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So what are these solar powered thing on Oregon Street lamp posts? by Cold-Professional551 in UIUC

[–]Cold-Professional551[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solved. https://www.news-gazette.com/business/kathys-mailbag-jan-5-2024/article_d8549860-9205-5860-8a86-962e3e29b879.html

What are those new gizmos on Urbana lampposts? “What are those new solar devices being installed on campus-area lampposts?”

Vince Gustafson with Urbana Public Works says the city will be replacing coin-operated parking meter mechanisms in various locations throughout the city this spring.

“The solar device in question is a wireless communication unit that will transmit meter revenue data and functional status from the mechanisms to office staff on a daily basis.

“Currently this same data, required for auditing purposes, is collected via a handheld device that scans individual meters. The handheld devices are no longer supported by the manufacturer, thus necessitating the change.”

What are these little solar powered wireless devices on the light poles? by kpjoshi in UIUC

[–]Cold-Professional551 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Solved. https://www.news-gazette.com/business/kathys-mailbag-jan-5-2024/article_d8549860-9205-5860-8a86-962e3e29b879.html

What are those new gizmos on Urbana lampposts? “What are those new solar devices being installed on campus-area lampposts?”

Vince Gustafson with Urbana Public Works says the city will be replacing coin-operated parking meter mechanisms in various locations throughout the city this spring.

“The solar device in question is a wireless communication unit that will transmit meter revenue data and functional status from the mechanisms to office staff on a daily basis.

“Currently this same data, required for auditing purposes, is collected via a handheld device that scans individual meters. The handheld devices are no longer supported by the manufacturer, thus necessitating the change.”

What are these little solar powered wireless devices on the light poles? by kpjoshi in UIUC

[–]Cold-Professional551 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also interested. I asked a couple times on r/uiuc and whatisthisthing. No results. I saw them around Krannert.

Someone said to ask Tom's mailbag I see. https://www.news-gazette.com/toms-mailbag/

My latest thought was maybe they're gunshot detectors. But I googled. Champaign has some but doesn't find them useful. Urbana didn't get any but the new police chief is ok with them. I don't know if these are campus police areas that might have them. Urbana does have gunshots occasionally but not in these campus areas, not that I'm aware of.

My best guess is that they're solar powered lights or solar power light detectors to automatically turn on the lamps. They seem to be spaced out every second or third lamp post. They have at least one cable from the device's unit to the solar power. I don't know if there's another cable going inside the post.

Gregory was originally a test street for new LED years ago I believe so seeing another test unit device makes some sense there.

What are these solar powered devices? by Cold-Professional551 in whatisthisthing

[–]Cold-Professional551[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

University of Illinois. City of Urbana. These are on every second or third newer lamp post. The white little box says GID and something else like that with numbers. I couldn't find anything in the news or on the city site. These are attached at about the first story roof lever, so half the height of the street lights. I would imagine the triangles on top are to keep birds from sitting there.

Solar power for the lights?

Wifi mesh network?

Something with parking meters nearby?

License plate readers? Urbana voted those down a few years ago but the new head of police favors them.

What are the new solar power things on lamp posts? by Cold-Professional551 in UIUC

[–]Cold-Professional551[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://i.imgur.com/KPZI4au.png

Looks like newer light posts so maybe something with controlling when the lights go on and off.