>>2824260
>Is it hard to get into that work?
As a tower hand, not really. Stacking new towers and painting jobs are just construction jobs in the vertical axis. Wireless ISPs add in a little more technical skill (microwave/ip).
Most radio shops (LMR or broadcast) don't do tower work - they hire it out. Those contractors don't do any of the tech stuff, they're just "put antenna on tower" and the radio shop does the technical stuff like line sweeps, equipment installation/testing.

Get your tower cert, basic climbing and safety, usually 2+ days. Rigging is a good skill to know too, especially if you're doing bigger hauls (heavier cell antennas, dishes, tower sections). Rope Access SPRAT/IRATA will open a bunch of doors to you, both in RA and tower work. First Aid/CPR and OSHA10/30 also good ones to have if you're looking to move into foreman/supervisor roles.

Might get some snowcat/atv vehicle training if your company has and uses those.

>Is it dumb to get into that work?
It's a small niche industry so there isn't a ton of demand for it, but it's also an industry that many other industries depend on. I do quite a bit of public safety work, cops and firefighters rely on their radios, so there's always going to be work there if you know what you're doing.

Some companies are better than others. There's a lot of cowboy companies out there that don't train their guys to do things right, and your career options there hurt because of it. They're just out there trying to make payroll, lowest-bidder companies. Other ones train and take care of their guys, those are the ones you want to work for.

I've made a decent living in it, but i'm not "just" a tower guy either.
>I fucking hate climbing monopoles.