What the hell is this?

[Bunny Jane]

These things have been popping up in my area for about a year now.

Can someone tell me what they are?

 

[Rickster]

These things have been popping up in my area for about a year now.



Can someone tell me what they are?

Its wireless internet that uses line of site to a cell tower, either to a private cell tower or one of the networks.

 

[Bunny Jane]

Its wireless internet that uses line of site to a cell tower, either to a private cell tower or one of the networks.

Then I would love to know why my neighbor has his pointed at a wall.

At first I thought they were for digital TV, cause the houses that have these don't have dishes or aerials.

I've never seen any of these things at Vodashop, so what exactly are they used for?

 

[Gravedigger]

I think your neighbor is not using his. That pic you posted, looks like nothing is connected to the device? Also, I think that looks like a MikroTik "dish". Or a Ubiquiti. And yes, like Rickster said, it is primarily used for internet access, or for private network access like to Vodacom's internal network, for example. I knew two students that studied with me, that had a private network setup, for file hosting, "newshosting", that sort of stuff, to other guys on one of these mannetjies pictured above.

What do you mean by "so what exactly are these used for?"

 

[Thor]

I think your neighbor is not using his. That pic you posted, looks like nothing is connected to the device? Also, I think that looks like a MikroTik "dish". Or a Ubiquiti. And yes, like Rickster said, it is primarily used for internet access, or for private network access like to Vodacom's internal network, for example. I knew two students that studied with me, that had a private network setup, for file hosting, "newshosting", that sort of stuff, to other guys on one of these mannetjies pictured above.

What do you mean by "so what exactly are these used for?"

Those students sailed the high seas.

Long live DC++

 

[Rickster]

Then I would love to know why my neighbor has his pointed at a wall.

At first I thought they were for digital TV, cause the houses that have these don't have dishes or aerials.

I've never seen any of these things at Vodashop, so what exactly are they used for?

You won't find it in a network providers shop, you can only get this via a ISP or a shop that specialises in this such as scoop or uniterm direct.

 

[Swa]

Alien communication device. E.T. is phoning home. No not Eugene, the other one.

 

[Bunny Jane]

I think your neighbor is not using his. That pic you posted, looks like nothing is connected to the device? Also, I think that looks like a MikroTik "dish". Or a Ubiquiti. And yes, like Rickster said, it is primarily used for internet access, or for private network access like to Vodacom's internal network, for example. I knew two students that studied with me, that had a private network setup, for file hosting, "newshosting", that sort of stuff, to other guys on one of these mannetjies pictured above.

One I got a good look at has the Ubiquiti logo on it.

What do you mean by "so what exactly are these used for?"

I mean, what can it do with the Vodacom network that Phones, dongles and Routers can't do?

 

[Rickster]

Maybe get a pic of the actual dish pointing to his wall.

Not 100% sure why you are obsessed with this guys setup, guessing you have shyte internet and want in on some of the good stuff?

 

[Kloofvreter]

That is a dual polarity parabolic dish antenna, and no radio connected to it. So it's doing nothing.

 

[Moosedrool]

Maybe get a pic of the actual dish pointing to his wall.

Not 100% sure why you are obsessed with this guys setup, guessing you have shyte internet and want in on some of the good stuff?

Using the parabolic to listen in on OP's conversations.

 

[Dan C]

Dual Polarization High Performance Dish Antennas

High Performance Back Haul Dish Antennas Frequency Band 4.9 - 5.9 GHz Gain 2 x 23 dBi, Diameter 300 mm Gain 2 x 26 dBi, Diameter 450 mm ...

telimartsystems.blogspot.com

 

[Kloofvreter]

One I got a good look at has the Ubiquiti logo on it.



I mean, what can it do with the Vodacom network that Phones, dongles and Routers can't do?

They are used for point to point radio links between buildings. Linking two buildings to the same network.

 

[Kloofvreter]

Maybe get a pic of the actual dish pointing to his wall.

Not 100% sure why you are obsessed with this guys setup, guessing you have shyte internet and want in on some of the good stuff?

If the photo in the OP is anything to go by, there's no equipment connected to it, thus probably no alignment yet, which could be why it's pointing at the wall.

 

[Bunny Jane]

Maybe get a pic of the actual dish pointing to his wall.

Not 100% sure why you are obsessed with this guys setup, guessing you have shyte internet and want in on some of the good stuff?

Not obsessed, curious.
I didn't even know it had anything to do with internet until you guys mentioned it, I really thought it was for TV.
And besides, aren't we all looking for better internet in South Africa?

 

[Biscuit1018]

These things have been popping up in my area for about a year now.

Can someone tell me what they are?

I have one for office and home

My uses.
1. My primary business managed link to my voice provider.
I backup this to my unmanaged FTTH link

2. Its also my secondary internet link in case my FTTH fails

 

[Moosedrool]

Not obsessed, curious.
I didn't even know it had anything to do with internet until you guys mentioned it, I really thought it was for TV.
And besides, aren't we all looking for better internet in South Africa?

Well those dishes are for any network. Whether you're using it through your ISP for WAN or setting up a wireless LAN from building to building. They're pretty nifty but meh when it comes to latency.

 

[Bunny Jane]

And BTW I didn't take that photo, that's one I got of the internet.
The one I took wasn't clear enough, here is one I took today.

This the best I can get

That cable isn't connected at the bottom.

Does height matter with these things? Most of the ones I see are at least two stories up (on poles), while the one in the pic is literally under the roof.

 

[Kloofvreter]

That's an integrated unit, it's got the radio built in.

Yes, height matters greatly. They must be precisely aligned.

 

[Moosedrool]

And BTW I didn't take that photo, that's one I got of the internet.
The one I took wasn't clear enough, here is one I took today.

This the best I can get

That cable isn't connected at the bottom.

Does height matter with these things? Most of the ones I see are at least two stories up (on poles), while the one in the pic is literally under the roof.

It is line of sight. So depending on where you point it it needs to sufficiently clear the fresnel zone for it to have best tx rx rates.