this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2025
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76
What is this box/antenna thing? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by Uradingus2@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world
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[–] jubilationtcornpone@sh.itjust.works 39 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

This is just an educated guess, but since there doesn't appear to be a meter attached to it, I'm going to guess it belongs to the electric utility and is part of their AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) network.

There's a device at the substation that can read all the meters fed from the sub. Some utilities use AMI over power lines, some use a wireless mesh network, and some use a combination of different technologies depending on a few things.

Source: used to run the department that handled the AMI system.

[–] emilmuzz@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

I'll second this as someone who used to administer an AMI headend. This is essentially an industrial wifi access point. This device connects to the utility's operations network, and provides connectivity to smart meters in the area.

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Based on the shape, at first I it thought was one of the new mesh network streetlights, but after zooming in more I think you're right, it looks like an antenna box for a wireless metering network.

[–] Ste41th@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

one of the new mesh network streetlights

Sorry but how does making mesh network streetlights help anything? What’s up with the normal ones?

[–] masterspace@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Cities still need a way of knowing when streetlights burn out or are in need of service.

You can wait for people to report them out, hope the report is accurate, and then send workers out to try and find them and fix them (and it's not exactly easy to figure out which light is burnt out during the day), or you can proactively send workers out to fix exactly the right light as soon as they break or show any signs that they might.

[–] Ste41th@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

True I suppose i didn’t think of that, I guess it’ll save companies money.

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago

It's a hub to control all the pigeon spy robots in the area.

[–] nokturne213@sopuli.xyz 19 points 1 year ago

Sounds like a job for !whatisthisthing@lemmy.world

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's them. They are coming after you.

/s

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

I feel so noticed

[–] Hubi@feddit.org 7 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Seems to be a smart metering antenna. Not sure what it does exactly.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Smart_Metering_Antenna,_Cellnet_UtiliNet,_Minneapolis_(42422032184).jpg

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably utility meter reader so they don't have to drive by to read the meters. It's lazy and my energy rates have only gone up the more jobs the get rid of.

[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

How else will they recuperate the cost of the project without cost increases and employee cuts?

[–] 11111one11111@lemmy.world -3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

"Failed to load image" I'm on mobile app so may just be me but it appears your link is broke.

[–] Hubi@feddit.org 1 points 1 year ago

Try opening the link in your browser. Seems like it's an issue with whatever app you're using.

[–] Chainweasel@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

It's probably set up by the utility company to monitor either electric or water usage.