FURTHER READING]
AT&T Network videos [KZbin]:
kzbin.info...
This Is How AT&T Covers 19,000 People Under One Roof [Pocketnow]:
pocketnow.com/2012/05/21/this-...
AT&T Disaster Recovery Team [Pocketnow]:
• AT&T's Incredible Disa...
Inverse Square Law [HyperPhysics]:
hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/...
Mount Washington History:
blog.nhstateparks.org/mount-w...
Mount Washington New Lowest-Temperature Record:
www.bostonglobe.com/metro/201...
[MUSIC]
“Sensational” by Cymatix, available at Premium Beat:
www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_f...
“Green Fever” by Flash Fluharty, available at Premium Beat:
www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_f...
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[DISCLOSURE]
This post may contain affiliate links. See Mobile Nations' disclosure policy for more details: www.mobilenations.com/external...

[@Grenyas]

MrMobile with that unique coverage 🔥🔥🔥

[@raphaelkhoury218]

Eric Ortiz yeah ! 😂😂😂😂😉

[@Brad-cb2dt]

Pun intended?

[@lettersandnumbersuc]

I had the same job, massive tumor found my chest! This is NEVER SAFE!! That is a very dangerous device! - This is propaganda if your stating its not dangerous to receive harmful signals at that intensity... Beware- Stay away from them!

[@JHuffPhoto]

As a current AT&T employee I am still amazed that this stuff works at all. I worked for 10 years directly on the network first as a cable splicer then as a Central Office technician and I can attest to the huge amount of work it takes to keep a network this size operational. Most people have no idea what it takes. It may as well be magic as far as most people are concerned. This was a great little video. Keep up the good work.

[@BobSmith-mc7uq]

@Isopsephy Aliens have radiated too much hate into your minuscule gray matter. Report back to the mother ship for an attitude adjustment.

[@JJFlores197]

I'm just curious, if you wouldn't mind, what would be the job title of what you do? I've looked at the AT&T careers page and have never seen anything like that, at least in my area. I live outside of Sacramento, CA in a town of 66k people. I see AT&T trucks and vans all the time in my town, but I've never seen a job opening for a technician who installs the service or someone who works on the equipment. I really appreciate any help. Thanks.

[@aab434]

All I can say is they are a horrible company to work for and have laid off thousands of union employees. You won't hear me ever saying anything good about them. They also have terrible business practices.

[@hoodsplicer]

There’s an angry prem tech in our midst

[@Chris_at_Home]

I retired from them 3 years ago. I worked with microwave, fiber and satellite communications. My last six years were at EGRVAKZA. Before that I worked 8 years at PRBYAKZA. We also took care of the pipeline communications and a fiber network to run the pump stations.

[@charlieodom9107]

Where is the "how they work" section? I came here expecting a lot more from the title.

[@user-uw1wq9rj8g]

Yes, he doesn't explain what the title said, instead just like documentary video

[@Deevun39]

This is one Hands-On I never thought I'd see, but I still loved it.

[@victor.c]

Great video. Another idea if possible, would be visit a Smartphone Manufacturer to show how they come up with the ideas to build a phone, or something like that.

[@raphaelkhoury218]

Victor Agostinho yaasssssssssss! 😍😍😍😍😉

[@victor.c]

Raphaël Khoury i know right 😁😉

[@MrBlackdragon1230]

Yes i would love to see him visit a company like HTC or LG etc.

[@Djjolly037]

while that would be nice, that is all research and development and most likely 100% top secret

[@ArunWadhwa]

Maybe HTC or Apple?

[@SimonSage]

Great video. Would love to see some explainers around technology we use every day - how does Bluetooth work, how does Wi-Fi work, maybe dig into material sciences on plastics and alloys used in phones.

[@TheMrMobile]

Good call! Expect more of this in 2018.

[@ishyj398]

I 2nd this! Awesome work, very interesting

[@stevemayvisuals]

LinusTechTips' TechQuickie channel does that, I believe. Mr Mobile's takes are far more entertaining though

[@Djjolly037]

that would be LTT's Techquickie

[@CarsandChris]

Please I love this sort of video

[@Riskbreaker_Riot]

That didn't explain how they work at all. Change the title to - Walking around cell towers and talking more about the area they are at.

[@alfredslywa]

This vid not only highlighted the design and tech efforts by the carriers but showed me that you can produce beautiful and informative material with quality editing. You could probably turn your hand to any type of doco but for now I'm glad you are in the tech space. As a comms tech I say thank you, very refreshing and very appreciated.

