Radio Antennas on Cop Cars..Why so many?

[JOERM]

How many radios,,,cell phones, CB, Ham, Internet or what ever are in a cops patrol rig? I've seen some cop cars that have antennas up the ying yang,,,maybe 6 or more. What the heck do they have in the cab for communication? Heck, maybe they even have Directv.

 

[A10]

They're there to hold all the doughnuts......just stack 'em up! That's why they put the hole in the middle!

 

[4506517]

I have 2 on mine. One for the 800 MHz radio, the other was for a data modem for my MDT. That one no longer works. NCSHP has an additional antenna for VLF if I am not mistaken. Some agencies also have a four ariel array for Lojack. Now 2005 Crown Vics have a black whip on the rear passenger side quarter panel for the AM/FM radio. 2005 was the only year Ford did that.

 

[Faulkner]

My Charger only has three; a nub for data, a short one for AWINS radio and another for VHF.

 

[Alnamvet68]

One for voice radio, one for Lo-jack (actually, 4 antennae required for Lo-jack), one for data/modem for onboard lap top, one for CB/scanner, possibly one for an encrypted frequency hopping FM radio, et al.

 

[WC145]

Only one works, the rest just look cool.

 

[Ruger Nut]

They only use 1......for bringing in good FM stations.The rest are to hone in on donut shops.

 

[4506517]

Actually one is for my Bo-Vision. It seeks out the nearest Bojangles.

 

[Engine 21]

Locators - One for Dunkin' Donuts, One for Krispy Kreme, one for the Independent donut shop across the street, one for- oh well, you get the idea! To all the LEO's past and present - just kidding - no offense

 

[4011]

Don't they look cool. All properly spaced. Not as cool as an old long whip laid straight back. Took it a couple of minutes to stop whipping when you stopped........nothing better to look at than a nice clean well decked out squad car.

 

[williamlayton]

Actually the flat plane of the top gives better reception.
Now I used to put a few of those magnetic antenni on my truck just to look cool.
When I bought the Mustang convertable I took them off my trade in and put em on the convertable--but somethin happened and they weren't there when I got home.
Blessings

 

[duppie]

Personally I like all the antennas,helps me identify those fine men when I'm....... ahem......Not exactly following all the traffic laws shall we say?

 

[NYlakesider]

Actually there not really cop cars there disguised cars that are owned by an antenna manufacturing company and are nothing more than rolling advertisements.

In regards to antennas, for the most part the shorter the antenna the higher the frequency there using.

Think of those old nine foot CB antennas with the spring mounted to the back of cars, they were real low Freq. I had one on my 59 Chevy back in 63-64 and normally kept the end hooked to the rain gutter right over the driver’s door.
If a tailgater got to close you just released it and it went backwards rather quick. It got their attention and they kept back a ways.

 

[OLDFED]

Keeps the seagulls from landing on top and pooping all over the paint.