Identify unknown antenna - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: jmurphy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 08:52:49 pm
content: Someone placed what looks like an antenna on a hill by our home. Can anyone tell from the picture what it is? I’m not even sure it is an antenna.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:08:39 pm
content: It looks like an infrared lamp to me? But why it would be so high up and with no reflector I don't know...The metal cage around the internal element would suggest not an antenna to me, but I'd be curious as to what it is too.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:21:46 pm
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on October 23, 2019, 11:08:39 pmmetal cage can be used as reflector, may be such thing is used for communication with alien's UFO

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:23:58 pm
content: Yeah i don't think it's an antenna at all.Some sort of light/heater.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:32:37 pm
content: Yeah, Aliens definitely use advanced electronics technology, they needs very wide bandwidth for communication, so they needs to use extreme high frequencies from 300 GHz up to 430 THz.This frequency range intersects with infrared radiation. So, may be this is why it looks like heater

author: jmurphy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:36:39 pm
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on October 23, 2019, 11:08:39 pmThe area is a high risk fire zone. It’s a very steep hill surrounded by dry brush and is difficult to access. I don’t think anyone would install an infrared lamp here, but who knows.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:23:30 am
content: What about a bug zapper?The location is almost the most baffling part... do you have any equipment you can use to try to figure it out? A noncontact thermometer or thermal camera would tell you quick if it was a heater and it was on, a spectrum analyzer or field strength meter could probably give you an idea if it's antenna - even if you're in between lobes, just being away from other things may make it detectable (again, only if in use).Can you determine what the conduit goes to?

author: jmurphy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:36:22 am
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on October 24, 2019, 12:23:30 amIt did cross my mind that it could be some kind of scientific device to study insects or wildlife.A thermal camera is a great idea but I can't get close to it and I just have a cheap Flir One. I'll see if I can get some better photos tomorrow.

author: Marck
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:11:27 pm
content: Just unplug it whoever comes to plug it back in will know what it’s for.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:36:14 pm
content: Quote from: Marck on October 24, 2019, 12:11:27 pmunplugging things makes irrate scientists attack you, thats a good candidate for getting shot. looks like it uses alot of power, is in a pain in the ass area and designed by someone very cheap (that does not want power wasted on failed experiment).

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 12:44:58 pm
content: How odd. Is the part in the middle actually glowing or is it just brightly coloured?

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 01:15:10 pm
content: I'll bet it's some kind of bug zapper, to study insects and other earthlings, placed by Zogg from Betelgeuse for its fellow aliens interstellar tourists:

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 01:20:04 pm
content: Quote from: jmurphy on October 23, 2019, 08:52:49 pmIt does look like an infrared heater, but setting aside the absurdity of putting a heater on a pole in the middle of the woods, is the central tube orange because it is glowing, or because it is painted? Did you get close enough to it to see if it is producing heat?Well, regardless, it's certainly mysterious, and I think all of us here love a good mystery.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 01:29:25 pm
content: Quote from: Marck on October 24, 2019, 12:11:27 pmJust follow the cable and start asking questions wherever it ends.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 02:13:02 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on October 24, 2019, 01:29:25 pm

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 02:25:24 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on October 24, 2019, 01:29:25 pmNot sure if asking questions at the other end of a mysterious cable is a good idea...https://sparkreport.net/2009/03/the-full-story-behind-the-great-tennessee-pot-cave/

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 02:32:58 pm
content: Quote from: jmurphy on October 23, 2019, 08:52:49 pmClose-up shot ...

author: jmurphy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 07:29:51 pm
content: Quote from: xrunner on October 24, 2019, 02:32:58 pmLooks like it is an antenna. Here are some close-ups.

author: jmurphy
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 08:10:22 pm
content: Looks like an old HDTV antenna. Here's an article from the August 1999 Wired.

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 08:49:17 pm
content: That certainly looks like a match, so the red is just the copper tape spiral in the core, and the cage part is actually a reflector, interesting.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2019, 12:39:01 am
content: that antenna looks cool

author: ConKbot
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 10:54:34 pm
content: Since the foil helix is so tight pitch and close to each other, and it looks to be center fed, it will be a dipole antenna. The metal on the back is a reflector making it relatively unidirectional.Certainly a interesting design, visually.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:13:53 pm
content: Never seen anything like that

author: klunkerbus
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2019, 11:17:44 pm
content: Yeah, the Terk brand name on the label pretty much seals it as an antenna.

author: Marck
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 03, 2019, 09:23:24 am
content: I keep forgetting that getting shot is always a possibility in the states.On more than one occasion I have ended up on the top of a mountain plugging in / fixing installations that others have fiddled with. The best ones where at one site we received an alarm from our DC system and some twit had decided to run a sneaky supply line of one of our strings of batteries. I just disconnected it and went back the next day and waited at the gate some guy rocked up and we discussed why he wasn’t going back up until he returned with his own source of power.And just recently I went to a site where someone had removed our power. But this time they had taken the entire switch board. So getting power back on was a little bit harder that day.M

author: cliffyk
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 11, 2019, 02:13:09 am
content: Quote from: coppercone2 on October 24, 2019, 12:36:14 pmHaving scientists (or anyone for that matter) install something like that on my land would turn them into shotgun targets.It appears to have a cable coming from it--follow the cable--but truly, if it were my land I'd just cut the cable and take the blasted thing down...