[@dkursada]

Wow, did he just really review cell towers?! Damn that's informative and cool, which is what I expect when I launch this KZbin app And I get a feeling that it's not even his final form.

[@Abnarly]

Doğan Kürşat Aktaş It's Micheal Fischer of course not.. ;)

[@RCFlyer85]

Power level is definitely over 9000!

[@Ryukachoo]

1:14 Getting some serious half life 2 vibes. Old architecture heavily invaded by exposed wiring and infrastructure. I like it

[@TheMrMobile]

Borg assimilation.

[@Ryukachoo]

MrMobile [Michael Fisher] Eeeh, I'm not really getting that vibe, but it's a dead ringer for the first thirty minutes of half life two. Perhaps I haven't seen enough of the Borg

[@abramhansen]

Half-Life 3 confirmed!!!!

[@Trident_Euclid]

Ryukachoo That's more like Syrian war ruins.

[@AzuMentch36]

It may be Massachusetts, but I'm not seeing socialist big government tyranny over there. We might see more of the elusive "Government Man" though. XD

[@alex-yj9jx]

thats what i call ultimate coverage

[@adavid9155]

Man, your tech reviews are awesome! Its the types of tech you tend to cover, the little attention to details, like the clouds moving in the back ground that makes your reviews so enjoyable. It's these types of reviews that make people like me appreciates the tech we use from day to day. Thanks for the review.

[@peruprofundodance]

A great 👍 vid nonetheless. Hope everyone appreciates the tremendous, behind the scenes work, that thousands of talented people poured in countless hours to make your basic cellphone service work.

[@Lydia00001]

Lol well they make us pay for it too! 😉

[@darrylwoodbury]

I do. If it weren't for those hard working people, I wouldn't be watching this video while I'm on break at work.

[@JamesBond-kq9kj]

For the 220.00 a month my wife and I pay for our phones I hope a lot of hard work goes into the service itself. I'm sure the network engineers/techs get paid hansomly for their work.

[@Agenteyes007]

Those cellphone towers are death by radiation.

[@clocked0]

Ry You realize it costs money to build this shit... I wouldn't be complaining as much if I were. Also, time is money, so that's an extra $10 there. Be grateful for what you have.

[@lucaskuffner]

This video is awesome! Love seeing the backbone of the networks. Mr. Mobile with complete coverage like always!

[@TechLineHD]

Unique topic presented in the MrMobile way! Enjoyed the video!

[@bibarrel5111]

As an Electronics Engineering student, we went up a cell site last and as a practicum we had to install replacement batteries for the rack that was mentioned, we had to carry them from the base of the tower and those were HEAVY, really great video and interesting to see you delve deeper into the heart of communications engineering.

[@AllstarWeather]

Wow! Mike! Way to step outside of the reviewing mold. I LIKE seeing you do this kind of thing as an aside to your already FANTASTIC device coverage. More please!? Mr. Mobile Road Trips!

[@MuduWaBanana]

Been following you for a while and I must admit that this was one of the most informative videos you've made. Keep em coming!

[@jtdougl8842]

Amazing video! I love your reviews and use them to keep up on what is out there and what phone/tablet to get next. I wasn't sure how I would feel about this video from the title, but I'm glad I watched. Informative and fun as always. As a fan I appreciate filling the void between products with videos like this.

[@luisminervinovlog330]

Like always, the man that thinks outside the box. Does not dettle just doing unbox videos and the same old. Hats off. Loved it.

[@6644pmr]

This was a lot of fun and incredibly informative. Projects like this help you stand out even more from other tech presenters. Awesome job.

[@rutuparna]

What an amazingly distinctive video. No one covers these as well as you do

[@Wecrypt]

Words can't do justice to the efforts you have put just for this video alone!

[@Tanzil46]

Mr. Mobile never disappoints. Please do more videos like this.

[@redhed515]

What an excellent video! Thank you! ☺

[@leonardgallion6439]

Yet another great video! Between the retro tech, regular reviews and specialty reports likes this, Mr Mobile is one of the freshest tech related KZbin channels around. I am also a big fan of the 'travelog' aspects of these types of reports, learned a little history and geography along the way with this one. Now if I could just place that fresh-faced Shakespearean actor in the video... ;)

[@johnlins5574]

Mr. Michael. Fantastic coverage on Cell Towers. We are fortunate that you brought it to us in so great details and high-quality movie. Thank you very much! Kudos to AT&T too. I am in Electrical Electronic Engineering school, and your show just adds so much to my researches and studies. Thank you.

[@wanttotree]

This kinda video makes you different from any other youtuber. Honestly didnt expect this kinda video from you. This is awesome, thanx!

