Anyone know what this might be?

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Anyone know what this might be?
Message board moderation

To post messages, you must log in.

1 · 2 · 3 · Next

AuthorMessage
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65689
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1386554 - Posted: 1 Jul 2013, 18:52:47 UTC

Anyone know what this might be? It has an antenna and a solar panel and there are a few of these along the 15 Freeway.

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1386554 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65689
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1386570 - Posted: 1 Jul 2013, 19:37:09 UTC - in response to Message 1386558.  
Last modified: 1 Jul 2013, 19:38:02 UTC

Could be a solar powered CCTV camera and some sort of weather station.

Could be, there are a few about every few miles or so on the freeway, either off to one side or in the center like this one, this ones in the Ditch, the Calico Ditch, that's what the small sign on the right says at least.
The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1386570 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1386667 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 1:23:02 UTC

I think Chris is right, we have similar things on some main highways in Canada.

ID: 1386667 · Report as offensive
Profile Carlos
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jun 99
Posts: 29718
Credit: 57,275,487
RAC: 157
United States
Message 1386721 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 5:33:04 UTC

need to get a closer picture to be sure but it looks like a traffic cam. CalTrans has them periodically to monitor traffic flow.
ID: 1386721 · Report as offensive
Profile zoom3+1=4
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 30 Nov 03
Posts: 65689
Credit: 55,293,173
RAC: 49
United States
Message 1386729 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 5:42:58 UTC - in response to Message 1386721.  

need to get a closer picture to be sure but it looks like a traffic cam. CalTrans has them periodically to monitor traffic flow.

Like I said not all of them are in the center median, I'll have to get a pic of another one in between Ft Irwin Rd and Old Hwy 58, I do have sort of a close up, but it's grainy, I think a blow up of the original would be better. I'm not sure if their all the same, oh sure the ones I've seen all have the solar panel, the box(battery for night operation?) and the antenna at the top, beyond that I don't know.

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's
ID: 1386729 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1386786 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 10:14:37 UTC

Looks like there's a camera above the solar panel.
Maybe it takes your picture when speeding...
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1386786 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1386793 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 10:57:52 UTC

Belgium is full of traffic cams!
I drive a half an hour to work everyday and on that road alone, you can find like 5 of these things! A lot of them are situated near traffic lights.
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1386793 · Report as offensive
Profile celttooth
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 21 Nov 99
Posts: 26503
Credit: 28,583,098
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1386804 - Posted: 2 Jul 2013, 13:20:03 UTC

We have traffic cams in the
big cities, but not so much in the
country.
ID: 1386804 · Report as offensive
Profile Shannock9
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Jul 99
Posts: 1396
Credit: 634,964
RAC: 0
United Kingdom
Message 1387049 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 5:58:52 UTC - in response to Message 1386833.  

...Occasionally they have spotted a serious accident in the small hours of the morning when drivers and passengers are incapacitated and haven't been able to call 999, and the emergency services have been alerted immediately...

Similar thing happened to me on I-95 in Connecticut. I had a blowout at 75 in the LH lane (well, everyone else in all three busy lanes was doing 75 so it seemed safer to go with the flow). I was very impressed with the way the surrounding drivers immediately moved to give me more space ahead, behind and at the side - see that happening in the UK LOL. With such cooperation I got the car to the RH emergency strip, pulled way over half onto the grass and started to change the tire. Within 3 minutes a tow truck pulled up offering to help. I asked how much and the operator said it was provided by the State for free - getting people moving again was cheaper than cleaning up the situation when they were struck by inattentive drivers (!!). The tow trucks just cruised up and down all day and were dispatched using CCTV all along the major routes.


ID: 1387049 · Report as offensive
Profile Donald L. Johnson
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 5 Aug 02
Posts: 8240
Credit: 14,654,533
RAC: 20
United States
Message 1387060 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:17:21 UTC - in response to Message 1386729.  
Last modified: 3 Jul 2013, 6:17:58 UTC

need to get a closer picture to be sure but it looks like a traffic cam. CalTrans has them periodically to monitor traffic flow.

Like I said not all of them are in the center median, I'll have to get a pic of another one in between Ft Irwin Rd and Old Hwy 58, I do have sort of a close up, but it's grainy, I think a blow up of the original would be better. I'm not sure if their all the same, oh sure the ones I've seen all have the solar panel, the box(battery for night operation?) and the antenna at the top, beyond that I don't know.

