What are those random antennas poking from the ground around shopping centers? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:47:02 am
content: I occasionally see 2m whip antennas sticking straight up out of the grass near the road in public plazas or large shops. There's one behind our local Walmart.What are these for? Some sort of CB or shortwave coms? Maybe for truckers?

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:52:03 am
content: Do they have flags on the end?

author: SL4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 07:48:08 am
content: Photos?

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 09:08:06 am
content: Can't say I've ever noticed any near the shopping centres I've been to in Australia?I know some places employ a system which prevents shopping trolleys from being taken outside the boundaries of the complex, although they usually have an antenna cable embedded into the roadway around the perimeter of the car park so that if you cross the boundary, the wheels will lock. I haven't seen omni-directional antennas used in such a system.Are you sure they are antennas at all?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 01:14:50 pm
content: Quote from: BravoV on June 09, 2018, 12:50:28 pmI never know when I'm going to see them and usually don't have a camera when I do because irony.No, they are not banner holders or anything like that. They are definately radio antennas. Even if they were using it as such they would be useless as ads as they are sometimes behind the shops or on the exit road. (I've seen them at gas stations too). I can show what the antennas look like (I found pics of similar ones).Imagine this...sticking staight out of the ground. No visible mounting either as it's pretty flush with the ground, or at least the grass has overgrown the mount. There is usually just one per area, though large plaza might have several scattered around (I haven't noticed more than two but as I said they are sometimes hidden).EDIT: They aren't all exactly like this, and often have plastic sleeves around at least a portion of it, which is either weather protection or more coil.

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 01:18:53 pm
content: Could be a system to stop people running off with the trolleys:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2179891.stm

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 01:42:04 pm
content: Could be, but if it is, these folks around here don't use it right as I've rarely seen locks on the cart wheels (at least at walmart, don't know about the other places though).That would make sense being on the back roads or exits, as that's where the carts would get nicked.However, those systems are usually embedded in the road as someone said. I've also seen them outside gas station shops and others that I know only have hand baskets.EDIT: The anti-theft things aren't always wheel locks apparently. They are sometimes just RFID tags, which could be easily hidden inside ad banners on the carts (or baskets). I'll have to look next time and see if I see them.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 02:00:33 pm
content: I don't see any valid reason why you would put a (presumably something around 27MHz) antenna on the ground. The only use (when 'properly' installed on the roof or something like that) I can think of is a pager system, but I believe they all died long ago, at least around here.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 02:09:14 pm
content: To answer this, pics would be nice - but also a sketch showing locations.Safe to say that nobody who's read this thread so far has come across this, so more information is needed.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 02:15:58 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on June 09, 2018, 01:14:50 pmHowever, having seen one YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS. So go back with a camera and irony. Because pics or it didn't happen.

author: bob225
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 02:24:04 pm
content: iirc over in the us of hay you have sprinkler systems on a lot of grass, there just sprinkler markers so the idiots don't run over them when cutting the grass ?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 03:00:36 pm
content: Quote from: bob225 on June 09, 2018, 02:24:04 pmAgain, they are radio antennas as above. They might be relics from a bygone era that may no longer be in service as like a pager system or something, but they remodeled the Walmart some years ago and I would think it would have gotten removed then.Could it be a repeater for the handheld radios so they extend outside?I'll get a pic of the one behind the Walmart when I can.EDIT: I can do a map sketch of where it's located as well.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 03:02:10 pm
content: Quote from: bob225 on June 09, 2018, 02:24:04 pmI thought those things popped up when watering and dropped down to ground level when not ... and that you would need a turf cutter to do any damage. Mowers just roll over them and the blades are too high to cause damage..

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 03:05:19 pm
content: Given how big they are the antennas would be more of a danger to mowers than a marker. And yes, sprinklers also retract into the ground so they don't get hit.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 03:45:01 pm
content: I can find them on Google maps.Here's the location of the Walmart one.You can kind of see it too (although I'm blocking it a bit with the cursor).

author: CopperCone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 03:49:02 pm
content: 27 MHz radiation interferes with reptilian camouflagegina haspels new policy after the last batch of eggs was found in a footlocker.don't tell anyone.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 04:04:30 pm
content: Do you mean here....?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 04:20:03 pm
content: Oops, wrong turn, that was a sign I saw in the map.It's either in the next turn into the dollar store (or the previous one for employee entrance, but somewhere back there at least) or it's been very recently installed.EDIT: I'm also on android and the street view in the brower just goes all black.EDIT2: The cart detector might hold creedance. I mean just look in the photo. The antenna would I guess be to detect carts on the grass (assuming the transmitters have batteries).

