[Vintage-Radio] Old police radio questions

[Donald Chester]

I find most interesting the old police band that used to lie between the AM 
broadcast band and 160m. ham band.

I can remember about 1960 on winter nights I could still hear police 
communication just above  the AM broadcast band.  I recall many references 
to the "Santa Ana Freeway".  I believe soon afterwards all the m.f. police 
communication was moved to VHF.

As a kid in the 1940's I recall our little 5-tube ac/dc broadcast radio had 
"police" marked at the top end of the dial.  Its frequency range went a 
little above 1600, the top end of the BC band back then.  At night the band 
was as packed with police calls as you ever hear 75m. or CB channel 19.  
Gradually the MF police activity disappeared.

Many of the transmitters were homebrew, and no doubt some broadcast 
transmitters were used.  Think what nice 160m.  rigs those transmitters nad 
antennas would make today.  A few years ago a ham friend of mine who works 
for the state was given the remains of a 1940-vintage Tennessee Highway 
Patrol transmitter, that ran a pair of 833A's modulated by a pair.  The 
stuff had been stored in an unheated building for years but was still good.

Don, K4KYV

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