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SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
http://interceptradio.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=3028		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  TechnoWeenie [ Sun Jul 26, 2009 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
Some Seattle PD cruisers have a triangle pattern of vhf antennas to the rear...

Reminds me of Lo-jack, but lo-jack uses four in a square, not 3 in a triangle..

Someone told me it was for a 'rat pack', that's replacing dye packs, if there's a bank robbery it's thrown in with the cash and acts much like lo-jack through triangulation..

Any ideas?
Author:  chpalmer [ Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
The Lowjack trackers we installed 15 years ago only had 3 antennas... Ratpack is a good guess though...
Author:  TechnoWeenie [ Sun Jul 26, 2009 11:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
chpalmer wrote:
The Lowjack trackers we installed 15 years ago only had 3 antennas... Ratpack is a good guess though...



Every lojack install I did was 4 antennas in a square spaced evenly apart, a 'brain', and an LCD display up front that pointed the direction the signal was coming from.

173.075 IIRC
Author:  Vizwar [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
TechnoWeenie wrote:
Some Seattle PD cruisers have a triangle pattern of vhf antennas to the rear...

Reminds me of Lo-jack, but lo-jack uses four in a square, not 3 in a triangle..

Someone told me it was for a 'rat pack', that's replacing dye packs, if there's a bank robbery it's thrown in with the cash and acts much like lo-jack through triangulation..

Any ideas?


Pro-Net is what I think it used to be called. Most obvious application was a bank robbery. 10 years ago they were tied to an LED array that mounted somewhere in the car. LEDs would light up denoting the direction relative to the antennas that received the strongest signal.
Author:  chpalmer [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 3:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
TechnoWeenie wrote:
chpalmer wrote:
The Lowjack trackers we installed 15 years ago only had 3 antennas... Ratpack is a good guess though...



Every lojack install I did was 4 antennas in a square spaced evenly apart, a 'brain', and an LCD display up front that pointed the direction the signal was coming from.

173.075 IIRC



Ive never seen any other agency with the three antenna array. I figured it was first gen or such. Twas in the Fresno area. Anyone remember when Lojack hit Washington State?
Author:  Kerwin [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
As I recall, the Pro-Net (AKA "Priority Alarm") system has been in use since the early to mid 1990's in the Seattle area. I don't know if the system in use now is the same as back in the `90's.

LoJack has been in use in the Seattle area since 2003, maybe even 2002.

Kerwin
Author:  flatfoot [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
Bellingham has had Pro-Net for quite some time (I'm thinking 98 or 99). You can see the box on the dash and the antenna array in the pictures.
http://members.fortunecity.com/pdcar4/belling.html
Author:  TechnoWeenie [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
Thanks for the confirmation....

I picked up an Admin SPD unit, a 2004 with 57K miles on it.... I managed to get all the service history and maintenance from fleet services division (or whatever they call it) that noted that it was an admin unit... The antenna config would further support that...

Now I gotta figure what to do with them..... Don't want to just plug them...

Any DF setups use 3 antennas? All the off the shelf ones I know of use 4...

There are 8 holes on the roof...

One center, for lightbar, two on each side behind the lightbar hole for 800 Mhz, one front of the lightbar (center), one directly behind the lightbar, and the three holes for the rat pack...

Already have plans for the center ones.... two outside ones I may have professionally filled/covered.... I'm not a fan of antennas installed off the centerline....



Came with steelies and caps... first thing I did was ditch them for full wheel covers.....



Image

Image
Author:  Jim [ Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
PRONET link I had with pictures is not good anymore. Google search turns up nothing.
Maybe they have gone out of business or been bought out.
They were located in San Diego.
219.960 PRONET (216-217MHZ)
3 antennas on cars.
Author:  radiorange [ Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: SPD triangle antenna config -vhf
Pronet was a paging company with electronic tracking product.

See http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... _50164280/ for some background of the guy responsible.

Pronet merged into Metrocall. (See the link above.)

Some Metrocall overview at the time:
http://www.metrocall.com/assets/busines ... r_8_02.pps

Some info about transfers from Pronet (company) to Metrocall:
http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Pub ... wl7244.txt

From http://www.secinfo.com/dRqWm.8QM5.htm (10-Q ยท For 6/30/97):

As one of its enhanced wireless communications services, through
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Electronic Tracking Systems Inc. ("ETS"), which
operates under the name of ProNet Tracking Systems ("PTS"), the Company
markets radio-activated electronic tracking security systems primarily to
financial institutions throughout the United States. The systems consist of
radio transmitters, or "TracPacs," which are disguised in items of value.
When such an item is removed from a financial institution without
authorization, the TracPac signals the appropriate law enforcement
authorities, who in turn follow the signal generated by the TracPac to
recover the item and apprehend the suspect.

Another key person from http://www.ntec-inc.org/content-events.asp?newsID=581:
Dave Vucina became the CEO of Wayport in 2000 and led the venture backed 802.11 wireless service provider to establish major clients such as McDonalds, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, Four Seasons, AT&T, Microsoft and more. Wayport was acquired by AT&T in December of 2008 for a total of $325M. Prior to Wayport, Mr. Vucina was President and COO of ProNet, Inc. (NASDAQ), a 1000 employee public wireless paging and tracking company. ProNet experienced rapid growth in the paging industry and acquired 18 companies in 24 months. The company was acquired by Metrocall in 1999

Then Metrocall got bought by USA Mobility, or they merged with someone and became USA Mobility. Year unknown.

However, Metrocall sold the tracking business http://www.getfilings.com/o0000950133-02-003042.html :

Spectrum Management, L.L.C. (Spectrum) had asserted a claim against us
alleging breaches of the contract under which we sold to Spectrum the electronic
tracking business that we had previously acquired from ProNet, Inc. We settled
this matter with Spectrum in July 2002 without adverse impact to our financial
statements. The settlement is subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, which is
being sought.

It appears Spectrum is still in the tracking business:
http://www.etstracking.com/

Pronet stuff is still used in Seattle.


Some frequencies here:
http://daleupchurch.com/Business.htm
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