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 04:46:42 pm
content: Do you mean this thing?

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:15:39 pm
content: Stop the staff escaping?(Caution: Contains cheesy 80s exploding head)https://youtu.be/fbvX3elSaaY

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:25:30 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on June 09, 2018, 04:46:42 pmNo!I showed a pic of what it looks like. It looks like a radio antenna from a truck stuck in the ground!I guess this one was recently installed so I'll have to get a pic of another one I know of.EDIT: The staff would love to escape that Walmart, the managers are retarded!EDIT2: Those Google pics are 2018, so it must have been installed very recently.

author: bob225
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:37:31 pm
content: The google images are 2015 the copyright is 2018Its placed on a corner, it a marker so trucks don't rip up the grass while turning or stops them going into the ditch

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:38:33 pm
content: Do you have any graphic paint/sketch program there ? Or paper, pencil and camera ?

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 05:49:38 pm
content: The rednecks around here might have used an actual truck radio antenna as a curb marker, it wouldn't surprise me.Here's a similar thing outside the Panera Bread although this might be a banner holder.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 06:06:12 pm
content: Sorry, Cyberdragon, I'm afraid you've stumbled onto the fact that your location is a landing site for the alien invasion. I hope you're using ToR or the black helicopters may be arriving any minute to secure this information leak.———I've not seen such antennas, either. Mysterious.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2018, 06:19:58 pm
content: The one behind the Walmart (well, the plaza area) has a fatter bottom on it which looks like either an impedance coil or just a sturdier base.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:12:42 am
content: Looks like a sign/banner holder to me. It makes no sense having an antenna installed in the ground like that. It would get stolen/broken off rather quickly.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:35:19 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 10, 2018, 12:12:42 amThey must each have different purposes based on their locations. So that one is a holder stick. And the one behind the wallmart is an antenna used just as a curb marker (because reasons).

author: David Chamberlain
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:35:56 am
content: Probably to stop escapees from the FEMA camps.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEMA_camps_conspiracy_theory

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:36:47 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on June 10, 2018, 12:35:19 amSure. By "installed" I mean, installed on a mount and wired to something. Not just shoved in the ground for another purpose (like a kerb marker).

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:41:01 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 10, 2018, 12:36:47 amIt's clearly screwed into something. But some antennas have a threaded base which is why I suggested it's an actual antenna that's been repurposed.I'll google around for things like "curb marker" and "banner holder" to see if there are existing products.EDIT: There's no way of visually telling if it's actually wired up as an antenna.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:48:45 am
content: All existing curb markers have reflectors on them.That thing is either a repurposed banner holder, repurposed antenna, or functioning antenna.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 12:55:43 am
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on June 10, 2018, 12:41:01 amOf course there is. Drive up to it, inspect it and take a picture of it. There is a serious lack of pictures in this thread, which makes everything speculation.If it's wired up as an antenna it will be mounted on a concrete plinth, it will have some kind of junction/control box near to it, and it will have visible signs of buried wires leading to it from the box.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 01:04:42 am
content: Quote from: IanB on June 10, 2018, 12:55:43 amWord. But I didn't feel like typing that out, given the absurd lack of photos.A Cyberdragon, with no cell phone camera?Otoh, if he can actually produce pics of such a setup, I may have a nice conspiracy theory to fit.Cyberdragon, when you get your photographic act together, please take clear images of any maker/model/logos on the associated infrastructure. Even panel screw heads (security type, or not) and mechanics of weather seals would help.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 01:17:16 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on June 10, 2018, 01:04:42 amCyberdragon apparently doesn't carry a cell phone with him.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 02:46:28 am
content: If it is an active antenna, it's going to have a brilliant ground plane.

