I call bullshit on the RFID and GPS
It’s the ol’ “Buying the Protected by ADT Security yard sign is cheaper than buying the security system” trick.
Yeah, I’ve seen the city computers running windows XP… no way they equipped a sign with GPS and have someone swapping out the battery.
To be honest, as long as they’re not on an external network, it doesn’t matter what OS they are running as long as it runs the needed software.
There are massive industrial CNC machines running on even older Windows systems than XP because the software won’t work on a newer OS. There’s no reason to upgrade if it means having to replace a massive multi-million dollar machine.
One problem they can face is hardware failure. It becomes difficult to replace the hardware with something that works on those old operating system.
There are business’ built around refurbishing old stuff for these computers, but it’s pretty expensive.
It’s a short term solution. A real long term solution is to have the software rewritten.
The hardware for CNC machines is still being made, and the controller doesn’t really “wear out”. It’s not getting constant updates and it only really runs one program. The software could be fixed, sure, just need to find someone who can get the Fanuc environment to run on a Mazak Fabrigear 300. And then they need to do the same thing for this Mazak Fabrigear 400, no, it doesnt use the same control environment as the 300. And the Haas mill. And the Amada F0-3015 flat laser. And the Cincinnati press brake. And the Strippit turret punch.
The issue isn’t that it can’t be done, the issue is you’d have to write a new control environment for each type of machine, and most machine shops don’t have the capital to throw at each machine to solve a problem that doesn’t really affect them at all.
RFID maybe, that’s just a sticker which can only be read from a few centimeters away, and not through the metal sign. No GPS though.
And if it does won’t a magnet just wipe it?
Ummm, no.
pssssh. no one knows how magnets work. maybe it would!
That’s how I was able to cancel my credit card debt!
In Yellowknife, there’s a road called “Ragged Ass Road” and that sign gets stolen so often that they started selling the signs in gift shops to reduce the theft rate. Which is super clever ;)
Good thing nobody wants your little red sign.
There is a town in Austria which was called Fucking and now it’s called Fugging. Seems like the residents couldn’t take it anymore
Fugging shid :-DDD:D
They should lean into it and sell horneytown rd merch
I’m good, I’ve already got a sign.
There’s a town of Horneytown and Horneytown Rd here in North Carolina. Heard that the country store there does just that, selling shirts and whatnot. I’m guessing the road signs disappear around there frequently too.
And Horneytown isn’t far from Climax, NC.
A la Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
Yeah, I’m gonna take my horse to Horneytown Rd. I’m gonna ride 'til I can’t no more.
Maybe it’s got an AirTag on it?
I don’t think the highway 69 signs in my state are GPS tracked, at least they weren’t when my girlfriend stole one years ago.
The city of Liverpool just started painting Penny Lane on the side of buildings and walls to keep people from stealing the signs.
They could just, like, rename the stupid road. I imagine the kids who live on it get teased about it constantly.
