Mystery antenna truck ?

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 7:30 pm

The boys on rec.radio.scanner have been trying to figure out what this is.
Anyone know Borg ?
http://www.lazygranch.com/images/aug2002/borg.jpg

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 8:17 pm

Looks like some type of law enforcement vehicle. Probably state or federal out there in Nevada. Also military (good old area 51)

Post by **xmo** » Thu Aug 08, 2002 8:39 pm

Here is another cool antenna truck:

http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/home/program ... masts.html

Jim202 · Post by **Jim202** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 4:25 am

The blue work body truck looks more like a oil field service truck. Many of the pipe line companies have remote telemitry systems out in the fields. With the 4 wheel drive the truck is made to go off road.

There are not that many antennas on the top of it. I have 4 on my regular pickup.

Jim

Post by **alex** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 5:20 am

Anyone who was at dayton have pictures of the red cross expiditon? They have a fleet of 5 of them spread across the country...

NOW that's a communication truck. Neat to see the motorola field programmable HF rig too!

They can do Trunking, Conventional, Digital, everything, and patch it all together from the truck too.

At least that's what the guy was saying. I'll poke around the website and see if I can't find a picture of it.

Our county has the same style trucks (marked of course) but they don't have too many antennas on them. They all have red lights too.

-Alex

edit:

Here's a URL for the photo's and info.

http://www.nyredcross.org/news/010727_fordsuv.asp

ScannerDan · Post by **ScannerDan** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 5:53 am

I think that what your looking at is one of the ATF's evidence colection vans.

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 8:22 am

My opinion: A survivalist lunatic's toy. The government agencies aren't so likely to have "decorations" like "the borg" license plates on their vehicles.

Just my thought . . .

Post by **alex** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 9:37 am

I don't think that would be 100% on...

A few of the K9 cars that the US Bomb Squad guys have a lot of personal touches. besides the red lights and virginia plates, some of them have put their own seat covers, cd players, stuff like that in there since they sometimes have to live out of them. Besides, if your driving them all over the US, why not have some creature comforts.

The 4WD Econoline Diesel van they had with the winch on it there was pretty cool too.

-Alex

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 10:01 am

"The Borg" plate isn't even the real license plate.

The real plate is EX 33449. I'm not from Nevada, so I don't know what the EX predigits mean.

I know here in Michigan, when you see a car with a plate with an "x" in the middle of numbers, to not pass them.

Especially when it is a black crown vic.

What is up with the rusty pipes on the ground in the background?

Lord Velveeta · Post by **Lord Velveeta** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 10:02 am

ScannerDan wrote:I think that what your looking at is one of the ATF's evidence colection vans.

I doubt that

I know here the collection vans are normal plain white vans, or lettered vehicles. On the other hand the "surveillance" type vans are either moving company lookalikes, or they are real "borrowed" utility trucks (power, gas or even public works trucks).

LV

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 10:03 am

Lord Velveeta wrote: I know here the collection vans are normal plain white vans, or lettered vehicles. On the other hand the "surveillance" type vans are either moving company lookalikes, or they are real "borrowed" utility trucks (power, gas or even public works trucks).

LV

So if an Ameritech telco van is parked in front of my house all day, I should be worried?

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 10:08 am

Am I the only person that noticed what appears to be a bumper sticker on the front bumper?

If it's a union bumper sticker, then we might be able to figure this out.

BrentLA · Post by **BrentLA** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 11:51 am

The front "bumper sticker" is a License plate. No help there.

OX · Post by OX » Fri Aug 09, 2002 11:58 am

That's the front license plate.

First guess was something that belongs to the Air Force because of the dark blue paint, but they would normally have Gxx plates.

I can't believe that there's a bunch of commotion as to what this is. Looks like a utility truck.

Anyone wanna run the plate through LEADS/NCIC to see who owns it?

hfitzgerald · Post by **hfitzgerald** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 12:05 pm

Hmmm,
Interesting observations. I'd guess that the middle antenna of the 3 verticals is either a dual or tripple band (VHF Low, High, & 470). -or two of the 3 listed. Antenna Specialists??? I've seen some similar ones before... 1st & 3rd verticals are probably single banders, -but hard to tell anything due to cropping of the picture.
Horizontal white antenna, my guess would be it's probably a folded over marine antenna (conventional boat antenna, no-ground plane) -since that's what is looks like. Or, there's a slight, slight, possiblility it could be a directional 5 Gigahertz Yagi. The DEA purchased a HUGE load of 5 Gig listening devices back in the late 90s. 1997? I think? It's a bit long for a 5 Gig yagi though...
Personally, I'm going with the marine antenna since most of them come in fiberglass rods like the one pictured, with quick-action fold-over mounts. Every boat around here has one.