[@shy2papa]

A field trip to NASA communication center

[@DeltaTeam013]

I've never been this early. Great to see you branching pass smartphones and laptops!

[@alvallac2171]

*branching past

[@soulmeetslove]

Thank you! Stories like this are of a huge interest to me. I follow cell news constantly, and have explored a lot about what makes cell networks run, so videos like this are amazing fun to watch and educational in the process.

[@knowthyself8233]

This is the most satisfying and informative video of the 2018 so far.

[@CollinHajduk]

This is great, please make videos like this. Even more on fixed wireless if you want!

[@LeBeautiful]

MrMobile probably got a unique LTE band for this video aha

[@guitarguy3378]

LeBeautiful I fr catch you everywhere

[@robertteran3421]

LeBeautiful idiot

[@paspeedtestingadventures7503]

Band 14

[@varunchopra1455]

This video has renewed my love for your channel thousandfold! The tech behind the tech!! Please keep more like these coming!

[@spunkenhimer]

probably the best basics video I've ever seen on how cell towers work and what goes into them. Thanks MrMobile

[@Doctor1O1]

Call it the FIELD TRIP series..great work! (sim card tech,5G setup changes)

[@hardcore5842]

Yet another great video from MrMobile! I'd like you to cover the future of mobile technology. I find research of new technologies very intriguing. A great place to start would be Harvard U, where I've heard a new, revolutionary battery technology was developed.

[@SDav21]

What an awesome video. Best tech reviewer out there. I love the way the videos are structured and set out as well as the animations. My favourite.

[@jasperfredrickson4420]

This video is so random and goofy for this channel.... and I loved it. More please! Good work Michael, this was rad.

[@Thegreekgeekss]

Make a review about a rock or a wooden stick! I bet you can make that interesting too. Only you can do this Michael! Cheers!!

[@TheEgg185]

Tell me about the dangers of being too close to the transmitter. What strict safety guidelines do the gentlemen adhere to? You left out so much important info.

[@meti9230]

Bro can u help me. I want to go around my house destroying each and every tower I can find. Ive downloaded this app that shows me the locations of each but the problem is each network has their own tower. And theres soo many of themm.... how do I destroy them bro? Please help me... im in the uk btw

[@meti9230]

@@lakersfan892 i hear you man. Do you feel any different from when they installed that thing? Mood swings or anything else? Also what type of antenna is it? A macrocell? You can google it to find out if you are not sure. Also is the tower pointing towards where you sleep? Thanks

[@nthgth]

I don't know about the safety guidelines, but all radio communication uses frequencies below the visible spectrum. The radiation that causes cancer is that which is above the visible spectrum. Hope this helps

[@uvershengovender4106]

Wow, this channel has now hit the nail on the head with content that's interesting, informative, and a delight to listen and watch. Hope to see more of this type of material MrMobile!

[@RedskullPro]

loved this video! very unique!

[@UNBOXINgdude]

grate video bro

[@mohammedshamil65677]

great to see a fellow Malayali fan

[@regiepaul1175]

Me too

[@regiepaul1175]

Great to see malayalis

[@i_watch_everything]

I'm an electrical and electronic engineering student majoring in communication and these equipments amaze me... I like this video so much! Please show more! 😍

[@benjmiester]

Wow this was really cool! X2 for appreciating all that these carriers go through for us!

[@darrellsimon4462]

More videos like this please explaining stuff

[@itscarloszamora]

Facial hair on point😃

[@TheMrMobile]

This is hilarious, since when I was editing this I had a super blizzard beard that was just god-awful. Thanks though! Haha

[@raphaelkhoury218]

MrMobile [Michael Fisher] Michael Fisher is Super Beardman confirmed! 😍😍😍😍😉

[@pivo2k]

Enjoy Vegas! :-)

[@AzuMentch36]

He's almost got that Bryce Harper look for his top hair too. Although, I wonder if that's safe to sport in Red Sox territory. >.>

[@ashleykisses9677]

Real-life lies 7€u777iikkmmnmmm ..lolklllllklll;hh , bbo00i8o0999o🤢☺☺☺☺😈☺🙂🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤐🤢🤢🤐🤐🤢🤐🤢🤢🤤🤢🤢☺🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢☺☺☺☺☺🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢☺

[@VictorGonzalez-xv1hj]

The Mrmobile channel as always pushing the envelope in content creation.Proud of the channel been here since the beginning

[@michaelu2709]

I've been looking for a video like this for years! Thanks!

