I am running one of those Harris rebranded STL CO antennas with my XG100M and they really work great here in the DC metro area. Saved me from having to run 3 different antennas on my mobile.
Secret service strange magmount
- Thread starter phillmobile
- Start date
- Status
Just returned from DC and NYC and got some fun watching motorcades going/coming from UN. POTUS was normal set up.
Motrocades went from some poor dignitary only getting a CroVic and a Marked NYPD van escort, to armored USSS Suburbans with 8-10 Motorcycles, USSS counter assault Tahoes, and 5 vans for staff.
What I saw was many (I mean 40-60) mag mount VHF antennas which seen their day. Some bent, curled, 10+ years old maybe, on NYPD vehicles both marked and unmarked. These cars were both in motorcades and traveling the routes. I checked one parked unmarked (while 2 white shirts were at well deserved coffee break) and it was a APX 6500 (showing lots of use scratches) with a bungie cord holding it on the center arm rest. Had a 10-12 digit number engraved on the side, on a cigar liter plug (jurry rigged).
Most newer USSS unmarks and mostly all marked vehicles had the beer car tribands. Curiously, only saw 2 of the subject multi antenna tribands?
Did get to see a quick glance in a USSS Tahoe that had 2 beercan antennas. Nicely mounted heads onside of console One was a APX 6500 and screen showed Tango, the other radio was a APX 8500 and was in scan mode showing N-Y-C USSS. (looked like the zone name)
The portables where noticeable since many agents were outside of their vehicles chatting with NYPD waiting for next motorcade set up and didnt have on suit jackets. Most of the USSS had APX 8000, some had APX 7000. Some plainclothes NYPD had their own radios (vertex) and holding
XTS 3000 or 5000. I saw just from where I was roaming about 25 Saber III on VHF. I comment to one officer, Damn, haven't seen once of those in decades and with a grinning smile said neither have I. I said the must be your comms with USSS and he said yes and held it up. Screen showed N_Y_C B4. He told me I hear them but I tired a radio check and no one could hear me. You know half of this is for show. I laughed.
On a side not the Comms truck got fixed fast or they got a new one. The chrome was factory shiney.
I was coming back from DC when I had to make the stop in NYC to see this escapade. While in DC I saw a really rare motorcade. The Sec. Of Education!! Had 2 DC car escort, 1 Suburban that had enough red and blue lights to be seen from Space station. And Tahoe as follow up with 4 suits, rear windows down, roof rack, grille and deck lights and 2 beencan antennas, and 2 older tribands. All with sirens on wail and yelp. Havent the slightest idea where the Sec of Ed. was going code 3.
Motrocades went from some poor dignitary only getting a CroVic and a Marked NYPD van escort, to armored USSS Suburbans with 8-10 Motorcycles, USSS counter assault Tahoes, and 5 vans for staff.
What I saw was many (I mean 40-60) mag mount VHF antennas which seen their day. Some bent, curled, 10+ years old maybe, on NYPD vehicles both marked and unmarked. These cars were both in motorcades and traveling the routes. I checked one parked unmarked (while 2 white shirts were at well deserved coffee break) and it was a APX 6500 (showing lots of use scratches) with a bungie cord holding it on the center arm rest. Had a 10-12 digit number engraved on the side, on a cigar liter plug (jurry rigged).
Most newer USSS unmarks and mostly all marked vehicles had the beer car tribands. Curiously, only saw 2 of the subject multi antenna tribands?
Did get to see a quick glance in a USSS Tahoe that had 2 beercan antennas. Nicely mounted heads onside of console One was a APX 6500 and screen showed Tango, the other radio was a APX 8500 and was in scan mode showing N-Y-C USSS. (looked like the zone name)
The portables where noticeable since many agents were outside of their vehicles chatting with NYPD waiting for next motorcade set up and didnt have on suit jackets. Most of the USSS had APX 8000, some had APX 7000. Some plainclothes NYPD had their own radios (vertex) and holding
XTS 3000 or 5000. I saw just from where I was roaming about 25 Saber III on VHF. I comment to one officer, Damn, haven't seen once of those in decades and with a grinning smile said neither have I. I said the must be your comms with USSS and he said yes and held it up. Screen showed N_Y_C B4. He told me I hear them but I tired a radio check and no one could hear me. You know half of this is for show. I laughed.
On a side not the Comms truck got fixed fast or they got a new one. The chrome was factory shiney.
I was coming back from DC when I had to make the stop in NYC to see this escapade. While in DC I saw a really rare motorcade. The Sec. Of Education!! Had 2 DC car escort, 1 Suburban that had enough red and blue lights to be seen from Space station. And Tahoe as follow up with 4 suits, rear windows down, roof rack, grille and deck lights and 2 beencan antennas, and 2 older tribands. All with sirens on wail and yelp. Havent the slightest idea where the Sec of Ed. was going code 3.
How in the world do you think they get thru DC traffic real fast? I happen to know that Sec of Ag has the same escort setup as well since I talked to a couple of those drivers also.Each year they all get together and go to the same shop to get new set of suits and we pay for it via our taxes also . The old suits they get to keep and use as they please..
The whole thing just amazes me.
Reminded me of this story
As long as it still works and the USSS provides the key to NYPD there is no reason it could not be used. Those were very dependable radios and yet easy to use also.
surfacemount
Member
The one I was thinking of looks just like the sti-co offering, is harris labelled, but the two aerials are stiff, not flexible in the least. Forget trying to tune one, either.
you think that's something? look at this NASA (NSA?) van for sale!
- Status
Similar threads