God bless and happy guessing,
Fitz.

P.S. Nice article of the Red Cross Excursions!

SomeGuyInAHat · Post by **SomeGuyInAHat** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 12:39 pm

When I was working the Rodeo/Chedeski fire, the National Guard brought up a similar truck. It was the same color blue, and had a lot of antennas. They pulled two satellite dishes out and set up a connection to the internet and put out laptops and phones so we could communicate with our families. The guardsmen that came with the truck (actually, two were guarswomen, and not too shabby, either) said they could dial it into anything they wanted.

Search · Post by **Search** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 2:12 pm

Yes, I must admit that the Red Cross Excursions are very unique and interesting. I got the opertunity to examine one of them that stationed at the American Red Cross Headquarters during the 9-11 event. I only wish I would have had a camera with me to take closer up pictures of the interior. When you get into the back, the seats are actually facing the rear and in front of you there is a custom radio wall with everything you could possibly need to communicate during a disaster. Very cool truck.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:35 pm

Anyone know if the Red Cross has one of those Excursion's in FL ?
Wouldn't mind getting involved !

RADIOMAN2002 · Post by **RADIOMAN2002** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:42 pm

The front antenna with the 2 loading coils looks like the antenna's we put on DEA undercover vehicles back in the early 90's for dual band syntor x mobiles

mancow · Post by **mancow** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 3:43 pm

Looks like an old ATF type unit to mee too. You should see the new ones they use. When I interned there in 1997 they had a large fancy type of white box van with an extended cab. The side had panels similar to the ones on this truck and inside was every conceivable rescue / extraction tool you could think of. I belive it was for the bomb and arson group. It was a rolling command post and in the extended cab was a small table with a laptop etc... They used convertacoms with display mics and VHF systems sabers with an MDC pre alert. When I was there they were just outfitting the cars with the "new" astro spectras with the hidden led display mics.

At the end of the summer of 97 I saw an agent opening a box with a brand new systems saber in it. He was showing another how to use it. I thought they were discontinued before 97 but I guess not.
That was the first time I ever saw a saber or systems saber and I vowed I had to have one.

Now look where it has lead. I'm here typing messages waaaaay off topic.....

later..

mancow

Jaqx · Post by **Jaqx** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 5:59 pm

I'm gonna vote for state or local law enforcement special-ops. I think it's too obvious for federal usage and I don't think it's high security enough for them either.

One of the top mounted lights on the back has a red filter and that could be a tip-off. In Nevada I would expect a blue one across from it but.......

I bet there is a mobile repeater and provisions for a field expediant mobile command center inside.

Just my guess. But, just in case it is Fed, I'm not gonna run the tag!!! (

Good evening Agent..... Well, you know, I was just messing around on the Internet and saw this picture.............

)

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 6:17 pm

KC8RYW wrote:"The Borg" plate isn't even the real license plate.

The real plate is EX 33449. I'm not from Nevada, so I don't know what the EX predigits mean.

No kidding, really? Geez, and I thought the EX tag was a bumper sticker for a divorce lawyer.

Ummmm . . . I think that was obvious, sorry I wasn't clear in my post.

Ray D. O'Mann #2 · Post by **Ray D. O'Mann #2** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 6:48 pm

I checked out that excursion very carefully (from 8' away, not allowed in)
and the quality of the installation was astonishing...especially the fantastic "patch panel" cut into the side for AC/DC/audio/RF access... I took 10 good hi-res jpegs of the truck from different angles...WOW

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 8:11 pm

Raytheon has a rather nifty set of suburbans that can be "rented" for incidents. Haven't seen inside one, but outside they sport a couple of can style microwave antennas with rotors on them a flat panel antenna of some kind and 3 fiberglass vertical antennas which I'm guessing are field tunable for various bands.

williamh · Post by **williamh** » Fri Aug 09, 2002 9:42 pm

how about ...... it is a county radio service vehicle ???????

4x4 for going up mountians ??????

just to simple ???

or a black ops. cable jammer for going into trailer parks ..... for the ones watching cops

EKS · Post by **EKS** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 3:05 am

If you checked out the rest of the guys site you will find all sorts of conspiracy theory photos and stories.