[@megamind8359]

Karens are gonna burn the church because of 5g 😂

[@Sciron]

LMAO

[@DanKillam]

Really cool coverage of an underappreciated topic. I have been pissed off because many in my town fight cell phone towers because they claim to be "EMF sensitive". So frustrating to have signal drop off because of superstition!

[@ShaunakDe]

I know exactly what you mean! We really need these pseudo-scientists to die!

[@PyritedGoodes]

It's sadly not a superstition my friend, I've found many sources of high emf from the pain on my body. Once the body's reached a certain level of exposure, it often manifests in really bad symptoms. Over 200 scientists (not pseudoscientists) have called for safety standards regarding emf to be strengthened, and for white zones to be established and upheld. At the moment people are condemned to live in pain because the wireless industry have been dishonest about the risks and have got people like you fully addicted to the technology. Oh and before anyone has a cheeky dig at how I'm commenting here, it's through a wired internet connection on my computer. No wifi. I turn on my mobile phone around once a month. www.emfscientist.org/index.php/emf-scientist-appeal

[@HumanOptimization]

Yeah, most people are too celled out to understand the ture science behind how it kills us slowly and is way worse than second hand smoke LOL

[@marrrrrrk]

EMF and RF sensitivity are very real. I know many folks with issues from it, it's easy to ignore until you study it or start to notice symptoms. You being upset at the smart folks in your community is the equivalent of being mad your pregnant girlfriend for not drinking with you. She's superstitious!

[@katiie7]

It’s actually not rare. Im one of them and I know about at least 10

[@ThatsPety]

This is taking "Mr mobile" to a whole. New. Level!

[@andersd6817]

Love the perspective. Thanks Mr mobile.

[@Luzgar]

Can we get more detail that, "this is an antenna" and "this is a bunch of gear". Can just let them explain what all of it does?

[@Riskbreaker_Riot]

Yeah he needs to change the name of the video. He explains more about the areas than anything else.

[@909sickle]

I learned almost nothing about "how cell towers work". Should be titled "What Two Interesting Cell Towers Look Like"

[@Riskbreaker_Riot]

And the areas they are at.

[@stevedoe1630]

909sickle He wants to keep his viewers engaged. The true “how cell towers” work appeals more to the AV Club members, or physics type people. Radio wave propagation, RF spectrum leasing, and optical fiber multiplexing might stress out a viewership that mostly enjoy watching cat videos. (I like it when they chase the laser pointer!)

[@ryansgr8]

What a cool experience! One of your best videos.

[@mdsalahuddin7077]

I used to work for Grameenphone, a Telenor Norway telecom operation in Bangladesh. This awesome and enlightening video has refreshed my fond memory as a telecom employee working with bleeding edge technologies....please keep making videos on carriers and their fascinating stories.

[@fazesponge1422]

Noticed you were using an older iPhone. Should we expect a video on the current Apple throttling issue?

[@TheMrMobile]

+Mustafa Chaudhry Nope, that segment was just shot a long time ago (August 2016, IIRC)

[@TacSprint]

Poor people are just getting LTE this year, meanwhile at&t has announced the rollout of 5G later this year as well. Great video as usual!

[@CountlessPWNZ]

att 5g is just 4g lte rebranding

[@frankrandise1487]

My occupation is CAD Drafting and I specialize in Cellular site. I laugh when people complain about faux trees and cell towers that stick out like a sore thumb. Most people don't even realize when they pass by a small cell site on a utility pole or better cell a steeple! Great coverage Mr. Mobile!

[@erikamartintaylor8818]

LOVED THIS! Such a unique video!

[@Boebus666]

When you're so early that you can't think of a good comment... For now, Notification Squad!

[@ronaldckrausejr7762]

at&t must not have "relayed" the correct information. I know of countless places where at&t does NOT have lte; not does any other carrier. Countless places throughout rural regions of: West Virginia, Colorado, Nevada, North Dakota, etc... The worst offender would be West Virginia. Please feel welcome to check ANY mobile device coverage map; then recheck them for accuracy and real world data. Over one third of West Virginia does not even have 4g cell phone coverage of any kind. But it gets worse... Want high speed internet? If so, that would be a real issue in getting it to almost one half of the entire state. Some counties being so rural, that it is only offered in two or three (not a typo) locations per county

[@officialspaceefrain]

This was an awesome video man. Keep it coming.

[@joshuaaustin99]

This is a seriously great video. Thanks for a solid effort to show us behind the scenes.

[@timman3643]

Some people don't use WiFi at home. They refuse

[@davidhunsinger1587]

LG V30 Squad! Best all arounder of the year!

[@richraunmcmillan8585]

Note 8 squad!

