UHF antennas on street lites?? Madison area

[kf9aq]

Hi. I live on the s.w. side of Madison and our home electric power and also street lites are served by Alliant Energy. I have noticed that there is a small UHF ?? fiberglass antenna about 2 feet in length mounted along side a small weatherproof box. They are installed next to the lamp assembly..I have seen these scattered throughout the neighborhood.. I was just wondering what they might be for..I have tried scanning the UHF band (if it is) for data or other modes..I just find the Alliant's Iden system listed..

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[nd5y]

It could be one of several things such as the electric company mesh network for smart meters or wireless ISP. Probably a spread spectrum mode that you would not be able to receive on a scanner. It could be on the unlicensed 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz ISM bands or some other band depending on what exactly it is. Seach the forums for street light antennas. There are several other threads about them.

 

[kf9aq]

Thanks Tom...Didn't realize how many posts also involved these types...Our city water meters are in the 902-928 band, electric meters and gas are rf id..cool looking trucks drive down the street with many dome antennas pointing out toward the houses to ping the units...
Will keep searching..
73
Kevin

 

[gormana99]

I have noticed these around the city as well. I was under the impression that it was for the city wide wifi service. I forgot what it was called, but it seems to me it was in the news quite a bit about 6 to 7 years ago.

 

[SB-Wi]

I have noticed these around the city as well. I was under the impression that it was for the city wide wifi service. I forgot what it was called, but it seems to me it was in the news quite a bit about 6 to 7 years ago.

I was thinking the same thing but believe that system is more central/downtown. I doubt they built out past Gammon & Hwy PD where MG&E switches to Alliant.

 

[MarcusDude]

When I was in Milwaukee, I noticed something similar to that on the power pole outside the back door to my dorm. It was a metal box on the power pole with 2 antennas. If I remember correctly, they were pointing downward toward the street, I don't think they were 2 feet long though, they were shorter. I should have taken a picture. Maybe when I go down for the Oak Creek Swapfest next weekend I stop by and take a pic.

 

[bc780l]

Check out the Madison web site at "http://www.cityofmadison.com/water/programs/projectH2O/RF.cfm" RF

The current configuration of the fixed network system includes 91 repeaters located throughout the city on street light poles, and 10 data collectors on existing MWU facilities or other governmental buildings.

 

[kb9mwr]

When I was in Milwaukee, I noticed something similar to that on the power pole outside the back door to my dorm. It was a metal box on the power pole with 2 antennas. If I remember correctly, they were pointing downward toward the street, I don't think they were 2 feet long though, they were shorter. I should have taken a picture. Maybe when I go down for the Oak Creek Swapfest next weekend I stop by and take a pic.

Essentially those are pole repeaters for automated meter reading. One of the antennas is UHF to collect data from your gas meter in the 460 mhz area (low power)

Wisconsin Public Service Remote Home Gas Meter
FCC ID: LLB6327
Hexagram Inc.
467.2125 @ 620 mW Under Part 90.21
http://www.hexagram.com/collector.html
462.4375?456.175?451.2375?462.3875?

 

[bc780l]

Actually the City of Madison water utility reader system operates at 902-928MHz, as stated twice in the referred to City web site:

The radio transmitters operate in compliance with FCC regulations that require coexistence with other RF devices operating in the 902-928 MHz band. The low-power design, short transmission time, and frequency hopping techniques of the units help reduce the probability of interference with other wireless devices. The likelihood of interference between the radio transmitters and other RF devices is extremely low.

RADIOFREQUENCY OUTPUT INFORMATION FOR THE WATER METER COMMUNICATION MODULE

• Operating frequency of the meter communication module is in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band at frequencies from 902 to 928 MHz
• The transmission time is extremely short, less than 10 milliseconds.
• The module transmits a message every minute. Total transmission time is less than 15 seconds per day.
• When not transmitting data, the module radio remains off.
• The module's power output is 0.516W (the average light bulb is 60W).
• The water module power density is 0.215mW/cm2 at 20 cm. The FCC guideline for Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) is 0.610 mW/cm2 at 20 cm.
• FCC ID: EWQ100WC.
• IC: 864D-100WC

RF OUTPUT INFORMATION FOR THE DATA COLLECTORS AND REPEATERS
The current configuration of the fixed network system includes 91 repeaters located throughout the city on street light poles, and 10 data collectors on existing MWU facilities or other governmental buildings.

• The data collector ccu power density is .0014 mW/cm2 at 20 feet.
• The repeater ccu power density is .0013 mW/cm2 at 20 feet.

 

[N9TBQ]

If the pole is an Alliant Energy (WP&L) service - its a Landis&Gyr packet radio, 902-928. Used for switching capacitor banks and SCADA for other devices.
Take a picture and post it when you have time.

Hi. I live on the s.w. side of Madison and our home electric power and also street lites are served by Alliant Energy. I have noticed that there is a small UHF ?? fiberglass antenna about 2 feet in length mounted along side a small weatherproof box. They are installed next to the lamp assembly..I have seen these scattered throughout the neighborhood.. I was just wondering what they might be for..I have tried scanning the UHF band (if it is) for data or other modes..I just find the Alliant's Iden system listed..

Thanks,

Kevin