Base Station antennas? We have them

Not everyone is going to need a fancy antenna like the one in the picture above. However, if you are a facilities manager for a hospital, police station, or other first responder facility, you probably have antennas like this already. When it’s time to expand or change your setup, look to Solid Signal to provide the municipal base station antennas you need!

What do these antennas do?

Base station antennas provide transmit and reception ability, just like most antennas. Base station antennas receive and transmit frequencies used by first responders and cities. These frequencies exist between the FM and TV bands, and just below the cellular bands. Every frequency range requires a specialized antenna. That’s because every frequency range has different characteristics. For example, relatively low frequencies like AM travel far distances but their channel ranges are narrow. This makes them good for audio but not video. Super-high ranges like the ranges used for satellite TV work extremely well for super-low-power reception of digital transmissions but unlike over-the-air TV signals they can be affected by rain clouds.

Do you need one of these antennas?

Chances are you already know if you need one of these antennas. If you already operate a government or healthcare facility then you probably already have one. However that antenna may need replacing due to harsh weather conditions over time. You may need a new antenna because there are newly-erected buildings between your antenna and the vehicles you’re trying to reach, or simply because you’re building a new police station or hospital. Our nation’s cities are growing, and with that growth comes new city and government services.

Your source for ham radio antennas

Ham radio operators also use antennas like this for their setups. While it’s always been a sort of “fringe” group, ham operators are dedicated to the art and science of long-distance communication. The internet hasn’t and won’t replace the dedication they have their craft, but it does give a real opportunity to get the parts they need.

Why do these antennas look so weird?

Often times, base station antennas look strange when you’re used to looking at TV or radio antennas. Sometime they’re sideways or have a large outstretched “X” parallel to the ground. These features are specific to the kind of broadcasting used. Some antennas are sideways because some first responder radios actually broadcast “sideways” compared to regular signals. Having waves at 90 degrees to standard broadcasting allows the signals to be stronger and not interfere with regular radio and TV signals.

The “X” shape found on some antennas reflects signals back to the main antenna which makes the main antenna more effective. This is called a “ground plane” and makes the whole antenna more efficient. Remember these antennas are often responding to signals from moving vehicles with relatively small antennas themselves.

Your source for municipal base station antennas

The best place to get your new base station antenna is, of course, SolidSignal.com. We have a truly massive selection of base station antennas. You’ll find one for every possible frequency range no matter what your need is. You’ll also find help from our qualified technicians by calling us at 888-233-7563. We can help you find the right antenna whether you’re looking for a replacement or a new build. There is practically no antenna we can’t get.

About the Author

Stuart Sweet
Stuart Sweet is the editor-in-chief of The Solid Signal Blog and a "master plumber" at Signal Group, LLC. He is the author of over 10,000 articles and longform tutorials including many posted here. Reach him by clicking on "Contact the Editor" at the bottom of this page.