Does anybody know what these are?

[scott1120]

In Plano, on several streets, there are some small silver boxes with 4 white antennaes on them mounted to utility poles. They appear every so often, but in a pattern. Does anyone have a clue what they are? I am thinking they are some kind of WI-FI setup.

[MingsPhoto]

Can you post a picture of the boxes?

-Ming

[DigitalScape]

Scott, I have seen them as well and have wondered what they are. I had not heard anything about a WiFi being set up for the city of Plano.

[Dobick]

Without seeing them, they could be a number of things from your description.

I know that some of the utility companies are upgrading their SCADA system to take advantage of newer technology.

Another possibility could be a new rollout of data services for the public service sector like the police and fire departments and other first responders.

Those would be my first guesses. You could always try to get your hands on a spectrum analyser and see what frequency they are broadcasting in, or if you can get up close enough to them to read a label, they should have something on them that says the frequency that they are broadcasting in.

[JamesB]

speed monitoring devices used to read your toll tag or ez tag???

James

[boxofrocks]

While we're at it, what about the ball/spere I've seen on top of some police cars--about the size of a volleyball. What the heck is that?

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Dobick

Without seeing them, they could be a number of things from your description.

I know that some of the utility companies are upgrading their SCADA system to take advantage of newer technology.

Another possibility could be a new rollout of data services for the public service sector like the police and fire departments and other first responders.

Those would be my first guesses. You could always try to get your hands on a spectrum analyser and see what frequency they are broadcasting in, or if you can get up close enough to them to read a label, they should have something on them that says the frequency that they are broadcasting in.

Most (but I suppose not all) power companies SCADA systems transmit over the power lines these days. Even my little rural coop reads the meter over the powerlines.

[PaulP]

Originally Posted by boxofrocks

While we're at it, what about the ball/spere I've seen on top of some police cars--about the size of a volleyball. What the heck is that?

That would be the FLIR. It's an infrared camera system allowing the police to see in the dark or through smoke.

I believe it ewas originally developed for the military by TI (now Raytheon) and then sold to the police.

Paul

[Robbzilla]

Originally Posted by iCe

Most (but I suppose not all) power companies SCADA systems transmit over the power lines these days. Even my little rural coop reads the meter over the powerlines.

I can say with good Authority that TXU(Encore) uses BPL to keep track of their systems. Or at least they're implementing it as we speak. I know this because I work for the company that's deploying the system. :)

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Robbzilla

I can say with good Authority that TXU(Encore) uses BPL to keep track of their systems. Or at least they're implementing it as we speak. I know this because I work for the company that's deploying the system. :)

With all the problems that BPL (Broadband over Power Lines) has had with the FCC I'm surprised that people are still trying to use it. Maybe they finally figured out a way to not interfere with radio communications? That would explain the little white boxes with the antenna's on them. It's probably for wireless internet service.

I do a ton of SCADA work (design and programming) all over the US but mostly for oil and gas related industry. We use a lot of 900 Mhz radios and also connect to the customers WAN so we don't have any problems with the FCC.

A quick GOOGLE Search for BPL didn't turn up anything negative so maybe they finally figure out how to not violate federal law.

[Robbzilla]

Yeah, we figured out how to not screw up every HAMM in town :) The BPL is live in the lower Greenville and Highland Park areas as we speak. But the little antennas aren't ours. We're hanging from the common area of the telephone poles, although some of our original work was in the higher area. But no wireless.. We run fiber to the last mile and BPL to the house. There will be BPL internet available eventually, but not sure of the carrier. It's really nice though in that it's truly bi-directional on bandwidth. (ie 3 up AND 3 down) and seems to work pretty well. Cincinatti also has BPL for internet only. DFW is the 1st major market using BPL for a smart electrical grid.

If you'd like to read up on us, the website will tell you more than I will because I'm not always 100% up on what can be said to the public... :) (I'm an IT admin, not a Front line guy)
http://www.currentgroup.com/

[iCe]

Well thats cool. That means broadband will be easier and easier to get as time goes by. I especially like the truly bi-directional part

[engstrom]

They're part of the city's WiMESH network for public safety:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dfwscan/message/26935