I was coming home today and saw a strange van stopping and starting on our street. The van had approx. 24 x 24 plywood attached to the passenger side with electrical equipment. and on top of the van was an antenna that would rotate around. He was not stopping in a regular pattern. He would go maybe a block then a couple of houses then stop, turn on the antenna, write something down then move on. When he stopped in front of the house next door is when I started to approach him. He then saw me and took off down and out of our street. Anyone have any ideas what this person was doing? The van was unmarked and had a normal license plate not gov issued (which I got).
Please help - strange sighting
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Did you see the antenna actually rotating?
Probably a contract CATV van... Or some guy doing some "phishing".
The U.S. gov,t wouldn't use a van mickey-moused with plywood, nor a motorized antenna.
73,
n9zas
What'd the antenna look like? How big were the elements? Sounds kinda like someone desperate for free wifi, or perhaps in some sort of fox hunt. Was the license plate one or two letters, a single number followed by one two or three letters?
mastr
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Based on the information you have posted, there is no telling what the van was. Could have been something perfectly normal, such as a cable TV contractor looking for leakage; or could have been some moron trying to get "free" internet. Or any number of other things.
Answer these questions and you will get more useful answers.
What is your location?
What did the rotating antenna look like- (dish, yagi, radome or ?)
Are you (or a neighbor) doing anything that might attract the attention of a law enforcement, utility or political entity? (examples - selling drugs-stealing power, telephone, internet, TV -running unlicensed radio transmitters- dating the the mayor's wife or girl friend- driving a former police car that still looks way too much like it is still in service)
57Bill
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It was obviously the FCC tracking down a scanner enthusiast illegally monitoring a cordless phone. Oh, my!
ridgescan
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Google Earth gathering street view data
n5ims
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What the OP described doesn't match the ones I've seen. Those were small cars with a temp roof mount that had several (5 if my count was correct) cameras mounted on it (right front & rear, left front & rear, looking similar to standard security cameras, and another one top dead center that looked like an upward facing camera with a 360 degree panorama lens). There were also a couple of antennas as well on mag mounts on the hood & trunk (placed to be out of the camera's view).
It was a late astro style van, man was plain dressed in his 50's
Answer these questions and you will get more useful answers.
What is your location? riverside Ca
What did the rotating antenna look like- (dish, yagi, radome or ?) I would say a Yagi (had to look this up) but layers (3-4 levels)
Are you (or a neighbor) doing anything that might attract the attention of a law enforcement, utility or political entity? (examples - selling drugs-stealing power, telephone, internet, TV -running unlicensed radio transmitters- dating the the mayor's wife or girl friend- driving a former police car that still looks way too much like it is still in service) ah....no,no,no, ??, lol no and no [/QUOTE]
A Yagi with layers 3-4. elements?? 3' wide with maybe 4-6 inch "fingers Spun around a full 360 / License plate AB6PA
Did you see the antenna actually rotating?
Probably a contract CATV van... Or some guy doing some "phishing".
The U.S. gov,t wouldn't use a van mickey-moused with plywood, nor a motorized antenna.
73,
n9zas
Yes it did a full 360. Looked like he only needed it on for a few sec. 20 - 30. then wrote something down
Thanks everyone. sorry i didn't provided more info. I commented on your questions above: here's a recap. Sorry I am a noob when it comes to this stuff. I was lucky to find your forum on a web search. and appreciate you helping me out. Also pissed I didn't have my phone on to take a picture. I'm sure that would of helped!
Pretty sure is wasn't google earth since there were no cameras on top. I did think that at first until I got a closer look. The van was a late astro star version. The antenna came out where a sun roof would be and had prongs like a tv antenna but layered and it spun around a full 360. Also behind the antenna was around six 1' poles painted red. I did actually see it rotating.
Pretty sure is wasn't google earth since there were no cameras on top. I did think that at first until I got a closer look. The van was a late astro star version. The antenna came out where a sun roof would be and had prongs like a tv antenna but layered and it spun around a full 360. Also behind the antenna was around six 1' poles painted red. I did actually see it rotating.
It is likely a contractor for the local cable company looking for leaky connections. Poor cable connections can cause interference to other TV or radio operations.
Since many cable companies rely on outside contractors for field work they may have rented or leased a van and hung the equipment on it instead of permanently mounting it.
Since many cable companies rely on outside contractors for field work they may have rented or leased a van and hung the equipment on it instead of permanently mounting it.
K9WG
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Or, possibly, a Ham Operator on a Fox Hunt.....
(I guess we still do Fox Hunts....)
(I guess we still do Fox Hunts....)
rfradioconsult
Member
AB6PA is a valid amateur radio call sign, checks to a individual in California.
Looking at the information posted and the van has valid ham radio callsign on the license plate of AB6PA and can be looked up on QRZ.com. Maybe foxhunting as the one of the others has suggested or some type of mobile VHF weak signal operation. Also could be trying to locate the source of interference in the area. Just look at some of the antennas that hams use on their vehicles that are dedicated VHF contesters and are operating as rover stations.
nd5y
Member
The OP didn't say what city or state the van was in or if it was an amateur radio callsign plate. Don't the ones in CA say "amateur radio" on them?
He said it was a yagi antenna with "layers", "prongs" and "fingers". How is anybody supposed to know what those are?
C
comsec1
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"The U.S. gov,t wouldn't use a van mickey-moused with plywood," I just finished mickey mousing my government issue tahoe with plywood to mount special equipment inside so don't be too sure they won't. The government is just as cheap as ham radio guys. When we are forced to go out to bid for every little nut and bolt sometimes we have to improvise. If I waited for items to be purchased the vehicle will have 300k on it and ready to be turned in.
KC4RAF
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From the internet, here's some info:
The active ham call sign is addressed to an operator in a town ~10 miles close to you. It appears to be he either is doing a "fox hunt", (which some still do, (it can be fun)); or he's trying to locate a rogue transmitter that's causing interference or illegal transmissions. I know you gave the size of the antenna, ballpark figures.
The active ham call sign is addressed to an operator in a town ~10 miles close to you. It appears to be he either is doing a "fox hunt", (which some still do, (it can be fun)); or he's trying to locate a rogue transmitter that's causing interference or illegal transmissions. I know you gave the size of the antenna, ballpark figures.
D
DaveNF2G
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I just wonder why he was so furtive. Why not explain that he was a ham operator instead of zooming away?
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