Just by my first glance at that photo it seems to be powered by microwave. It looks like a microwave dish on top of the camera. All they would need is direct line of site from a microwave transmitter I would guess.

Given the microwave dish and the yagi below it, microwave is a possibility. However, we can't see anything where the tripod sits on the ground, but you can make out what looks like conduit going from the ODU down to the leg on the right, possibly to the box at the base of that leg, which to me appears to be a junction box of some sort. I can also see what looks like conduit leaving the bottom of that box.

[edit on 2/21/2010 by abecedarian]

that is a real good question. How does it get it's power? I would have thought there would be a solar panel and a battery box, but it seems those two items aren't there. I was not aware of the capability to beam power weather AC or DC through an antenna. That is very Tesla-ish. I would love to know the answer to this.

Either way! Give me a baseball bat and I smash it good!

We've tossed around the powered by microwaves deal and ultimately rejected the notion. You just can't get enough power that way. Now it is true the Soviets bugged the US Embassy with a device powered by radio, but the technology was a bit different. [It is discussed in the book "Spycraft", which I consider a must read if you are into that kind of stuff. ]

The best we can come up with is the cameras are gel cell powered and turned on remotely. They may also be turned on via seismic detectors.

There are two schools of thought regarding condensation on the lens. Most camera mounts are heated to avoid this, but that would take significant power. Cohu does have camera enclosures that are sealed and designed to be both nitrogen purged and used at positive pressure. The positive pressure keeps the moisture out.

The old Desert Rat newsletters refer to the frequencies used by the cameras to be a bit above 200MHz (I don't recall the exact frequency). However, nobody has ever offered evidence that they intercepted the video from one of these cameras.

Regarding the two antennas, one idea is they microwave the video back to Bald Mountain, while the yagi is for viewing by the dudes. Since I haven't been to Gate 61 in a while, I can't say how the antennas are oriented. However, the set up looks very similar to the current gear at the front gate.

I should say it again that Range 61 is a live bombinb range. Presuming you don't get shot by accident (not a likely scenario), the ranges have unexploded ordnance. You wouldn't want to run into any of that stuff. Even the unburnt flares and chaff packs you find on the public land are dangerous. EOD is best left to experts.

BTW, there is a movie out called "The Hurt Locker" that uses EOD in the theme. I can't vouch for it, but I bet some real EOD experts have stated their opinion on the blogs.

Upon further investigation, the gate is not the one Wilson used, but rather the camera is at another Range 61 gate.

The only good thing about smashing military property is that the federal prisons are much nicer than the state prisons. I'm guessing the FBI would get involved.

We know the cameras are not really needed for security. They have plenty of sensors and will intercept the morons who trespass way before they get close to anything important. It may be the cameras are used just to provide evidence that the sucker crossed the line.

These cameras are only at choke points. You can easily cross the border where cameras wont detect. That may imply the cameras are used to visually verify who is crossing the border. If a base employee or contractor was scheduled to cross at so and so a time and the right vehicle crosses, you don't send out security.

If you hang out by the front gate, you see "approved" vehicles drive right up to the guard shack without the dudes on the hill batting an eyelash.

Maybe a decoy inactive camera just put there to deter unwanted guests, maybe not but obviously nobodys messing with it!!!!!!!!!

Originally posted by SPOOKYSIN
Maybe a decoy inactive camera just put there to deter unwanted guests, maybe not but obviously nobodys messing with it!!!!!!!!!

Ask Chuck Clark about messing with government property, in particular remote sensing devices...