strange thingy on ebay

[paulvr]

A friend of mine pointed out a really strange looking C-Band contraption made (in part?) by Gardiner. Please look at:

Gardiner C Band LNA with antenna | eBay

Cananyone tell me what this strange looking marmored-white dome is, not to mention the tube going into the box. To me it looks just weird...

Does anyone know more about this?

 

[FaT Air]

I have a feeling it's from aviation. They were used for differential correction signals for GPS, usually from a tower but sometimes from a sat. Agriculture, and others, used these correction signals. Now, with them "opening up" the GPS, I think all those C band correction signals are gone. I've seen many similar "antennas" like that, removed from "spray planes". (I know where a few are collecting dust) I am pretty sure all correction signals are now L band or uhf/vhf if inch accuracy is needed.

 

[paulvr]

That's quite interesting to hear, thank you. The signals must have been tremendously strong if that little cap was the only antenna attached. makes me wonder if it might be of use in a system like a Gregorian Dish or other professional dishes where the signal is reflected one extra time before entering the LNB.