Game: Guess the mystery object !

[ped]

Clue:- These are sensors, but what do they detect?

 

[Coherent Light]

Neutrinos

 

[ped]

nopes .

 

[JBTexas]

Hmmm.... just to say "detects gas" or "detects smoke" would be too easy... I'm guessing you would want something a little more descriptive / detailed....

I'll make a WILD guess and say "detects biologicals"? Detects bacteria, viruses, etc? For a Bio- or genetics lab?

 

[ped]

Ok, you'd be right in saying it detects something out of the ordinary, the thing that this detects may be of particular interest to people who develop underwater structures.

 

[JBTexas]

I used to scuba dive (PADI instructor at one point, in Hawaii)... I don't know much about commercial diving... all I can think of is "detects sulfur dioxide" or "detects traces of petroleum" or "detects Laser Jellyfish" or "detects killer Jellyfish Laser Beams" (oh wait... that's already been suggested and you said "no").

... maybe used in taking underwater soil (mud) samples? Used in straining / filtering surface material from ocean / sea bottoms?

... from the appearance ... maybe taking algae, plankton, or seaweed samples? (different sized holes, and you said "different shapes for different applications").

(I know there probably is, or should be, an unwritten rule for the thread, "one guess per customer per post", but I figure after so many guesses by different people, it is a "hard" object, so some leeway is called for)

 

[ped]

Lots of good guesses there..oxides....hmmm

 

[JBTexas]

Okay, this will be MY last attempt.

Something to check the structural integrity of underwater structures, by gathering/sampling metal oxides.

 

[ped]

Something to check the structural integrity of underwater structures,


Thats as close as were gonna get so i guess i'll give it to you.

Its a corrosion sensor that detects certain oxides.

 

[JBTexas]

That was a hard one; very obscure.

Okay. Here is a hard one, then. BUT, it was reported in the news.
This caused a lot of problems for Amateur Radio operators, and OTHER people in radio communications (incl. professionals), off and on from the mid 1970's to the late 1980's.
(I actually worked on the "case"... so to speak... that is, it impacted on my job, and we helped to analyze and characterize the thing).

It has a nickname... two words... a nationality and a bird.

However, if a SPECIFIC answer isn't guessed / found by anyone, I'll answer for a good GENERAL guess. I've already provided a clue (" ... caused a lot of problems ... "), but no, it is NOT a jammer.

EDIT:

And no, it does not detect UFO's/Flying Saucers, or evil laser jellyfish.

 

[ped]

whatever it is, is frikkin huge


American Eagle?

 

[JBTexas]

(American Eagle? hehehe... (?) no, the object is the structure itself, not what could be sitting on it).

It is in Europe

 

[Coherent Light]

Does it have something to do with first generation radar?

 

[Trevor]

Took me forever to call the name. I think it's the Woodpecker Array / Russian Woodpecker.

-Trevor

 

[JBTexas]

(Coherent Light - not "first generation", but close; "radar" as opposed to jammer would be acceptable, OHR / Over the Horizon Radar would be better)

Trevor: CORRECT! (yay!)

Russian Woodpecker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

When I was active duty, I spent part of my time here (3 years - THIS EXACT site); I can't get into specifics, but I studied the thing;

Wullenweber - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(That is a AN/FLR-9 antenna... intercept and direction finding. Note the scale of the antenna ... compare it to the buildings / cars in the foreground)

The Russian Woodpecker occasionally disrupted comms ALL OVER the globe. I also studied it while I was stationed in ASIA. It was centered on 10 Mhz, but had awful harmonics all over the HF band.

EDIT:

A satellite view of that old place I used to work at, I guess it is still standing; from Google Maps;

... and it seems like I managed to find the Russian Woodpecker on a satellite view - within the past few years - I don't remember the details.

 

[Coherent Light]

You were at the Elephant Cage? We were stationed at the cage in southern Italy.