"Scott en Aztlán" wrote in message
news
I've seen several of these devices attached to the street light poles
in Irvine, CA. Clearly there is some kind of radio inside the box, but
what is their purpose?

http://tinypic.com/6okknl.jpg

I've seen these on some poles in upstate NY also.
Think they are used to signal the electric utility when
the streetlight goes out. You will note the round
power adapter that is sandwiched in-between the
125 VAC photocell which switches on the lamp.
These are a 3-conductor / pole twistlock connector.