Could be a motion detector for other chained lights or security. Could also be an infrared directional camera, as others have noted.
this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
42 points (100.0% liked)
What is this thing?
6920 readers
55 users here now
Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.
Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
In the interest of giving more info…I wouldn’t put a motion detector there cause it’s between two houses, there’s a walkway on our side and you couldn’t get much more than a pack cigs between the fence and their house on their side.
Doesn’t mean it’s not though…
Could be a microwave proximity sensor, their like x-ray cat. Can see through wooden doors & can see criminals on the other side.
I'd say ..... Dummy camera.
That’s what crossed our minds, but there’s no lens type thing on the front.
Don’t get on though, so a camera wouldn’t surprise me…they’re “well do as we like and you can get fucked” type of people.
Many things are transparent to infrared that are not transparent in optical light, especially black plastics. It could still be a camera.
Are you sure that's not just a tinted lens cover? That's what it looks like to me from your photo, anyway.
Have you asked them?
No, we don’t get on, at all.
I get that
They were acting like idiots and being inconsiderate during Covid, haven’t got on since….bit unexpected really considering my dad did a lot for them.
Looks like an outdoor speaker
Apparently it never makes any noise. I’m not always there.
But I agree with you.
A lot of outdoor speakers fail and aren't replaced because it is a pain and almost nobody uses them enough.
They are a good idea, but silly for 90% of people who have them.
Yup. Bought a house that had some outdoor speakers. The audio cables ran into the basement and when I finally got around to hooking them up to my amp it did not go according to plan. I trimmed the cabling for some fresh copper and water started immediately dripping out of the cables. Turns out the conduit the previous owner had laid for the wiring was completely water logged. I ended up buying some wireless speakers instead of dealing with that mess.
Is it a cover for some conduit in case they want to install a security light/camera later? Does it unscrew or slide off?
Point your phone camera to it when it's dark. See if any light emanations come out of it. Sort of like when you point your camera to your remote controller light.
Dang, you must have a huge m&m tube
Could it be a light fixture of some sort that they haven’t turned on? May be worth pointing your camera at it at night too so you can see if it’s putting off any infrared light.
Besides that, is there anything they may want controlled remotely in the general direction it is pointing in?
Wild guess here. Looks like the downspout and gutter are also painted matte black, perhaps they had a discount painter paint everything they saw as an external fixture.
Doesn't look like a camera to me though. Looks more like a very large electronic weather sensor.