FBI cars? Why so many antennas?

[wannabescannist]

I'm not sure if these are FBI cars or not...but I've seen a lot of them...having almost 5 antennas. What's the point of more than one antenna? They all look similar. Does it mean they all have different radios with each radio requiring its own antenna?

Probably a dumb question but I'm trying to learn

 

[edweirdFL]

Are they all the same length, and arranged in a sqaure pattern on the roof?

If so, it could be a unit used to track things with radio transmitters. (bank money bags for instance)

 

[RolnCode3]

Lojack is typically a 4-antenna square. The bank tracking (commonly called ETS) is often a 3-antenna triangle. They all look exactly the same because they're all on the same frequency and using it to RDF.

Otherwise, you can have lots of antennas for lots of radios. MDTs. AVL. GPS. Possibilities are endless. And some of them look similar, even if they're not the same.

 

[wannabescannist]

I can't recall any exact orientation of the antennas...just remember seeing them sticking out of the trunk.

I mean it's not like scanners have tons of antennas though they can scan hundreds if not thousands of frequencies.

Only reason I say FBI cars is cause the license plates are green on white and start with a "U" which I think means it's a federal car licensed in Illinois. Does anyone know of a site that can identify a vehicle's "purpose" based on its license plate? Something like this but which includes government-issued plates?

 

[garys]

Only reason I say FBI cars is cause the license plates are green on white and start with a "U" which I think means it's a federal car licensed in Illinois. Does anyone know of a site that can identify a vehicle's "purpose" based on its license plate? Something like this but which includes government-issued plates?

Two general points. Cars used by the FBI don't have government plates of any kind. Also, I've never seen a FBI car with more than one two way radio antenna and those are well disguised.

Gary

 

[tnf]

i think if it is LoJack or ETS (electronic tracking system, bank bags and basically anything you can put the tracker into) the antennas are usually on top of the car for better reception....there are an endless number of antennas that could be on a car. remember, it could also be something like a police shift commander with antennas for the police radio, mdt, gps, and the other angency radio's in case of a huge incident or something. if you can see the antennas, they are probably not trying to hide their identity, imo.

 

[Sac916]

The FBI has some special equipment vehicles that may have many antennas on a vehicle. But the vast majority of FBI cars are low profile, unmarked without any external antennas. Mostly American model cars such as the Ford Crown Vict. Undercover Agent cars can look like any vehicle on the street with normal looking plates. Pick ups, vans, and even foreign model sedans, you would never know.

 

[gcgrotz]

I've seen VA State PD with Lojack on the trunk so I guess it is anybody's guess. Some of the local county units here had multiple vhf and uhf radios before they went to 800 MHz. State units will have low band for 39.54 (called SIRS here) statewide, VHF for the main radio, UHF or 800 for vehicle repeaters and maybe a CB antenna. They don't hide them too much even on unmarked vehicles since you won't see them anyway when you fly by their radar location at 80mph!

FBI is, as everyone has said, a different story. Mostly disguised, or maybe a cellular look-alike antenna. (Cell phones were a great help to unmarked police vehicles!) I have seen an FBI agent in a Jeep Cherokee even. Drive past a bank robbery sometime and you'll see them. Just don't stop or look suspicious of course.

 

[dbljack]

Only reason I say FBI cars is cause the license plates are green on white and start with a "U" which I think means it's a federal car licensed in Illinois. Does anyone know of a site that can identify a vehicle's "purpose" based on its license plate? Something like this but which includes government-issued plates?

In Illinois "U" Plates are issued to vehicles owned by the State of Illinois

 

[SAR923]

I agree that this is not an FBI vehicle. All the FBI units I worked with had regular state plates that would come back to "unknown" when you ran them. I've seen them in everything from a pickup truck to a beater old Thunderbird. About the only antennas I observered were cellular disguise or quarter panel AM/FM disguise. I'm sure you saw some kind of state police or DOT unit equipped with Lo-Jack.

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi all,

I've never seen an FBI car with any recognizable antenna or license plate, they're UNDERCOVER. On the other hand an older model "plain brown wrapper" with black wall tires often give a clue. If you hear the PD run a plate that comes up "no record, not on file" it's a recovered plate they sat on until all records of it were deleted from the DMV database, you can rest assured they pulled over a spook.

"About the only antennas I observered were cellular disguise or quarter panel AM/FM disguise."

