Old police antenna question

[Dragnet767]

Hello all,

I have a 1969 LAPD police car clone that is an Adam-12 car and I am trying to find out what roof antenna they used back then. If anyone knows either a model # or manufacturer or better yet where I can maybe find one I will really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[SCPD]

One Adam 12

Hello all,

I have a 1969 LAPD police car clone that is an Adam-12 car and I am trying to find out what roof antenna they used back then. If anyone knows either a model # or manufacturer or better yet where I can maybe find one I will really appreciate it. Thanks.

I have no idea what years the Adam 12 TV show was on, but I did a little image search, and the 4 pix I could find that showed the antenna on the car were all VHF quarterwaves in the middle of the roof.

 

[n2hbx]

Adam-12 Antenna

Depends on what vehicle you have.

If you have the older Belvedere car, then the previous poster is correct. It would be a quarter wave antenna about 18 inches long. The antenna would be toward the back of the roof, centered in line with the rear doors. You may have trouble finding the exact antenna. It was an Antenna Specialist antenna we used to call the "meatball" because of the shape of the base, which was painted white to match the roof. They haven't been made in a while, but you might turn one up at a local two-way shop if they have a decent junkbox.

If you have the Satellite car, then a base loaded VHF gain antenna would be appropriate. Again, check with the local radio shops; the slimmer loading coils similar to the old base loaded mobile CB antennas is what you want. Paint the coil black if it isn't already and mount it as above.

I can't remember what the Matadors had, but it doesn't sound like your car is that new.

Good luck, and post some pix when it's done!

Larry

 

[Dragnet767]

Hey thanks guys, Mine is a 1969 Plymouth Belvedere and it sounds like I am looking for the "meatball" antenna. One problem is I have NO radio equipment store anywhere near me. I guess Google will have to do at this point. Here are a few of pics of my car. Also I got most of it done last year and for speed sake I got a crown vic P71 antenna. I knew it was the wrong one but it was something.

 

[N_Jay]

Let me guess.

The antenna was directly above the dome light?

 

[kb2vxa]

Besides the VHF Hi Band 1/4 wave "stingers" (Motorola Low Profile at the time) the grey base ones were made by Antenna Specialists. I don't have the numbers at my fingertips but in any case they have "base loaded" quarter waves for band segments within the 25-54MHz range and 5/8 waves for segments in the 120-174MHz range and guess what, they all look alike. They all have a grey base coil with the red and black ASP striped band with the frequency range marked on it and the whips are of similar lengths so you have to look close to see what it is. The UHF gain antennas are distinctive however, no base coil but they do have a helical quarter wave delay line encapsulated in grey or black plastic about 1/3 of the way up the whip and an NMO mount. While ASP uses a weird proprietary mount for the VHF antennas they have retractable "push pin" screw in center conductor adapters and chrome plated collars for NMO mounts.

 

[Dragnet767]

Unfortunately I can't reply to these right away (even though I am) because being new my first 3 post have to be read first by a moderator. Larry is correct. The antenna goes back about half way of the back doors and centered with the speaker.

What if I made one using a HDM-1 base? How big are those? Also can I add whatever antenna length I want in one? Thanks guys I really appreciate all the help.

Mike

 

[Dragnet767]

Whatever base I end up with yes it will have to be painted white to match the roof. This is what they did back then.

 

[rfradioconsult]

The "meat ball" 1/4 antennas were madr by Antenna Specialists and used a 3/8 hole with a snap in mount. GE usually used them as their stock antenna; if memory serves me the pn was 12AY13S.

 

[N_Jay]

The "meat ball" 1/4 antennas were madr by Antenna Specialists and used a 3/8 hole with a snap in mount. GE usually used them as their stock antenna; if memory serves me the pn was 12AY13S.

I remember those.

They are grey and had flat edges around the base.

If I remember correctly they had a fine thread stud sticking out the top that was hollow for the coax center conductor.
(Am I "remembering" or "dreaming"?)

 

[rfradioconsult]

I remember those.

They are grey and had flat edges around the base.

If I remember correctly they had a fine thread stud sticking out the top that was hollow for the coax center conductor.
(Am I "remembering" or "dreaming"?)

No dreaming your long suppressed memory cells are correct; the coax center conductor extended through the cap and when you tightened the top ferrule it secured the center conductor. I always thought it was a great no solder mount

 

[autovon]

Adam 12 episodes are on Hulu.com now. You can watch a few and see the configuration and see if the antenna type looks familiar.

 

[Dragnet767]

I found out which one is needed. it's a: PCTEL A/S ASPC201L

PCTEL, Inc. Antenna Specialists sup ® sup Quarter Wave Antennas Mobile Antennas

Thanks for all your help guys. Could this antenna be used with a CB?

 

[SCPD]

Old brain cells

Since your first post, I kept thinking I've seen an antenna like what you want. It may not be exact, but I think ASPC201L in the attached link is pretty close.

http://wildcard.pctel.com/images_product_overview/pdf_docs/VHF_UHF_Wideband-FT.pdf

 

[hoser147]

Since your first post, I kept thinking I've seen an antenna like what you want. It may not be exact, but I think ASPC201L in the attached link is pretty close.

http://wildcard.pctel.com/images_product_overview/pdf_docs/VHF_UHF_Wideband-FT.pdf

I would say you hit the nail on the head. I still see them around here in use. I will have my son keep an eye out, he hits the scrap yards quite a bit. Dragnet thats a Nice looking ride.

 

[SCPD]

Another link from someone with too much time on his hands

Here's another link I kept trying to remember. This is a history of police radios in California. Although it's CHP, it does have a pix of the radio equipment in a 1969 Dodge Polara:

CHP Patrol Car Radio History

 

[Dragnet767]

hoser147 thanks. She's about 90% done. Wyandotte nice link. I am running the Federal PA-20A Siren controller and the Motorola Motrac radiohead. BTW I ordered my antenna today from this place: Antenna Specialists ASPC201L Rooftop Mount 3/8" Antenna, 108/512 MHz, 26" Long which includes 17 ft RG-58/U cable and UHF male connector.  The largest selection of Aircraft parts and Pilot Supplies.- SkyGeek.com I found it at about 5 places and this was the cheapest.

 

[FLA2760]

That is a very nice ride.

 

[SLWilson]

You're Right....

I remember those.

They are grey and had flat edges around the base.

If I remember correctly they had a fine thread stud sticking out the top that was hollow for the coax center conductor.
(Am I "remembering" or "dreaming"?)

Hey N_Jay,

You're right. I had a 1988 Chevy Blazer with one of those on it. I was running a GE 110 watt low band mobile 8 channel radio. Had the synthasized eprom that you programmed for the frequencies.

I traded the Blazer in a couple of years ago. Left the antenna on it so there wasn't a hole left open in the middle of the roof !

It was the Antenna Specelist model. Sticker & all....Cut to the 39 Mhz range.....

Those shouldn't be too hard to find. I think there are still couple of radio shops around here that still use them.

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[kb2vxa]

Well there Drag, considering the antenna you selected you may consider an NMO mount and adapter kit so you can switch antennas if need be. The ASP mount is unique, nothing else fits. Now if you want to be authentic for meets you should find out which antenna they used on the Belvedere, they used several cars and different antennas in each series. In the clearest picture I could find it looks like an 18" 1/4 wave whip on an NMO bent slightly back, the usual case when antenna meets low obstruction.

Oh BTW, the antenna won't cover that entire range of frequencies. What that range means is it may be tuned to a specific frequency within that range but it will work satisfactorily +/- about 2MHz. That's on transmit, on receive it's much broader but with reduced performance outside it's set operating range.