Car with F1 'Service Road' pass and strange roofbox...

[595Heaven]

Just walking our dog and saw an old (58-plate) Vauxhall with a Thule roofbox on it parked up. The roofbox had one of those rotating air vents on the top of it (like a Police dog van would have to ventilate the rear) and a thick cable coming from the back of the roofbox and down through the roof of the car.

They had a couple of F1 official passes in the windscreen including one for the 'Service Road' which I think is the road that runs around the inside of the track, which said it was an OfCom vehicle. No other identification on the car.

Intrigued as to what is in the roofbox - no visible aerials, but maybe some sort of receiver / drone jammer? Our local Police have issues a warning not to attempt any 'stunts' at the weekend as they've seen some very low flying paragliders over the circuit in the last few days so might be something to do with that.

Any ideas?


EDIT: A quick Google suggests it is indeed likely to be a UAV signal jammer...

Edited by 595Heaven on Wednesday 14th July 22:07

[Dazzled]

The low flying paraglider is probably one well known ex touring car driver who runs a paragliding company out of Turweston Airfield just up the road. He often flies a route over the circuit - as does the two seater Spitfire from Sywell.
No idea what the Astra is up to though.

[595Heaven]

Wonder if he is the one behind this story? https://www.northantslive.news/news/hunt-mystery-p...


Was at the airfield the other day and saw Meteo France setting up the weather radar for the GP. Also seems to be a lorry park for dozens of team trucks

[Dazzled]

Apologies - Turweston chap flies a gyrocopter not a paraglider. Must admit I’ve not seen or heard a paraglider over here recently. Army helicopters tend to do a low flying pass over Whittlebury Woods and the circuit most evenings and the Stroll family helicopter makes a hell of a noise.

[DangerDoom]

Dazzled said:

No idea what the Astra is up to though.

How did you know it was an Astra ?

[595Heaven]

We get one (occasionally two) over us as well but they always stay pretty high - they have seen one at much lower levels around the circuit / Towcester

[Teddy Lop]

It's just a vent... He could have a gas bottle in there or want to prevent build up of condensation. Or if it's a track marshall a hamper of smelly French cheese for the lunchtime picnic spread?

UAV jammer seems a lurch.

[48k]

The paramotor has been buzzing around here (between Towcester and Milton Keynes) during the summer for years, usually in the evenings, sometimes there's two. Just people enjoying their hobby, I don't think it's mysterious.

Edit because paramotor

Edited by 48k on Thursday 15th July 10:05

[some bloke]

If it has a motor, it's a Paramotor, not a Paraglider.
</Pedantmode>

[595Heaven]

some bloke said:

If it has a motor, it's a Paramotor, not a Paraglider.
</Pedantmode>

Thanks - hadn't realised the distinction.

So is a paraglider effectively a parachute that is ground launched rather than from an aircraft?

[HardtopManual]

Roscoe.

[some bloke]

595Heaven said:

Thanks - hadn't realised the distinction.

So is a paraglider effectively a parachute that is ground launched rather than from an aircraft?

Yes - more convenient than a hang-glider for carrying up a hill but there's a few limitations with wind speed etc.
Also, a paraglider is a wing, designed to generate lift and people have flown then hundreds of miles using thermals,:a parachute ismostly to stop you hitting the ground too hard. I was right into paragliding 20 years ago, I could bore you for hours...

[pacenotes]

It's for scanning for wireless cameras frequencies.

F1 uses a huge amount of RF frequencies for in car cameras to cameras in the pits. These all need to be checked in each country of the race so that they are not killing local services.

I worked at an Irish event and used a UK-based kit and turns out it was set up for the Irish police helicopter and had a little visit from the Gardai asking about the kit as they were getting the video of the main stage instead of the police helicopter.... Quick change of frequency and all was ok again.

I've been told that Ofcom are really hot on this and always help out every year instead of being a pain. But if the paperwork is not right they have the power to seize it until it's fixed.

[mat205125]

Someone with a roof box full of beers being refrigerated for the weekend?

[595Heaven]

Got up early this moring to walk the dog before it got too hot, and walked past the car again. There was one of the team having an early morning smoke outside, so asked him what was in the box...

Nothing! The vehicle is normally used for 3G / 4G / 5G signal strength measurement to keep the mobile networks honest with their signal strength maps. This weekend just being used for transport so all the kit that normally goes in the rooofbox and loadspace has been removed. They are not impressed with it - looks very out of place in the paddock car park!

The team using it are basically responsible for all the TV feeds from the circuit to the outside world, based next to the paddock.

Edited by 595Heaven on Saturday 17th July 09:35

[corinthian]

That’s what he was told to tell you!
There was a guy in Whittlebury Hall mouthing off that he operates the transmitter in that box, it can interfere with the cars and change the course of the race, they even have a setting to cause Mazipan to spin, he’s actually a much better driver than you think.

[chrisring]

I agree, Ofcom!

[Sandpit Steve]

chrisring said:

I agree, Ofcom!

Yep, will be something to do with frequency monitoring. There’s stloads of RF in use at the GP, for which various entities will have paid tens of thousands in licence fees to the government - with the expectation that the government in return ensures their seamless use over the weekend.

There’s also plenty of restrictions notified to airmen, nothing flying is allowed within two miles of Silverstone this weekend below 2,500’ (except for the Red Arrows, who have six miles and 8,500’ between 14:10 and 14:55 tomorrow) without permission. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they’re looking out for drones too.

[595Heaven]

corinthian said:

That’s what he was told to tell you!
There was a guy in Whittlebury Hall mouthing off that he operates the transmitter in that box, it can interfere with the cars and change the course of the race, they even have a setting to cause Mazipan to spin, he’s actually a much better driver than you think.

Riiiggghhhttt……

[Buzz84]

595Heaven said:

corinthian said:

That’s what he was told to tell you!
There was a guy in Whittlebury Hall mouthing off that he operates the transmitter in that box, it can interfere with the cars and change the course of the race, they even have a setting to cause Mazipan to spin, he’s actually a much better driver than you think.

Riiiggghhhttt……

I could belive it, at least till he blew it with the mazepin comment...