OK, I would like to see if any of you modern USA armor gurus can explain to me why THERE ARE AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN DIFFERENT RADIO MASTS/ANTENNAS on modern US tanks/AFVs!!

It's driving me freakin' crazy.

There is the 2-piece 10 footer
The THICK 10 footer
The short (5'?) whip antenna
The tall (10'?) whip antenna
And what appear to be a plethora of small antennas

The bases are all pretty simple, and anything except #1 and #2 can be replicated with guitar string.

Is there some mysterious reason for this variety?

I get it that different radios may have different antennas, but this is so confusing!

Well, you have HF, UHF, FM, Sat...

It's also for redundancy and backup reasons too.

Each radio has its own antennae. The U.S. Army's Joint Tactical Radio System was meant to consolidate a lot of the radio functions together, but that system didn't work out.

Some of the small antennaes are EW and CIED as well.

And the transmitter the for Flux Capacitator

Don t be silly the flux capicator doesn't require an Antenna! Just the proper MPH.

Also mounted are several cellphone scramblers to defeat IED s.

Related blog at:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/227808

Thanks, Guys, for the explanation. It seems there's no logic or reason to the aerials on most US AFVs in Iraq, etc. That makes it easier for modelers, because you have lots of artistic license.

And just the same there is no rhyme or reason to the mass of antennas on the masts of an AEGIS cruiser.

They all got a purpose just that there's only so much room to put all the damn things. And they keep adding more. Lucky I served in the old days when it was one main set and one auxiliary. Two antennas and enough cord to strangle a herd of moose to tie it down with.

sure... I would place'em everywhere. even under the tank and on the road wheels... why not? it's just a matter of artistic freedom...

Don't forget to add the four little "feelers" at the corners used for parallell parking, just like on older Cadillacs ;-)

I seem to recall a previous posting about the plethora of antennas being a deliberate attempt to hide what systems are actually being used on the vehicle.

Sean

I think those are only added to the black helicopters - fortunately my tin foil hat can block thought transmissions to these type of antennas.

[quote]OK, I would like to see if any of you modern USA armor gurus can explain to me why THERE ARE AT LEAST A HALF-DOZEN DIFFERENT RADIO MASTS/ANTENNAS on modern US tanks/AFVs!!


because it looks cool .

The response to this question is WAY more interesting than the question .
Holly Mo Ly !
So ?
Oh Man ,
Jeez --- "we're flying flags we don't understand " ??

My long dead radio operator Dad would be very angry with ya'll .

Now , being at sea most of my career ,, I KNOW there are some guys that can explain -- well -- some of it .
... it ain't to sell antenna stock

orientation .
We need your "ears " to see which way you're pointing

... and I'm sending continuous EMF to get back from you your position and direction -- you need more than one "ear"

so .. happy trails












1

OK, I know the Bradleys have 2 SINGCARS radios, so what antenna do they have? What radio has the 2-piece 10 footer? Which ones have the whip aerial?

Looks like it has two identical whip antennas for the SINCGARS sets...

http://data3.primeportal.net/apc/pierric_boudehen/m2a2_ods/images/m2a2_ods_048_of_109.jpg[/img]

[url]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/M2a3-bradley07.jpg

http://www.strategic-bureau.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/M2-Bradley-001-by-USArmy.jpg

H.P.

As stated before every antenna has a reason.
1. Communication voice (PLT, CO,)
2. Communication voice with COP, FOB (SAT, Relay)
3. Communication voice with Theater (SAT)
4. Location BFT (Blue Force Tracker)
5. ECM (Electronic Counter Measures) jamming, the asbestos of the 21st century. Formats changing and can have different systems in a platoon (Think of it as the modern version of the RAF and Luft night electronic counter measures war. I see your radar and counter with window)
6. PVC pipe for antenna protection from over passes etc.
And
7. KDW (Krap Don't Work) manpack(s) hanging off the hatch. As in "Funny, worked in the assembly area, ahh pass me up another man pack on company push"

Wait, you mean that the Flux Capicator I bought doesn't require any antennas?? I must've bought a fake

The fact of the matter is that Army guys have been told for so long size doesn't matter but they still need to compensate with quantity

Forgot, ECM may have multiple antennas for one system.

Our jammers had 3 to 4, one on each corner of the humvee along with matching units. we operated in the UHF, VHF, HF so we had different antennas for each band. Our DF heads had different length aerials because we could monitor multiple bands off one system.

Makes me miss my old M60A1. It had 1 radio and 1 antenna. Same with my first M1. Simple.
Ken.