[Scan-DC] SCADA? Was Re: MPD "Mysterious" data noise

[Doug K.]

Hey Shawn, what's a SCADA unit?  I've recently noticed some stainless steel 
boxes, resemble traffic signal controllers, but with antennas, and not 
necessarily near intersections with traffic lights, in Montgomery county... 
best description I can give is they look like some gadget that was on one of 
the original Star Trek episodes, those were connected to some underground 
installation!  This thing is near a fire hydrant that is frequently used by 
one of those tank trux that says "Pools Filled" on it - wonder if it has 
anything to do with that... there's also a stormwater management pond 
(something _else_ that I don't understand!!) right there...

Weird.  A new one has just gone in near me at the intersection of Woodfield 
Road (MD Rt. 124) and East Village Avenue, near 
Laytonsville/Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village.  I've been wanting to stop and 
check the thing out when I go by there, but no good place to pull off.

Anybody?

I should see if I can get a picture...

Not sure where these things are getting whatever power they need, too, for 
that matter..

By the way, there's another larger installation going in in Seneca Creek 
Stream Park, I think it's called, down in the "holler" in Watkins Mill Road, 
this is where the old radio station used to be... blockhouse-looking 
building that I usually associate with cellular - but no antenna, at least 
as yet.  Any of you Gaithersburgers seen that/know what it might be?  Cathy? 
  Ed, if you're up that way, take a ride by it.

And while I'm at it, something I've wondered about for years and years - how 
and why did that radio station (back when I was in high school it used to be 
WHMC, about 1160 AM if I recall!) ever wind up there - it's 'way down in a 
hole and the tops of the antenna towers are about level with the top of the 
"bowl" that it's in...  I b'lieve that if I had a radio station, I'd want 
the towers in a _high_ place, right??

I ought to get a picture of that too... the old towers are still there - 
anybody need a tower??  :)

Thanks!

Doug

Mystified...


>From: Shawnerz <shawnerz@yahoo.com>
>To: dan P <newsmandan@yahoo.com>
>CC: scan-dc@mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] MPD "Mysterious" data noise
>Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 16:01:01 -0800 (PST)
>
>Dan,
>I believe you're hearing the SCADA units.  IIRC, these
>are remote data units positioned around the county
>that relay telemetry information.  Typically, it's
>water data (well amounts, valve positions, alarm
>activations, flow rates, etc).
>Please correct me if I'm wrong.
>-Shawn
>

_________________________________________________________________
Get holiday tips for festive fun. 
http://special.msn.com/network/happyholidays.armx