author: Delta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 03:56:59 am
content: 1. Go back to the bloody one you saw that made you post this bloody question.2. Point a bloody camera at it and take a bloody photo.3. Post the bloody photo.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 04:05:11 am
content: That's starting to sound like a bloody crime scene.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 04:06:05 am
content: How to create a thread two pages long about nothing. You could write for tabloids or something. It's almost like one of those "Does the Queen whip her staff with licorice?" articles, which then mights and maybes to the conclusion that there is no evidence that she does, but that we also cannot conclusively say she doesn't.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 04:17:09 am
content: Quote from: TerraHertz on June 10, 2018, 01:04:42 amYou will get an ancient potato photo from a crappy slide phone, but next time I go by I'll snap one. Ton of situational stuff going on so don't know when that will be.There's no visable concrete, but it could be burried under the grass. I don't remeber seeing any junction box, but I'll have to look around.EDIT: I'm also not stepping on the grass though, one, angry rednecks on survailance, two, horrible mud from non-stop rain.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 04:28:08 am
content: Why does that read like an announcement of horrible indiscernable photos to be posted? At this point it feels like an exercise how long forum members will stick around without any actual information. Internet lingo has a less flattering term for this.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 04:42:49 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on June 10, 2018, 04:28:08 amMore of a warning. I will try to avoid posting anything that's just too bad, but they will be grainy.You may halt this discussion until they are posted if you guys want.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 05:08:03 am
content: Halt? Nah, it's entertaining what people must be wondering when they see so much activity in this thread.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 07:52:39 am
content: I thought it would be a case of I just wasn't in the know. Apparently it's not a common thing (I've only seen a few myself).

author: donotdespisethesnake
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 08:09:32 am
content: Obviously, they are used by the government for mind control. People are normally programmed not to be aware of them. Please report to the local authorities for re-programming.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 09:51:33 am
content: Reminds me of these conduits sticking out of the ground with wires hanging out of them at the lighthorse interchange in SydneyI finally realised they were sculptures that were supposed to represent horses (charge of the light horse bridage)

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 10:04:43 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on June 10, 2018, 09:51:33 amOh Dave.I suppose even the intelligent have their silly moments.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 10:58:33 am
content: Horses? Oh. I though they were just some public servant's half-arsed attempt at 'art'. After having been told "Nothing too interesting. Don't want to distract the drivers and cause accidents." So it is very very boring.Well that's another of life's little mysteries solved.I didn't know that intersection had a name, or any historical reference.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 02:12:46 pm
content: I knew the history, the sculpture and what it represented when it was first put up. It seemed a bit of a stretch to me because the sculptures were basically a red post with metal strands poking out the top.While there may be argument about its significance, it does offer one very benefit - identifying the intersection. Unfortunately, the sculptures only start after the exit lanes between the M4 and the M7 - so if you need to know to take one of these exits, you have to make that decision before the sculptures come into view.Showing their size and what they looked like when first installed...Closeup with an explanation:What they look like these days.....

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 02:15:28 pm
content: That's a good point. We get the same in the UK. This is on "the black cat roundabout":This one is some fucked up shit though:

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 02:17:59 pm
content: Strangely, the second picture of the horseman (close up looking upwards) actually does give some impression of a horseman of that era. The artist wasn't a complete dolt. Just didn't consider the normal viewing angles.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 02:27:13 pm
content: Oh yes... I've become quite familiar with them and when I drive past, I can appreciate their significance and the idea that went into them.There is also a very tall light in the very centre of the intersection, painted red and visible from all 4 directions. At night it is lit - and it stands out.https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/australian-light-horse-sculpture-parade-light-horse-interchange-memorial

author: Bassman59
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 03:57:14 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on June 10, 2018, 04:06:05 amBut it would be irresponsible not to speculate.

author: bob225
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2018, 07:32:21 pm
content: Well the uk love sculptures near the road, on my travels I have come across the cob and fish roundabouts these cost the taxpayer a lot of moneyDe Luci FishThe Cob

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2018, 04:46:42 am
content: This might confirm I'm just weird. I bet 99% of people don't notice these random sticks like the Panera Bread Stick (pun intended) as it shall now be called.I can just imagine some couple driving on the road with kids in the back and one of the kids just goes "stick!" from a few hundred feet away."What sti-...what is that?""oh NO! They've noticed! Activate the device!"*BZZZZT*"Do you feel like a sandwich honey?""Yes, let's have sandwiches at Panera Bread!"

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 11, 2018, 06:11:17 am
content: Could be Shopping Mall analytics, people tracking, wow there's Google Visual Positioning Servicehttp://www.behavioranalyticsretail.com/7-technologies-to-track-people/Bluetooth car/people tracking is also popular.

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2018, 06:45:58 am
content: Can’t believe this thread is still going...

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 12, 2018, 07:09:20 am
content: Quote from: ivaylo on June 12, 2018, 06:45:58 amI can't believe it's not butter.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 12, 2018, 07:16:48 am
content: Quote from: Halcyon on June 12, 2018, 07:09:20 am