New antenna on OPP cruisers

[uncleblackie]

I'm sure a few of you have noticed the new additional vhf/uhf dual band antennas on some of the cruisers in the GTA.
I have to assume this is in preparation for the G20 summit?

But why dual band? I thought the comms were going to be on the new RCMP uhf only trunk system?

 

[unlisted]

Sorry for the large image, I have seen this on a few of the Aurora GTR vehicles. Looks really silly IMO.

I meant to ask if anyone had a clue what they are doing these days with the added antenna.. I just figured it was for a new in car computer, I heard reference a few times with it being "buggy"

 

[uncleblackie]

That appears to be a wilson cb antenna.

I am referring to an antenna with a coil in the middle. Similar to a Larsen 2m/70cm amateur or other dual band antenna.

Now that I think about it, I guess it could be a 5/8 wave uhf only.
It just reminded me of the Larsen dual bander (one of my personal favourites), thats why I automatically thought of it.

 

[kayn1n32008]

looks like, from front to back on the trunk, there is a wilson CB antenna, then a Uhf antenna of some sort, i have not done the math for wave length at the frequency, so cant be sure of the exact type, for the mobile extender, and finally what looks like a 5/8 wave Vhf antenna.

 

[FFPM571]

It is a wilson CB UHF 1/4 wave with a spring and VHF 5/8 3db gain. I own all 3 models

 

[uncleblackie]

None of these are what I am talking about.
This antenna has a loading coil in the middle of the whip.
Please reread my previous two posts.
I would have thought when I said it was similar to a larsen 2/70 everyone would be aware of what i was talking about.

Now does any one know what I am talking about in my original post?
Is this new antenna (not the cb antenna,not the standard vhf and uhf antennas already on the cruisers) for interoperability for the RCMP radio system for the G20 summit?

I was in the GTA all last week and saw these on a few different cruisers, so I'm sure some of you must have as well.

 

[Keganm]

I know OPP has recently begun to update their computer systems in their cars. what you're referring to may have something to do with that.

 

[unlisted]

uncleblackie- relax a bit. Yes, your post was not directly answered as of yet, and sadly, what I encountered is not what you did. The discussion is still on OPP and OPP antennas, so I am confident someone will answer your question shortly.

If you are that concerned about knowing, I suggest calling the OPP direct and asking them- nothing wrong with wondering what the "new equipment" is on the marked police vehicles- after all, they are providing a public service. (and I know they get even weirder calls than that- this call would rank around a 2 out of 10 for a "what the..." question)

I will meander into the HSD parking lot later this week, and get some more photos- if I can find the type of antenna you speak of. If there is an officer around, I will ask for you as well. (I'm up there pretty often on other agency matters)

Hope this helps...? (and sorry for hijacking your thread unintentionally)

 

[Muxlow]

Are you talking about this antenna between the 2 gps/cell antennas?

Iv seen a few HSd units toss a cb in their car.. but seems all the new HSD cars with the toughbooks mounted onto the dash have this extra antenna plus the 2 pancakes and the UHF repeater and VHF fleetnet antennas

As you can see the one pancake on the left is alot smaller.. kinda looks like a Tremble gps antenna rather then the antenna plus style

 

[uncleblackie]

Yeah, thats the one. Although I didn't recall it having two coils, but the cruisers I saw them on were all going in the opposite direction so i just caught a glimpse.

So you think that is an antenna for data transmission for the mobile workstations?
Makes sense, I had thought it might be for access to the RCMP system for the G20, but I guess not.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Yeah, thats the one. Although I didn't recall it having two coils, but the cruisers I saw them on were all going in the opposite direction so i just caught a glimpse.

So you think that is an antenna for data transmission for the mobile workstations?
Makes sense, I had thought it might be for access to the RCMP system for the G20, but I guess not.

Sorrry uncleblackie, was just going off the photo that was added. The only difference between the antennas with one coil and two is the amount of gain. The antenna Muxlow is refereing to in the photo that he uploaded is a 800Mhz antenna with 5db of gain. The antenna with one coil is going to have 3db of gain

In Alberta/BC/NWT/Yukon those and its elevated feed cousin are very common. The elevated feed version is ground plane independant and again very common in this neck of the woods.

 

[uncleblackie]

Yes, now that I see it has two coils it looks like a wideband 825-896mhz antenna, which if it is for the MWS's would make sense as they are probably running on Bell's cellular data network.

 

[uncleblackie]

Sorrry uncleblackie, was just going off the photo that was added.

No problem, I guess I probably wasn't as clear as I could have been either, as I had compared it to a dual band amateur radio antenna since I didn't see the second coil near the base.

 

[Muxlow]

As soon as i saw your question i knew what you were talking about and i just happen to of had a picture of one of these

And it seems that they are only on the HSD cars or ones with MWS.. that also seem to be mostly HSD

 

[derevs]

The antenna on the roof appears to be a tri-band antenna.
Perhaps it is for a scanner.
I have one identical which I have had for several years. Don't know the brand though.

 

[mrweather]

Yeah, the new roof one is for the MWS.

 

[SuperTex]

As soon as i saw your question i knew what you were talking about and i just happen to of had a picture of one of these

And it seems that they are only on the HSD cars or ones with MWS.. that also seem to be mostly HSD

I have seen a few of the two coil antennas... but then again I see a lot of HSD vehicles in my travels.

 

[kayn1n32008]

The antenna on the roof appears to be a tri-band antenna.
Perhaps it is for a scanner.
I have one identical which I have had for several years. Don't know the brand though.

No, it is just cellular, 5db gain. All of the trucks at my work have them. With motorola fixed mount phones w/ 3w amplifiers, unfortunatly we use Bell Mobility. we work where there is poor to no coverage. I believe that the one on the truck in the picture is a Maxrad, driver side front fender.


Just took this photo, and yes that is snow on the quads, been doing this for about 12 days off and on.

 

[uncleblackie]

Yeah, the new roof one is for the MWS.

Seeing as how I live in the boonies known as zone 3 (it's civilization though compared to zone 4) and only get to the GTA about once a month, it seemed new to me. When did they start equipping the cruisers with them?

 

[unlisted]

Seeing as how I live in the boonies known as zone 3 (it's civilization though compared to zone 4) and only get to the GTA about once a month, it seemed new to me. When did they start equipping the cruisers with them?

I've seen those antennas for at least 2 years now.. but than again, they had the "MDT pilot project" start out of HSD, and in supervisor vehicles in other areas.