[@dacook1987]

Loved this unique unique field trip! Always love seeing stuff on the technology behind out networks that keep us up and going.

[@Ontheroad13]

I didn’t expect to have much interest in his video until I saw you driving through Franconia notch. I grew up between northern mass and central NH. I’ve lived out of state for over a year now and loved seeing NH again shot so well. I’ve hiked Washington a bunch of times and it’s amazing up there. Thank you for this trip! Gotta love the old cog railway!

[@eltalraffa]

This is not a sponsored video at all

[@TheMrMobile]

That's correct, it's not. See description for full details.

[@eltalraffa]

MrMobile [Michael Fisher] just kidding, I know it is not

[@ShaunakDe]

Thank you MrMobile! I have always wanted to see the insides of one of these! Thank you so much for making this video! And also, I feel we all need to thank ATnT for allowing this!

[@TheAzswift]

Great video. Thanks AT&T for sharing the sites with us!

[@gravitymediapro]

Wow! What an excellent video. Super clear and informative. Great work, thanks for taking the time to make this.

[@Delanchet]

I am so glad that you made this video. These are also the kinds of videos that I'm interested in. Make more of these along with the others that you do and you have a thumbs up from me.

[@coolpoete]

Fantastic video!! Very educational and the cinematography was on point!

[@AwesomeBrony]

I've always had a fascination for cell phone towers for years! Glad to see an informative video on them. So jealous that you got to get a closer look at them! Great job. :D

[@HeadPack]

More like these please. You have a narrative talent, clearly trained voice of an actor, and good camera. My suggestion for a future mini documentary would be to the roots of in-flight internet. How it’s installed, and how it works. And maybe how data works in remote areas, e.g. kayaking on the Yukon.

[@luniasta]

This is such a great, informative and entertaining video! Thank you MrMobile, I hope it pays off for you!

[@victorwestley3577]

Simply an AMAZING video and well provided information. I love the production quality of your videos.

[@jmhanna75]

How can anyone ever thumbs down a video like this. Thanks for this wonderful piece of art. 👍👍

[@manjnerd]

Excellent video, it answered a question I didn't even think to ask and I ask a lot of questions.

[@danielwilliams1499]

Great video. I’m a tower climber and I install these networks. I will be sending this to a lot of new guys to get a basic understanding. Good job! Better than I could have done myself!

[@meti9230]

Do some research on the health risks

[@GeoffJohnson]

One of my favorite videos on KZbin, well done and hope to see more!

[@neidexter]

MrMobile thanks for this amazing journey !!

[@thays9999]

Excellent video, I work in the industry you made this video on, and I have to say, "spot on."

[@VampiresDarkCreed]

We need a series of this! It looks awesome and educational.

[@mrbuck5059]

I been working on towers for 15 years this June. Broadcast, cellular, microwave, stacking, gin pole, winch, welding mods, etc.... Love it.

[@mrbuck5059]

@@renarhodes2990 thats a doppler radar. Those don't put that much power out. I've stood by an active one 3 work days in a row. Not a big deal.

[@Naviss]

More please! I enjoy this sort of thing.

[@liketheterminatortoldya7297]

You need to post more love your videos keep up the good work . Please do two videos a week I can't live without them

[@AlvaroAvalos]

Thanks for such a beautiful video!

[@christianhagler]

Another great video, your outside the box approach is the reason I come here. Keep it up!

[@hyypersonic]

Ok, that was actually a LOT cooler than I thought it was gonna be. Great vid, Michael!

[@SDVenturist]

Very informative. Love the commentary!

[@aaronlowe3156]

I feel so empowered after watching this! So cool to know!

[@abices5358]

Excellent job!!! "As always" Mr. Mobile delivers great quality and very interesting content videos.

[@Noodles.FreeUkraine]

Awesome video filmed in such a beautiful environment, way to go Mr. Mobile!

[@Shahil51]

This was a really fun, entertaining, and educational video! Thanks Mr.Fisher!

[@semiscorner9428]

I loved this video a lot, and I hope you make more content like it in the future. As other users have stated, it would be great to see you cover mobile device manufacturing and how components work, among other more enthusiast-focused topics. I would personally love for the Mr. Mobile channel to evolve into something more expansive than just reviews, which I think unnecessarily limit the amount of personality you're able to bring to the table. A lot of the audience enjoy watching the channel specifically because we like the way Michael Fisher engages with the topic of mobile tech. A series of "Mr. Mobile field trips" would be very engaging for all of us who aren't actually purchasing anything right now, but enjoy watching the channel's content all the same.