Why do so many cop car antennas look like hockey pucks instead of whips?

[scanmanmi]

Just wondering. What about polarization?

 

[N4KVE]

Because they have millions to spend on infrastructure, so the antennas on the cars don‘t need to have “maximum” gain. With those “low profile” antennas, parking garages don’t become antenna destroyers. I have a few on my car, & for the coverage I need, they are great. If I needed more range, I’d use a 40” whip, but I don’t need more range.

 

[W0JJK]

They may also be LTE data or GPS antennas.

 

[KK4JUG]

They may also be LTE data or GPS antennas.

I think that's the case more than anything else.

 

[wtp]

fractal.

 

[edweirdFL]

The puck types have longer a service life which saves money.

 

[6Paul21]

Car Washes. They have to remove the larger antennas

 

[timhir25]

Don't the jail inmates wash the police cars?

 

[KK4JUG]

Don't the jail inmates wash the police cars?

Sometimes, but many cities have drive-thru car washes (usually somewhere around the repair shops) that officer can use to knock the mud, etc., off the cars.

 

[wtp]

the one using the car, gets to clean the car.

 

[krokus]

Don't the jail inmates wash the police cars?

Not if the agency doesn't have inmates. (Many lodge them with the county.) The officer/deputy/trooper is responsible for their vehicle.

 

[krokus]

They may also be LTE data or GPS antennas.

Some are, but there are pucks available in most frequency ranges.

 

[prcguy]

If its for radio comms its vertical pol. The pucks are either a very short monopole with large capacity hat or a fat helically loaded thing, or a version of a DDRR ring, etc.

Just wondering. What about polarization?

 

[jwt873]

Some are, but there are pucks available in most frequency ranges.

Larsen makes puck style antennas. Here's a UHF version-> PulseLarsen Antennas | LP450NMO

 

[radiomankc]

Most work very well on UHF and 700/800MHz.(VHF is a totally difference story). They also want a low profile setup as they want to be more discrete. I only use low profile antennas (Except VHF). I have have 6 of them on my vehicle. I don't want to attract attention. Neither do LE in some case. The chinese antennas are just flat-out junk. A good US-made low profile antenna works great on UHF, 700/800..... Also scanners.

Car washes, tight parking lots, etc. are a legitimate concern. But the low-profile, discrete antennas are more for stealth than probably than high-gain whips etc. In a higher frequency transceiver setup, they work exceptionally well. And don't forget, they are using small pucks for their GPS capabilities.

 

[radiomankc]

In my opinion, the Pulse Larsen are the best..

 

[Archie]

Will these antennas work if mounted on the back dashboard? If so, this would really keep things low profile.

 

[techman210]

Any interior antennas can create excessive MPE limits for the people in the vehicle.

 

[mmckenna]

Will these antennas work if mounted on the back dashboard? If so, this would really keep things low profile.

They don't work well inside the vehicle. No antenna will. The steel body, roof and tinted/defroster'd glass creates an RF opaque environment. They'll work for short distances, but no comparison to having them outside the vehicle.

And as techman210 said, the RF exposure for those inside the vehicle becomes a big issue.

 

[Chronic]

Higher frequencies such as 700 800 Mhz does not require as long of a antenna to be 1/2 wave or so , therefore a small puck could be a 1/2 or 1/4 wave antenna , such as is a 19" on 2 meters ect ....,