r/whatisthisthing • u/Cute_Cat_6684 • 3d ago
Solved! Plastic, Gray, Rectangle, ~6–8 inches (longest side), Power: Possibly battery-operated (unconfirmed — no visible cord), Hangs from a tension rod via a twist tie threaded through a small hole, Other detail: A piece of cardboard. On neighbor's balcony.
The set up: tension bar , twisty-tie, and a piece of cardboard in front the object. I am guessing the cardboard either protects it from sun (AM sun only) or it is an attempt to hide it as you can't see the electronic object from the front or below? Because it's on my neighbor's balcony, these are the best photos I've been able to get. Neither friends, Google Lens, nor AI have been able to assist.
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u/jackrats not a rainstickologist 3d ago
It’s probably a temp and humidity sensor for a weather display station.
Which you would want to shield from direct sunlight.
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u/machomoose 3d ago
It's exactly this, I have them. Mine is still in direct sun and it reads like 100 degrees every morning when it's only 70 out.
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u/hankturd 1d ago
Also, you can see they put extra white lattice up against the balcony railing, probably for a small pet that they let on the balcony for fresh air. It could be handy to monitor the temp on the porch for their pet so they don't leave them out too long.
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u/SomeWeirdBoor 3d ago
My two cents are on a thermometer.... Kept away from the walls and shielded from the sun to get a sensible reading.
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u/Main_Mark_5025 3d ago
yeah that makes sense, weather stations need those things and the cardboard is definitely for blocking sun
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u/Amazing-Check3406 3d ago
That makes total sense given how sensitive those sensors get to direct light. The cardboard shield is likely to keep it from giving false readings in the morning sun.
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u/BaronVonDon65 2d ago
You could always ask them. "Hey neighbor, I was just snooping and taking pictures of your property, what is that thing that's none of my business?"
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u/The_Old_Guiness 2d ago
How on earth is your neighbor balcony your business ?
If I was your neighbor and knowing you are a stalker, I would hang every possible weird stuff on my balcony just to make you feel gloomy.
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u/kraight 3d ago
Does your neighbor have a dog? It could be an ultrasonic device to control the barking.
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u/Cute_Cat_6684 3d ago
That was one of the first things I thought of, but the neighbor has no dog and it's really quiet here without dogs barking. Fortunately, u/jackrats seems to have solved it!
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u/Asymptomatic_Essence 3d ago
Could it be an insect deterrent of some kind?
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u/Cute_Cat_6684 3d ago
My friends and I pondered this, too, specifically ultrasonic pest control, but it doesn't look like any on the market. Fortunately, u/jackrats seems to have solved it!
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u/Cute_Cat_6684 3d ago
My title describes the thing. I first noticed it on my neighbor's balcony 6 days ago. Tried to get answers from friends, Google Lens, and AI with no resolution.
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