So this morning, I saw the second unit from CHP with NO Low band antenna. Both vehicles were Tahoes and neither had a low band antenna. Are new patrol units coming out of Sac with no low band radio because of CRIS?
CHP units with NO low band antenna
- Thread starter E5911
- Start date
No, lowband ain't going anywhere any time soon, typically removed for maintenance or washing
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
The radio head showed 4 RF decks, so unless they doubled up on one of the bands, it looks like it's got low band capability. Since these are supposed to blend in a bit more, ditching the standard low band whip might be part of the plan. The front passenger fender antenna, as DMS11B mentioned, looks a bit long for stock. Might be some StiCo variant.
d119
Patch & Channels Clear...
That's absolutely lowband, without question. You see the same thing on unmarked staff vehicles. It's a Sti-Co. They are also extremely narrow bandwidth.Check the front passenger fender
N6JPA
A Ham Radio Operator With too much frequency.
How in the heck are citizens in the middle of the night to know that is a police car and not a wacko wanna be cop or a rapist targeting women?
d119
Patch & Channels Clear...
No real difference between these and the existing all-white SMPVs.
Yeah – it's almost certainly a Sti-Co fender disguise that's custom-engineered for them to handle the 39/42/45 MHz setups they use (even in the same areas!). That or they are just tuned for one office's mobile channel, and there's enough power radiating on the base freqs to compensate for the antennas being somewhat detuned at the RX freq. Low-band is bizarre.
Thanks for all the info, Ill be on the lookout for those Durangos
FFPM571
Member
other photos show a passenger side long AM/FM antenna... Durango's do not have fender mount antennas from the factory. It is a Sti Co same one used on their admin vehicles
Yup. It's about visibility (reflectivity), with black being about 10% more risky than white.
I like how they admit the dark colors are about being stealthy.
We used to call them slick-tops, though the ultra-flat light bars in recent years have blurred the distinction.
Plus all the rooftop ants are lo pro, can't tell bands unless you're up close and personal. Surprised there isn't a lo band lo pro ant yet, heck Unication has lo band G series that you can't tell it's lo band without being told. Same stubby ant. The days of porcupine mobiles are long gone.
monitor142
Member
Let's hope that the CHP has better luck with their Durangos...
www.thedrive.com
-M142
Indiana Police's New Dodge Durangos Already Sidelined by Mass Engine Failures
The department ordered hundreds of new Dodge Durangos to replace its Chargers, but too many are already out of commission with engine defects.
www.thedrive.com
-M142
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Kind of hard to cram nearly 70 inches of antenna into a low profile mount and have it work worth beans. The pagers work usually because base station transmitters run a few hundred watts. With the CHP using it for two way, low profile is kind of out.
Back in the day we installed lo band "transit" antennas on school buses. No idea how they worked out for the ISD, but you definitely needed the real estate of a school bus roof for them...and we couldn't check SWR inside the install bay. We had to be outside, way outside away form anything.
If I remember correctly they only about 6" tall, but 4' long.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Right, I think those were an Antenna Specialists product. Similar design as their locomotive antennas. Long low aluminum cast piece with a funky feed point.
Given the option, the StiCo is the better approach.
