Power Line

[Kong]

A friend of mine has this weird thing attached to the power line in front of his house. He's kind of paranoid and thinks there might be a camera in it.

Can anyone help me help him identify it?

Photos
what is this thing - Imgur (http://imgur.com/a/gygu2)
what the F is this thing - Imgur (http://imgur.com/a/HZ0al)

Thanks.

[Dojah]

Did he take the photos? If so in one of those shots there is partial website shown. A different angle of the website would be an easy way to see if no one knows what it is.

[Dudebro]

Dojah is right a better screenshot would show the website name. All I could get currently is ww.REM and their logo looks like a backwards R and U attached to it(kinda weird right, ru?).

I did a google search and the only relevant result was this-
Power Harvesting: Induction Magic | Educational Science Videos for Kids | Math, Engineering & Science Teaching Resources | LabTV (http://www.ndep.us/Power-Harvesting-Induction-Magic)
So yeah, seems a lot like what you have in that picture. Plus that panel in the front of the box most definitely looks like it's meant for a camera, possibly infrared.

Also a person made this comment on a related blog-
One of the local drug cops once showed me a surveillance device that has been used for several years: a camera setup disguised as a transformer cylinder. They get the telco to install it and can monitor it remotely with ease.

Does your friend have any reason for law enforcement to watch him? If so you might wanna tell him his paranoia seems justified.

[tanc24]

I think if they wanted to use surveyllance on your friend, they would've used a more inconspicous camera.:p That device definitely looks important, however. Maybe a new type of transformer, or MAYBE a camera device. If so, that camera could be used for a multitude of things.

[Dudebro]

Tanc, why would a transformer need a lens cover like in the pictures?

[tanc24]

What makes you so sure it's a lens cover? It could be additional ventilation. I have seen these kind of rectangular objects in the middle of power lines before, I just haven't seen such a modern version. I suspect it's nothing to worry about.

Again, if Kong's buddy is worried about surveillance, I think they would've taken a bit more stealth approach.

[joz]

It could be a sensor of some sort.

[bearhawk72]

The backwards R and U stands for Underwriters Laboratory

For those who are not familiar with UL, Underwriters Laboratories (aka UL) is a trusted global agency dedicated to assuring product compliance between manufacturers, retailers and consumers, as well as other regulatory agencies. Over the past hundred years, UL has developed more than 1000 safety standards to protect consumers. Millions of products are regularly tested to ensure public safety and improve quality. There is no certification program more widely accepted or recognized by regulatory agencies, insurance companies or consumers!

[Dudebro]

Still seems fishy. Maybe they're filming an employee committing some kind of fraud?

[Slime Slayer]

My money is on it being a device that measures surges or just general power flow.

---------- Post added at 08:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:06 PM ----------

Are the lines heading into an area that's being developped by chance?

[Kong]

Did he take the photos?Yes. I don't think a better angle of the sticker is possible. And...

The backwards R and U stands for Underwriters Laboratory

Power Harvesting: Induction Magic | Educational Science Videos for Kids | Math, Engineering & Science Teaching Resources | LabTV (http://www.ndep.us/Power-Harvesting-Induction-Magic)Interesting that anyone can create free electricity from the magnetic field created by powerlines. Creepy that the only use they thought of was spy cams and then they went ahead with the idea.

Does your friend have any reason for law enforcement to watch him?Just for noise violations and an illegal number of residents.

I think if they wanted to use surveyllance on your friend, they would've used a more inconspicous camera.I don't know, I think most people would not notice, and if they notice not know it was a camera. Until the word got out and everyone was looking for them.

What makes you so sure it's a lens cover? It could be additional ventilation.I was thinking it was either ventilation or a lens cover.

Are the lines heading into an area that's being developped by chance?No. It points directly at my friends front door.

I went over there today and there was a piece of duct tape over the lens/vent. :lol: problem solved I guess.

[Dudebro]

@Tanc- I'm no expert but that looks like a camera lens/protector for sure.

[Slime Slayer]

@Tanc- I'm no expert but that looks like a camera lens/protector for sure.
Are you talking about the end of it with the 2 circular things? Or do you mean the meshy looking rectangular thing?

[Demon-Mask]

It does look somewhat like a camera, I think it may be.
Not 100%, more like seventy-five to eighty percent sure.

[Slime Slayer]

I'm leaning in the oppisite direction, 95% sure it is not a camera. If it is meant to be for secretive filming then obviously there is a retard running the show. Cameras can be made the size of the eraser on the end of a pencil these days.

[Dudebro]

Well presumably most of that bulk is the system that keeps it running off the powerline. You can't use a watch battery to power a camera indefinitely.

[bearhawk72]

I would think if it was a camera there'd be a better/easier place to put it instead of on high voltage wires

[Dudebro]

Like the Spanish inquisition, no one expects it.

