Chuck, It's possible that the utility is experimenting with a system that was previously used by another utility. I saw a rack of identical units- same antenna as shown in Mike's pictures- at a PG&E equipment yard in Santa Maria. Depending upon the distribution voltages, a utility may choose a radio based system in one area and a carrier-current based system in another. Remote meter reading systems are especially attractive in rural areas, where a meter reader might have to travel for many miles to read just one or two meters.
I have transponders made by Scientific-Atlanta and Motorola, but neither are in the type of enclosure shown in the photos. And that's part of the problem- that enclosure is used by many unrelated companies for many unrelated purposes. A Wi-Fi network usually has two antennas cut for the 2.4 GHz band, which the antenna in the photos is not. My conclusion is based primarily on the unit's location, mounting method, and type of antenna. Perhaps Mike can contact his local utility to find out. Or call the local newspaper and complain anonymously that Big Brother is installing a citizen tracking system. That'll get some attention! <grin> 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY -----Original Message----- From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chuck Kelsey Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 8:24 AM To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] Way OT, but a question... Eric, Do you have the manufacturer? Based on the picture, this thing certainly doesn't look new. I have to assume that you recognize the particular device in use. Chuck WB2EDV Eric Lemmon wrote: > Mike, > > That unit is a wireless utility meter transponder. Once an entire > neighborhood is outfitted with the new meters, they can be polled > automatically from a central location. It allows the utility to monitor > demand and power factor in real time as well as keeping tabs on total > consumption. It can also turn the power off or on remotely at individual > meters. One of its greatest benefits is that it can instantly report power > outages at specific addresses (it contains a backup battery), which greatly > aids the utility in pinpointing exactly what transformer, recloser, or > cutout fuse is at fault. A power outage at 1:00 AM in a residential > neighborhood might not be called in until morning using the conventional > metering system, whereas with the polling system, the location and extent of > the trouble is immediately known. > > 73, Eric Lemmon WB6FLY > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Morris > Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 1:38 AM > To: Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [Repeater-Builder] Way OT, but a question... > > Some interesting boxes have been appearing on street lights in my area. > > Anybody know what they are? > > <http://www.repeater-builder.com/wa6ilq/whatsthis.html> > (two photos totalling about 175KB) > > Mike WA6ILQ > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Repeater-Builder/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
