Weird Wall Outlet

[Ash]

There's a weird wall outlet in my apartment.  Every time friends come over they all ask me what it's for and I tell them that I have no idea.

Maybe one of you knows.  The pictures are a bit dark.  It's not a kitchen outlet because it's in the living room.

[JaseSF]

For an electric shaver perhaps?

[RCMerchant]

For an electric shaver perhaps?

Hmmm....

I beleive it's to be used as a European charger adapter...

http://www.shopono.com/products/Australia-to-US-Euro-EU-Travel-Power-Charger-Plug-Adapter.html

[AndyC]

Unscrew the cover and see what kind of wiring it's attached to.

[LilCerberus]

We had the exact same thing in a house in Houston, when I was a kid.

It was connected to a tv antenna in the attic.

[Chainsawmidget]

It's where they use to have the evil super computer that decided that it was better than it's creators plugged in. 

Those things don't use normal wall sockets. 

[Ash]

Unscrew the cover and see what kind of wiring it's attached to.

Don't know why I didn't think to do that.  Did it.

We had the exact same thing in a house in Houston, when I was a kid.
It was connected to a tv antenna in the attic

Tucked inside the outlet in a giant wad was a long length of Belden 8230 300 OHM transmission line.  The old style.  This ugly brown twinlead cable looks like it was last used around 1982 or something.

I also found this .pdf online that says: "300 OHM TWINLEAD — Lower loss than 75 ohm coax butsubject to RF interference.  Use only in remote rural areas. #8230 Belden"

So yeah, it's antenna cable and the outlet is for the antenna!   
A UHF consumer antenna

[Chainsawmidget]

Unscrew the cover and see what kind of wiring it's attached to.

Don't know why I didn't think to do that.  Did it.

We had the exact same thing in a house in Houston, when I was a kid.
It was connected to a tv antenna in the attic

Tucked inside the outlet in a giant wad was a long length of Belden 8230 300 OHM transmission line.  The old style.  This ugly brown twinlead cable looks like it was last used around 1982 or something.

I also found this .pdf online that says: "300 OHM TWINLEAD — Lower loss than 75 ohm coax butsubject to RF interference.  Use only in remote rural areas. #8230 Belden"

So yeah, it's antenna cable and the outlet is for the antenna!   
A UHF consumer antenna

That's remarkably disappointing.  I think it was more interesting not knowing. 

[LilCerberus]

I think it must've been what cable television was before they invented the cable.

[trekgeezer]

I believe it's  a wall plate for speakers.

[Flangepart]

There's a weird wall outlet in my apartment. 

I don't like the way it...stares at me...

[tommex84]

Did you try sticking your fingers in it

[The Burgomaster]

If you hold your ring in front of it and say, "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight, let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light," you will turn into Green Lantern.  Either that or it's some sort of electrical adapter.