[Demon-Mask]

There's an image for that:
http://www.ratemymotivational.com/motivationals/13142-THE_SPANISH_INQUISITION-Just_when_you_least_expect_them.jpg

[Slime Slayer]

Like the Spanish inquisition, no one expects it.
So your idea is that they made it so obvious that nobody would suspect it?

[Dudebro]

No I think they did it assuming most people never look at power lines unless there's something wrong with them. I know I don't.

The part I linked talked about this exact kind of scenario. They have the local power company install it like any other piece of equipment and then they can just remotely watch it. It's high off the ground and people would have no reason to suspect it, ideally. No need to mess with it again unless something breaks, since it's powered by the lines. It's actually pretty brilliant I think. They also had a plan to make one that looks like a bird on a line complete with the ability to fly off take a pictures/video and then land again. That's creepy right?

[Slime Slayer]

No I think they did it assuming most people never look at power lines unless there's something wrong with them. I know I don't.
I think people are more perceptive than you give them credit for. I would notice that thing immidiately.

[Dudebro]

It's not just me. That video I linked has one of the airforce tech guys talking about how it wouldn't be noticed most times because of the height and similarity to other equipment. No ones claiming it's perfect but I think it's safe to assume that a vast majority of people would never notice. It's not an insult either, why would they?

Also the ones they show in the video are smaller but those seem like they're for military purposes which means they can afford to make them smaller. The one Kong linked seems like it would be cheaper to produce and used by local law enforcement, that's why it's bigger and more obvious.

[DrunkN]

Hold on, where exactly is this power line? Is it right next to the road, by chance? If it is, I would assume it's just there to catch people speeding, or something, but all of the other theories mentioned so far sound plausible as well.

[RU Joe]

::)

[Dudebro]

An eyeroll? That's strange and not very informative.

[Kong]

tldr: It was there for about 6 months. It disappeared within 24 hours of asking the city if it was a camera.

Hold on, where exactly is this power line? Is it right next to the road, by chance? If it is, I would assume it's just there to catch people speeding, or something, but all of the other theories mentioned so far sound plausible as well.
The power line is next to the road. The thing that might be a lens or a vent is aimed directly at the front door and the walkway leading up to the door. If it is a camera then it's sole purpose is to watch who enters and leaves the house.

Some context. About 10 people live in the house. City law says only 5 non related people can live in one residence. The city is on record multiple times saying the reason is because in case of an emergency such as a fire you need a head of household to make sure everyone is safe. Implying that if just friends live together then they will be stampeding each other to get out. The alternative is to live my yourself. If there was a fire I would rather the noise of people kicking each other down as they try to save themselves. At least then I would be awake. Also it ignores the fact that if 20somethings lived together their would probably be less drinking and driving. And drinking and driving is more of a threat than every man for himself fire stampedes.

There is minor drug usage in the house - mostly just occasional pot smoking.

There is one self proclaimed anarchist that lives in the house. He often has anarchist meetings where he organizes protests against the police. Nothing illegal but nothing the government would appricate either. This is the leading theory for the purpose of a camera.

A few days ago they put duct tape on the lens/vent and called the city. They described the device and asked if it was a camera. The city said they didn't know and they would look into it and get back to them. The next day it was gone. No call back to explain what happened.

I still don't think it looked very much like what I would think a secret spy camera would look like (it wouldn't be a very good one if it did), but the whole thing does seem very suspicious and weird.

[Dudebro]

There is one self proclaimed anarchist that lives in the house. He often has anarchist meetings where he organizes protests against the police. Nothing illegal but nothing the government would appricate either. This is the leading theory for the purpose of a camera.
Ya think? Seems like a pretty obvious reason to me. I bet if you would've said this earlier more people would've assumed it was a camera. Imo that's some serious context.

I still don't think it looked very much like what I would think a secret spy camera would look like (it wouldn't be a very good one if it did), but the whole thing does seem very suspicious and weird.
They probably thought that a bunch of pot smoking young people wouldn't notice. They didn't count on one of them being paranoid. Btw did the anarchist notice this camera?

[DrunkN]

Hold on, where exactly is this power line? Is it right next to the road, by chance? If it is, I would assume it's just there to catch people speeding, or something, but all of the other theories mentioned so far sound plausible as well.

::)

I can understand if you were just making a post to state the ridiculousness of this situation, but based on my post just preceding yours, and your history of distrusting the American government, what am I supposed to assume here?

About the object/camera: Did anyone see it as it was removed? I'm a little curious to know whether it might have been some poorly disguised police monitor effort.

[Kong]

Btw did the anarchist notice this camera?I think so. I think nearly every one noticied it on their own and thought, that looks strange, is that a camera, no, no way.

