What is this? (Page 2): No it doesn't look cheap. If I had to guess the clear plastic to ( most likely ) monitor the sun light conditions or even possibly a web cam , like for a beach...

tcthome Loc: NJ

Longshadow wrote:

Maybe they have an agreement with a local TV/radio station or the weather service to gather info for the area.
Maybe they (somebody who runs the complex) like weather stuff.
Maybe someone in the complex is a weather aficionado and asked if it was okay to put up.
It does not look like a cheap system.

No it doesn't look cheap. If I had to guess the clear plastic to ( most likely ) monitor the sun light conditions or even possibly a web cam , like for a beach cam or something. Nice, I wish I had one.

Upgrade= the clear plastic window is probably solar power .

Bill_de Loc: US

You can buy your own for $199.

https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-01009M-Weather-Definition-Touchscreen/dp/B074XK7GRQ/ref=sr_1_22?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Weather+Stations&qid=1611422669&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-22&ts_id=397435011

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Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

An automated weather station. If you post the download we could probably read the manufactures label. I think it says Autoweather?

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

Ok, let's take it a step further...there doesn't seem to be a power source other than the wind possibly. I've seen and photographed these things on highways out West and I still believe them to be associated with security because of the areas they were in and had obvious cameras.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

AndyT wrote:

Longshadow. That all makes sense, but why would those things be needed in an apartment complex. This is not something put up by somebody who lives here and is interested in the weather. Thoughts?

Can't speak for your state but here is New Jersey and in many other states there are weather tracking devices all over the place. That is how weather services can pinpoint the temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc in particular areas. The numbers for my town may be very different than for a town just a few miles away. This information is made available to services such as Weather.com which I use on my smart phone.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

AndyT wrote:

It is attached to a light pole in an apartment complex. The spinning mechanism must be powering something. A timer perhaps?

AcuRite ATLAS Weather Station with Lightning Detection
Model: 01004M-ATLAS
$237.99
Temperature Range: -40 to 158° F, -40 to 70° C
Temperature Accuracy: +/- 1° F
Humidity Range: 1% - 99% RH
Humidity Accuracy: +/- 2% RH
Wind Speed: 0 - 160 mph; 0 - 257 km/h
Wind Direction: 360°
Wind Direction Accuracy: +/- 3°
Rain: .01" intervals (0.25 mm)
Rain Accuracy: +/- 5%
UV Index: 0 - 15 index
Light Intensity: to 120,000 Lumens
Wireless Range: 330 feet (100 meters) depending on home construction materials
Wireless:Signal: 433 MHz
Power: 4 AA alkaline or lithium* batteries

Quixdraw Loc: x

Ain't paranoia grand! If you click on the link Bill D provided, you'll see it in all it's splendor. I have a very modest weather station which I find interesting and useful. I'm sure there are many with a similar interest. Of course, it COULD be a secret spy device...

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

skylinefirepest wrote:

Ok, let's take it a step further...there doesn't seem to be a power source other than the wind possibly. I've seen and photographed these things on highways out West and I still believe them to be associated with security because of the areas they were in and had obvious cameras.

Nope. Its a weather tracking device. Here is another example of one.

(Download)

tcthome Loc: NJ

Bill_de wrote:

You can buy your own for $199.

https://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-01009M-Weather-Definition-Touchscreen/dp/B074XK7GRQ/ref=sr_1_22?_encoding=UTF8&c=ts&dchild=1&keywords=Weather+Stations&qid=1611422669&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-22&ts_id=397435011

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Good work. Assuming it is in the OP 's state, I'm surprised it only goes down to 32*F!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Shellback wrote:

url=https://www.tejar.com/acurite-atlas-weather-s... (show quote)

Surprised they don't spec any solar power to offset/recharge lithium batteries.
Wonder how long (4) AAs last.

skylinefirepest Loc: Southern Pines, N.C.

Great...I was playing games rather than googling "accurite". Ok, problem solved...good work!

Day.Old.Pizza Loc: Maple Grove, MN

Perhaps one of the tenants, perhaps an amateur weatherman, is running a data collection site and feeding it to local TV or radio stations. There’s a guy in my area that does that.

fantom Loc: Colorado

Longshadow wrote:

Maybe they have an agreement with a local TV/radio station or the weather service to gather info for the area.
Maybe they (somebody who runs the complex) likes weather stuff.
Maybe someone in the complex is a weather aficionado and asked if it was okay to put up.
It does not look like a cheap system.

The weather station does not need to be hard wired and it transmits its data to a weather station monitor linked to it. It could have been put up by anyone. I use a similar one on my house and they cost around $125-150 as I recall.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

Longshadow wrote:

Surprised they don't spec any solar power to offset/recharge lithium batteries.
Wonder how long (4) AAs last.

I was surprised by that too - at that price, I would expect solar power...

I use the Tempest Weather System - no moving parts...

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

fantom wrote:

The weather station does not need to be hard wired and it transmits its data to a weather station monitor linked to it. It could have been put up by anyone. I use a similar one on my house and they cost around $125-150 as I recall.

Correct.
(But I said nothing about hard-wired.)

But it was stated that the HOA/HRA/... rules disallow stuff hanging outside.