There are a few of those on SR-99 in the San Joaquin Valley. Small weather instruments on top of the mast, a video camera or two lower down to monitor traffic flows and collisions. The traffic video feeds are available through the California Highway Patrol and CalTrans websites. Very useful on Friday afternoons and when the Tule Fogs come after a winter rain.....
Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired
ID: 1387060 · Report as offensive
Profile James Sotherden
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 May 99
Posts: 10436
Credit: 110,373,059
RAC: 54
United States
Message 1387066 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:30:25 UTC

We have them around the major highways here in Syracuse. Back in the old days the radio and Tv staions had guys flying around town during the morning noon and afternoon rushe hours. Thats all history now that the NY state DOT put cameras in.

Here is the link to the cameras.NYDOT
[/quote]

Old James
ID: 1387066 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1387067 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:37:03 UTC

Most traffic cams look like this over here...


rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1387067 · Report as offensive
kittyman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jul 00
Posts: 51468
Credit: 1,018,363,574
RAC: 1,004
United States
Message 1387068 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:39:03 UTC - in response to Message 1387067.  

That looks like one of the trees in the wicked forest from the Wizard of Oz.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

ID: 1387068 · Report as offensive
Profile James Sotherden
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 16 May 99
Posts: 10436
Credit: 110,373,059
RAC: 54
United States
Message 1387070 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:40:47 UTC - in response to Message 1387068.  

That looks like one of the trees in the wicked forest from the Wizard of Oz.


I wonder if it can throw an apple?
[/quote]

Old James
ID: 1387070 · Report as offensive
kittyman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jul 00
Posts: 51468
Credit: 1,018,363,574
RAC: 1,004
United States
Message 1387071 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 6:44:20 UTC - in response to Message 1387070.  
Last modified: 3 Jul 2013, 6:45:14 UTC

That looks like one of the trees in the wicked forest from the Wizard of Oz.


I wonder if it can throw an apple?

I am sure they could be equipped with a robotic arm to throw most anything.
Which is kinda frightening.....
Imagine going a few miles per hour too fast and having one of those things sling an RPG at ya?

Now, that would slow everybody down.
"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

ID: 1387071 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1387082 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 7:34:50 UTC - in response to Message 1387071.  

[Now, that would slow everybody down.



Wouldn't that be something... There are a lot of crazy people on the roads...
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1387082 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1387102 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 8:07:03 UTC

My GPS always gives a signal when I'm about to pass a speed camera.
Them new cars with built-in GPS don't have that anymore...
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1387102 · Report as offensive
Profile Julie
Volunteer moderator
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 28 Oct 09
Posts: 34041
Credit: 18,883,157
RAC: 18
Belgium
Message 1387114 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 8:50:10 UTC - in response to Message 1387106.  

My GPS needs an optional upgrade to do that, but I rarely go anywhere where I don't know where I am going (does that sound odd?) so I tend to leave it at home most times as they tend to be quite nickable.



I know, I've had 2 GPS's stolen already...

You? Sounding odd? Noooo... ;))
rOZZ
Music
Pictures
ID: 1387114 · Report as offensive
Profile Bill Walker
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 4 Sep 99
Posts: 3868
Credit: 2,697,267
RAC: 0
Canada
Message 1387147 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 12:34:53 UTC

In Finland there is a very active user group that posts locations of speed cameras (they get moved regularly) and puts out an ap that uses your GPS to alert you of upcoming cameras. I think Finns are issued smart phones when they are born.

ID: 1387147 · Report as offensive
Profile Carlos
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 9 Jun 99
Posts: 29718
Credit: 57,275,487
RAC: 157
United States
Message 1387148 - Posted: 3 Jul 2013, 12:36:04 UTC

It is a traffic cam. Here is the link to the output. Caltrans:Live Traffic Cameras
ID: 1387148 · Report as offensive
1 · 2 · 3 · Next

Message boards : Cafe SETI : Anyone know what this might be?


 
©2024 University of California
 
SETI@home and Astropulse are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation, NASA, and donations from SETI@home volunteers. AstroPulse is funded in part by the NSF through grant AST-0307956.