Did anyone see it as it was removed?No.

[Dudebro]

You guys should've put your own camera up to catch them removing it.

[Demon-Mask]

They'd have seen that camera, and put up a camera to see you taking down your camera afterwards. They'd claim that you were committing some sort of crime by being a citizen filming people without their consent or something.

[Dudebro]

It's a vicious cycle of paranoia and privacy invasion.

[Demon-Mask]

Yeah, it is. I legitimately believe that is what would happen, too.

[tanc24]

A few days ago they put duct tape on the lens/vent and called the city. They described the device and asked if it was a camera. The city said they didn't know and they would look into it and get back to them. The next day it was gone. No call back to explain what happened.
.

That's crazy! :talktohand: Throw those facts in with your description of the house and its residents and I'd say you've got yourself a pretty darn good conspiracy theory. I guess it sometimes does pay to be paranoid. 8)

[RU Joe]

An eyeroll? That's strange and not very informative.
You're right, and I apologize for not getting around to explaining it until now.
I needed some time to think of what to say, so here goes:

Without getting too political or conspiratorial, I've been wondering how long it would take for some of the things I used to talk about to actually happen to one of our members.

Having said that, I am glad to hear it was only a camera being placed outside rather than getting caught in the middle of some other madness not of their own making.

I hope this is the end of this incident and all others like it.
You guys take care of yourselves.
:love:

[Dudebro]

Well this does sounds like a legit conspiracy to spy on Kongs friend. Too bad we'll probably never get any details though.

[Demon-Mask]

Yeah, it probably was a legitimate conspiracy.

[Slime Slayer]

For the record, around my area we have the same boxes. Not identical but same basic shape and size, the only difference is I've never noticed them connect to a different wire than they are hanging off.

---------- Post added at 03:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:59 AM ----------

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=18590&d=1167340036

[Kong]

I have noticed very similar boxes in the neighborhood, but nothing identical and nothing with the vent/lens cover.

They received a letter from the electric company today showing how much electricity they use compared to other houses in the neighborhood. It was a routine letter that they sent to everyone. They were using more than double what the average neighbor was using. But their are a lot of small 2 person houses in the area and they have over 10 people living there. But that could be enough to make the city suspect a grow room.

[Tails]

You do not live there Kong?

[Kong]

At the time of the first post they were my neighbors. I moved though.

[Demon-Mask]

They received a letter from the electric company today showing how much electricity they use compared to other houses in the neighborhood. It was a routine letter that they sent to everyone. They were using more than double what the average neighbor was using. But their are a lot of small 2 person houses in the area and they have over 10 people living there. But that could be enough to make the city suspect a grow room.
That would probably give the impression of a grow house, at least in terms of power usage.

[Kong]

TLDR: The FBI said it is a camera.

The guy that took the photos works at a data center. A data center is a place that houses web servers. Web servers are what run web sites.

Some FBI showed up last week because a server at his work had kiddie porn on it. While they were there he showed them the photos from the links in the first post and told them the story.

They said it was a poorly installed surveillance device. They said if the FBI had installed it they would have done a better job of making it look natural. They asked if they could use the photos as a training tool of what not to do. They said it was probably installed by either the local PD or a private detective. It disappeared the day after asking the police about it and I can't think of a reason why a PI would have put it there. I already listed the reasons why I think the police would have installed it. High energy usage, too many residents, anarchist meetings.

I don't think they would have had enough reason to suspect a grow room. Looking at the number of people living there (which is obvious) and the size of the house they would have quickly realized the energy usage made sense.

I don't think they would have installed a camera for number of residents. The city doesn't like it but communes are an extremely common thing in this town. If they ended up strictly enforcing the law they would run into a lot of problems.

I've never paid too much attention to the anarchy stuff but it seems pretty innocent and entirely legal. But they do protest the police and prisons fairly often and make pamphlets, fliers etc.

Installing surveillance equipment because of legal protests is pretty messed up.

Without the surveillance equipment I would have thought they were just a bunch of rich white kids from the burbs with too much time on their hands. But the McCarthy era police antics makes them seem justified.

I guess now that the FBI have the links to the photos, a quick google search for links to those links would bring them to this discussion which is weird.

[Demon-Mask]

The FBI said it was a camera but, not their own camera? The FBI said the guy with the pictures of the camera worked at a data center that had child pornography on the servers?
It is unknown who put the camera there but, the FBI wants to use it as an example of what not to do?
Am I following it correctly?

[Tails]

I think you nailed it but I think Kong means the porn was an issue at his work so he took the opportunity to ask them while they were there.

[Kong]

Tails is right.

[Slime Slayer]

Weird how that all worked out...

[Demon-Mask]

Okay, that makes a bit more sense. Since the FBI was there, asking would make sense.