Michael F. Reusch wrote :
The Internal Revenue Service requires enclosed surveillance systems configured as transformers for mounting on telephone poles....
This and cameras disguised as Cable TV amplifiers are very common means of diguising federal video surveillance gear. Most people don't know enough about what is on the wires and poles near them to tell the difference, which is often subtle but obvious to someone technically trained - things like pole pig transformers that have no HV connection to the distribution wires... or cable line amplifiers not actually connected to a cable trunk line or of a different type than the rest of the system. Closer examination will often disclose a little window with a lens behind it, which of course is uncommon on regular pole pigs... Most of this gear transmits FM NTSC video signals in various standard microwave bands (1.7 ghz 2.2 ghz 2.4, 5.3 ghz etc) used for much federal bugging. No attempt is usually made to scramble the signal, so if you have the right microwave receivers (some European satellite receivers cover this band for example), you too can watch some mafia don go into and out of his house.... TV stations have occasionally discovered these signals on their remote pickup antennas for live newsfeeds from remote trucks - many of these operate nearby in frequency from tall buildings or TV towers with huge line of sight coverage and bored techs sometimes tune up and down the band to see what they find .... I have actually seen one of the fake Cable TV amplifier bugs for sale at the Dayton Ham flea market. I didn't buy it, but it was an interesting curio. Dave Emery Weston, Mass.