I remember the news article you referred to and they were writing about regular local authority or highways agency? traffic cameras being converted for number plate recognition - storing details of journeys for 5 years. This traffic master sytem sounds different. They're hashing the number plates which - assuming they're not lying bastards - should be impossible to extract the original number plate from the hash code.

Not sure you want to be publicising what you're doing in this way as it may make it harder for genuinely needy persons to acquire other panels. However it gives me a chance to ask you some techie questions. So where is the solar panel as no such thing is visible in any of the pics? Is there always a solar panel with each of these things? What's the output power? To my mind, processing a video signal containing images of moving number plates passing every second or so is quite a difficult thing to do so would need a fairly powerful processor for all the pattern recognition stuff which would draw quite a lot of power. Presumably this stuff carries on working at night so it's also having to charge a battery during daylight? How big is that? Thanks for sharing this info.

"Not sure you want to be publicising what you're doing in this way as it may make it harder for genuinely needy persons to acquire other panels."

Yeah, I realise that, makes it harder for me too ! I have been hinting here for the past few months and telling everyone I know but I suddenly feel justified in my thievery so able to boast. Anyway, the riskier it is the sexier it is.

"However it gives me a chance to ask you some techie questions. So where is the solar panel as no such thing is visible in any of the pics? Is there always a solar panel with each of these things? What's the output power? To my mind, processing a video signal containing images of moving number plates passing every second or so is quite a difficult thing to do so would need a fairly powerful processor for all the pattern recognition stuff which would draw quite a lot of power. Presumably this stuff carries on working at night so it's also having to charge a battery during daylight? How big is that? Thanks for sharing this info."

First off, thank you for your interest, it makes me feel warm inside that someone else cares about such trivia still. Okay, the blue posts in the pictures aren't your targets if you are just after the panels. Same system seemingly but they are all mains-powered where they can be. Still worth smashing though imo. The free solar panels are located every 1.5 km along major motorways ( well, the M8 and the Clydeside expressway for sure, I'm guessing everywhere from the article).They are used in rural areas where no mains is available - also on the "30 limit' signs that illuminate when you speed in rural areas, but those aren't on the same system - ie good to nick but not part of the spy-system.. They are connected to cameras - mostly overhead strung onto bridges, sometimes side-of-the-road. I don't have a photo but am happy to take one and publish it here if you need it. Actually, I will do that this week just to reward your interest, check this thread later this week. You can't miss 'em though, they look like solar panels always look like. Chunky flat panels roughly A4 size or multiples of that size. They come in various sizes- god knows why- and thus various power outputs. BP refer to them as Solarflex, you can get the various power outputs from their website ( check on yer mates PC if you are planning on liberating some). 20 watts upwards in increments basically. You need about ten to power your average tee-pee in effect.

The battery / serious electronics are contained in a big ( 1 m ? ) green box on the ground always directly below the panel. Like I said, I haven't opened one up yet - but I probably will just to beat you to it ! The cameras are presumably IR to work at night. If you just want to hit their profits then I recomend hitting the cameras and the aerials as these are the most expensive components in my experience. I do mean hit as in smash. I can't find any use for cameras or aerials which is why I'm selling the idea of vandalism on the panels, which obviously are useful to anyone. You have made me think the cells are useful too, but they are housed relatively securely - I'll post more details about screws etc once I investigate further. basic number recognition isn't that hard nowadays, at least not for printed numbers like plates. As for the processor, I'm guessing it is all done remotely via the aerial. Check the TM website for more clues - not on your PC of course.

Alright, some more mundane practicalities. Don't attack them from the road - they have already got your numberplate stupid. Either steal them by foot, or drop someone off and pick them up after. Bear in mind most of them are rural. They use fairly chunky screws - I'll get the exact size for you later - so take a motorists nut-driver set or a large adjuustable wrench. I recommend the nut-driver since time is tight and the dimensions are too. They are just smaller than a Chewit if you are in a hurry. Wear black - no police-car can see you then and motorways tend to be busy places. Don't steal the ones that have 'traffic' cameras trained on them unless you have bigger cajones than me.

In return for my info, please promise me you will successfully steal at least one of these and boast about it here to encourage others. Happy hunting !

hi,

i got ahold of some of that trafficmaster hardware a while ago when they went bankrupt with the system here in germany and all the installed units were torn down from the autobahn.

the untold story of thousands of solar panels, gel batteries, gps/gsm hardware and other nifty stuff that have been destroyed is truely sad.

I met a guy that had to deinstall the units and get rid of them, and i was happy to take all the hardware he couldnt use. I still have a full box of brandnew ASIM Tech IR-255-759 (similar to  http://www.asim.ch/en/traffic/products/ir250.html I guess) and other stuff that nobody had a use for so far and now I came across your posting. In case anyone has a need for these for further technical investigation or maybe a few for a ceremonial destruction or similar, let me know via my email.

best ones.

btw: dont destroy the panels! :) i am currently using these to run a self-sustained computing environment, there are many better things to do with them then smashing.

12volt 15watts and 1.3 amps in the sun.
trooper

ther are now 2 sizes of solar panels a 7 watt and a 15 watt.