ramblings of a {sys,net}admin…

While surfing the web today, I came across these (funny) pictures of hacked street signs:

It got me thinking about these signs again. Occasionally I’ll pass one on the highway and I wonder about how they’re “programmed”. Do they have a wireless link back to some “central control” or — my guess — they have some type of console/serial port that the “programmer” plugs a special device (or perhaps even a regular laptop) into and then uses that to put in whatever message they want displayed. Anyone know how this stuff works? I’m curious.

EDIT: Since posting, I’ve found “How to Hack Roadsigns” and ““Hacking the Highway”, which both explain it — albeit differently.

4 Responses to “Hacking Street Signs”

1. x Billy x Says:
   November 15th, 2007 at 10:07 am

   HA! thats funny, no idea how to do it though, really funny that someone can do that.

   haha.

2. jester Says:
   April 6th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

   It depends on the sign that is installed.the basic type is hard wired with a keyboard the advance units are wireless but they have a keyboard too as a backup. as for the wireless there is 2 basic modes i think its rs485f and a modified version of WIFI so you have to buy there equipment and software.

3. CPUsnip3r Says:
   June 15th, 2008 at 9:43 pm

   Usualy, there is a small computer terminal and keyboard built into the sign.

4. CwyK$H@xoR Says:
   July 25th, 2008 at 3:47 am

   i worked for fema down in miami fl on street lights and signs. most of them are just standalone programms and all usually have a box on them which is where you would input the data for the message on the signs. also 90% of the times inside the boxes youll see instructions on how to re write the mesaages displayed. and also in most cases it will even give the default password. but if your going to do this most of the times the boxes are locked so you will have to break into them which is a felony. dont get caught. hope that clears the air on the signs. This is only for construction stand alone signs. other D.R.O. signs like bank signs that read out time and day are usually connected to there home server. good luck on getting into those ones.

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