this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2024
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What is this thing?

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Fiber Internet and cable are included in mandatory HOA fees (yay HOAs) so this seems weird. No other homes in the area have anything like this. Also, I’m 99% sure this unit is a full time Airbnb if that might matter (and why I can’t just ask my neighbor wtf is on their roof). Did some reverse image searches and didn’t find a match, that 5G seemed closest to my untrained eye. I don’t like tech shit that I don’t know what the hell it is. Particularly when it’s aimed close to my house. TIA!

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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 107 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That indeed looks like a cell network antenna.

[–] henfredemars@infosec.pub 62 points 1 year ago (2 children)

My friend is an RF expert and immediately said that's a cellular antenna, looks like LTE most probably but might support 5G.

[–] neidu2@feddit.nl 16 points 1 year ago

I'm not an expert, but I've worked a lot with LTE antennae, and can confirm that your expert friend is not just pretending.

[–] Bangs42@lemmy.world 50 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Like others have already said, looks like a cell network antenna. Maybe service sucks inside home, so they got a repeater/amplifier?

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or if the home owner rents the place an an AirBnB and the cell coverage sucked, maybe he agreed to have an antenna installed at his home for a small income supplement from the carrier?

[–] Nostalgia@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

AT&T reception is shit here for unknown reasons. Tmo and V strong. But maybe something here.

[–] jimmydoreisalefty@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago
[–] rollmagma@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please don't get this guy in trouble just because he put some shit on his roof.

[–] Nostalgia@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

Not my intention in the slightest. I’m generally a mind my own business dude, and supportive of people doing whatever they want with their stuff. This thing though happens to be aimed in my general direction, which also isn’t a problem, but I don’t like not knowing what the heck it is.

[–] Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Looks a lot like this LTE Mimo cell antenna, although with an extra set of plugs on the bottom.

https://www.dipolnet.com/lte_mimo_antenna_trans-data_lte_kpz_8-8_A741023.htm

Dual LTE and 5G, maybe?

[–] three@lemmy.world 17 points 1 year ago (3 children)
[–] MrPoopyButthole@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago

This is a client access sector. Not a point to point carrier link from a tower. It will be aimed towards the people with devices and it will spread out its signal in 180 degree or less angle.

[–] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

You’ve just assigned me a little field trip! Thanks :)

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

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing the link!

[–] 5opn0o30@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

There’s a crypto that pays for cell coverage called Helium. Maybe it’s that.

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

I vote for this reality

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

Doesn’t look like it, and Helium doesn’t use cell service, it’s all LoRa based.