this post was submitted on 24 Aug 2024
108 points (89.7% liked)

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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[–] [email protected] 104 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That indeed looks like a cell network antenna.

[–] [email protected] 59 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 2 weeks ago

It's a 4x4 MIMO, most likely LTE+5G; a service like T-Mobile Home Internet uses a hybrid design combining the two (B66 + n41 e.g.)

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 47 points 2 weeks 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?

[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 weeks 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?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 33 points 2 weeks ago
[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 weeks 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.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks 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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 weeks ago

Dual LTE and 5G, maybe?

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks 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 4 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] -4 points 2 weeks ago

Awesome!

Thanks for sharing the link!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

I vote for this reality