Interesting point even if the word "observered" hasn't existed until now. (;->) There are several types of open coil Amateur Radio antennas that look like they are for cell phones although disguise isn't the aim, it's simply a design. Then too there are what I would call "can antennas" for lack of a better name that don't resemble antennas at all, they look like somebody left a can on the roof. A disguised quarter wave VHF antenna looks like an ordinary car antenna telescoped down to 19" but on closer inspection it's a solid rod machined to look like telescopic segments. Then there are totally invisible antennas hidden inside fiberglass roof and body panels, these are most commonly used by the FCC for RDF applications.

Now is that guy sitting in the car down the street a spook or a child molester? Call the cops and find out! (;->)

 

[wannabescannist]

Anyone know of a site that shows different state-related vehicles (I guess specifically for Illinois)? These cars had barriers between the front & back passenger cabin area (like police cars that separate the officer from the person they arrested)...and are white - maybe a Taurus. Most police vehicles around here (Chicago Police + Illinois State Police) are Crown Vics with some Impalas. I've seen some unmarked Crown Vics with the same antenna orientation though.

 

[SAR923]

I'm guessing there are hundreds of state, county, local, special district, and federal police agencies in Illinois. What you described is a prisoner cage and it could be used by any police agency. There's a site called copcars.com that has pictures of police cars from around the country but I know of no site that shows a picture of every type of police vehicle in use by every police agency in Illinois, or anywhere else, for that matter.

 

[blueangel-eric]

Hi all,

I've never seen an FBI car with any recognizable antenna or license plate, they're UNDERCOVER. On the other hand an older model "plain brown wrapper" with black wall tires often give a clue. If you hear the PD run a plate that comes up "no record, not on file" it's a recovered plate they sat on until all records of it were deleted from the DMV database, you can rest assured they pulled over a spook.

I've heard that "no record not on file" phrase many many times over the years here in lil ol' Emporia KS on the scanner

 

[wannabescannist]

I've heard that "no record not on file" phrase many many times over the years here in lil ol' Emporia KS on the scanner

How do police proceed in that case? Do they automatically assume it's FBI?

 

[RolnCode3]

How do police proceed in that case? Do they automatically assume it's FBI?

No way. Across the country there are thousands of agencies. First, you assume it's an out of registration vehicle, and work backwards from there. That way you don't get snowed over by a fast-talking guy who won't pay his registration.

Of course, if there's red lights, sirens, and guns in the car, it's a good bet it's a law enforcement agency. But you don't pick which agency automatically (unless it's a local thing...like I can pick out the CSI and detectives around here, but if I went to Illinois I'd have NO clue).

 

[OpSec]

I have seen, heard about and talked to all manner of feds and their cars. When stopped, on the phone or in person the feds make it very clear very quickly who they are and which XXX they work for. Don't bother running the plate or the VIN, as it's not on file and will not come back. The average "G-ride" looks nothing like a police vehicle and will usually have no visible antennaeor equipment. Some have no equipment. Some are loaded with equipment that is hidden very well and not visible.

There was one trooper who couldn't wrap his brain around this concept and proceded to tell me the plate, VIN and description on the radio twice followed by "This is a XXX vehicle". I had to send him a detailed message on his computer before he gave up. I still don't think it sunk in.

 

[damiens888]

Website with Police Cars

Anyone know of a site that shows different state-related vehicles (I guess specifically for Illinois)? These cars had barriers between the front & back passenger cabin area (like police cars that separate the officer from the person they arrested)...and are white - maybe a Taurus. Most police vehicles around here (Chicago Police + Illinois State Police) are Crown Vics with some Impalas. I've seen some unmarked Crown Vics with the same antenna orientation though.

Site with police cars: http://policecarsite.atspace.com/

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi again,

"There was one trooper who couldn't wrap his brain around this concept ..."

New Jersey Turnpike toilet graffiti; Here I sit and strain my pooper giving birth to another State Trooper.
No, that was many years before the plaque honoring Howard Stern was erected.

 

[shortwaving]

Here's The Deal

Alright, here we go.

"U" plates are generally used throughout the state system.

You'll see 'em on DOT vehicles
State College transportation vehicles
As well as "pool" vehicles.

The fact that your car had multiple antennas usually means:

Vehicle assigned to someone / agency with the need & authority to operate on multiple bands as needed...examples:

Department of Nuclear Safety
CMS (or whatever it's called now)
Homeland Security (in all its permutations)

However, the vehicle as you described it has been genarally identified as being used by Parole / Probation officers.

You need a cage / barrier as sometimes you relieve folks of their liberty.
You need lots of radios as you cross jurisdictions ALL THE TIME and you need to be able to talk if things go South.

I have heard them come up on "my" local system without warning, and the dispatcher handled their traffic just like any other authorized unit.