looks like a point to point wireless networking device.
this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2025
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Thank you, this looks most likely.
I wonder why this is needed. Why would a shopping center need long-range wireless networking devices?
It’s probably nothing but I remain curious and my embarrassing lack of networking knowledge will not get me anywhere.
If they have a remote office that is line of site from the top of the building then this would cost orders of magnitude less than running a dedicated line, or leasing/paying for a dedicated network connection between the two locations.
This would let whomever installed it have a direct, private, local network that spans two locations for under $5000.
My old apartment building in a dense city got our Internet with a setup like this. The ISP transmitted the internet wirelessly to our building and then the existing copper wire POTS cables were used to distribute it throughout the building. Pretty weird setup but I still got 200 Mbps down 🤷.
If you have free internet in the area, like public wifi from the city, The shopping centre probably have an agreement with the provider to help extend the range. They put the dish up to connect to the existing network and then pump it out with repeaters around the shopping centre.
It could also be that they changed out hvas systems or alarm systems and this is temportkary internet until they get a fiber connection which could take weeks to go through city permitting.
I wonder why this is needed. Why would a shopping center need long-range wireless networking devices?
it's really common in retail where they have an interest in data analytics of their customers and don't trust their landlord or local isp (or have no isp readily available to them)
security cameras? Out building?
That's the antenna for a wireless network bridge to another building.
Definitely a roof.
Probably point to point WiFi, either for an office in LoS or for a wISP.
If they're super progressive they might also be letting some hobbyists put a LoRA rig up there.
Long range wifi dish look similar.
What's it pointing at? That is a directional antenna. So it's trying to talk to something in that direction (either sending or receiving or both).
Edit: Note that the answer to what it's pointing at night be vague like "a city". Imagine a walkie talkie with a directional antenna. It doesn't need to be pointed directly at who you're talking to, just the general area would be fine.
Whats ominous about a communications dish?
It was erected around the time No Kings protests were happening.
It’s what they use to track people who got the Covid vaccine. /s
Point to point network. Fun fact, you can invert an old satellite dish and mount a wifi antenna in place of the LNB and shoot your wifi for a mile or two this way. Back when high speed internet was still rare, hobbyists practiced different ways to extend networks to poorly covered areas. This was one of those ways. Then fiber was run across the country and everyone got their hopes up... to see the telcos say "out of money, sorry, keep using our dsl until we get more handouts to install the last mile."
Def not a ubiquiti antenna
It's for calling in supplies
Looks like microwave wifi.
Þe comforting þing about dishes is, if þey aren't pointed in your direction, it probably has noþing to do wiþ you, and can probably not (directly) affect you.
Why are you using this funny symbol
It’s the letter thorn and is pronounced th.
Yes but that doesn't answer the question 😂
Why do you þink?