FLEETDRIVE
02 Rising car antennas
Antennas on car are still around, but they’ re much more compact than they used to be. Back then, if you wanted to listen to the radio in your car, turning it on led to a longmast antenna slowly rising from the boot or the bonnet of a car. Some vehicles today like utes still use the long-mast antenna. Though it’ s been phased out for most vehicle models, a longer antenna meant stronger radio signals.
On most vehicles today, manufacturers have replaced the whip antenna with a shark fin-like shape. Unless you’ re driving a ute, there’ s no longer a long whip that automatically rises when you turn on the radio.
QUIT No need for a long antenna if the vehicle doesn’ t need it.
MISS Still need strong radio signals— whip antenna for me!
03 In-car phones
Back when mobile phones weren’ t pocket-sized, some cars were equipped with a fixed mobile phone. This feature was available as early as 1946 and has been written into several movies from the 50s up to the 90s. Initially, car phones used to be built into a vehicle’ s boot and were considered a high-end feature. As cell networks became more established, more cars were installed with fixed phone units, peaking in popularity during the late 80s.
During the height of its popularity, the car phone was synonymous with family vehicles and even limousines. In the late 90s, manufacturers no longer installed car phones in their models but offered cell phones alongside models marketed towards businessmen. These days, cars have Bluetooth service and almost everyone owns a mobile phone with the same capability. There’ s no need for a built-in car phone anymore if you’ ve got a minicomputer in your hand!
QUIT Car phones are extremely outdated. That’ s why we have cell phones.
MISS A built-in car phone would still be good for emergencies.