The guy probably just got spooked by a service truck from a local utility or construction contractor.

Demoh · Post by **Demoh** » Sat Aug 10, 2002 4:48 pm

Someone here is correct. It is indeed an ATF truck. It is part of their SRT (Swat) group. They have several of them all over the U.S. Some of them carry their swat equipment, some are comm trucks and others are for other support functions. These guys are VERY anal about these vehicles, so if you must get a close look, be carefull.

Demoh.

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 8:59 am

Well here is one that might put a monkey wrench in the works.

Maybe it is owned by a TRades man like a Plumber/Electrican or the like who also is a radio guy.

we have quite a few like that here in CT

plus the 2nd antenna back is a dual band cell phone antenna for TRi-mode verizon phones

Demoh · Post by **Demoh** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 9:09 am

You could be right but our shop built ( Lights, sirens, equipment racks, push bumpers, radio installs, cell phones, Sat Phones etc ) quite a few of these trucks for ATF. They got them from the U.S. Air Force as part of a drug interdiction agreement.

Demoh.

FireCpt809 · Post by **FireCpt809** » Sun Aug 11, 2002 3:24 pm

I have seen a simular truck in the Chicago area. It had Goverment "T" plates . ATF is a subsection of the treasury. It's most likley a Radio tech or specialty ops vehicle.

BTW the Borg plate was photoshopped onto the back of the truck. If you look at the picture closely its of a different size as a standard plate and the tone is much lighter than the other plate just a few feet below it.

techie · Post by **techie** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 12:53 am

I'm going to put my $0.02 in..

1. It's owned by the state or local government.
rationale: state exempt plates.

2. It's owned by a public safety agency, probably law enforcement.
rationale: red and blue lights to rear. (if you look carefully, the light opposite the red light appears frosted white, but is probably blue. you can tell by playing with the contrast/brightness.)

My guesses as to it's function:
SAR, bomb techs, comm techs, or a command vehicle.
It's not a patrol vehicle, or it would have markings, and more lights.

It probably has an extended response area, hence all the radios.

Note the number 024 on the bumper. Probably a vehicle number, and if so, probably a smaller agency.

Twisted_Pear · Post by **Twisted_Pear** » Mon Aug 12, 2002 3:18 am

Is it me or am I the only person who can see someone has retouched the photo? I don't mean adding the ridiculous license plate or the compression artifacts caused by JPEG; someone edited it with a graphics program for sure.

I know who runs the website so I'll just ask him. He isn't really off his rocker as much as the site may give the appearance of!

XNHPRT · Post by **XNHPRT** » Thu Aug 15, 2002 5:57 pm

This vehicle is used by the Nevada Highway Patrol for radio site repair and maintenance. The name of "Borg" came about because of how this vehicle resembled a Borg Cube when it was driving down the highway. My former supervisor drove this vehicle and at the time (3 years ago) it had a lowband radio (X9000) and a highband radio (MCS2000). The folding marine antenna was for temporary highband repeaters/radios used during special events. I hope this clears up any questions.

kc8svs · Post by **kc8svs** » Fri Aug 16, 2002 10:06 am

LEADS: Came back clear, no record on file.

NCIC: Clears NCIC.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sat Aug 17, 2002 6:54 am

With the massive amount of radio talent here I thought someone might
have first hand knowledge of this vehicle, sure enough ! Looks like mystery solved, thanks to all.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sat Aug 17, 2002 6:54 am

With the massive amount of radio talent here I thought someone might
have first hand knowledge of this vehicle, sure enough ! Looks like mystery solved, thanks to all.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sat Aug 17, 2002 6:55 am

With the massive amount of radio talent here I thought someone might
have first hand knowledge of this vehicle, sure enough ! Looks like mystery solved, thanks to all.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sat Aug 17, 2002 6:55 am

With the massive amount of radio talent here I thought someone might
have first hand knowledge of this vehicle, sure enough ! Looks like mystery solved, thanks to all.

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sat Aug 17, 2002 6:56 am

.,mnhb

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 7:01 pm

Sorry for all the repetition, system did not appear to be working- kept
getting error messages when posting was attempted.

SCMR2242 · Post by **SCMR2242** » Mon Aug 19, 2002 5:59 pm

I THINK THE "ATF" FELLOW IS CORRECT ...