How To Listen To Trunked Police Radio And Why Im Done

[@828enigma6]

My understanding is that it is illegal per FCC rules to encrypt all frequencies used by local agencies. They can, however, encrypt tactical channels. I worked dispatch in the past when we used straight analogue. The public could hear our bolo's, emergencies, everything. We would get all kinds of assistance from folk out in scannerland who'd call in telling us where a wanted person or vehicle was in real time. Now, nothing. LE has driven an unnecessary wedge between themselves and the citizens. As well, I think the citizens have a right to know if there is criminal activity, manhunt, chase, etc going on in their area in real time.

[@zachv1942]

There are a few of us that listen to help ident.

[@yung-megafone]

Lots of Illinois counties use full encryption unfortunately Can't even listen to my local animal control (and FD appears to be slowly migrating from analog) yet they expect the community to help??

[@jimcombs6760]

If I’m not mistaken, FCC recommends leaving daily ops channels unsecure for transparency. Not a law as much as a guideline.

[@seanfoxx4761]

I worked for a large dept that decided to trunk and encrypt. Having a commo background, I asked to sit on the steering committee. I tried, BEGGED them to not encrypt except for tactical team ops until I was removed from the board. Then there are reports of kickbacks and other politics that was driving this so it went way beyond officer safety. To the posters who said it was the public scanner-poaching, not true and in fact the public were a great help. Instead it truly was big govt wanting to be less accountable to the public. As a side note, I had a dial-tune regency as my first public service receiver! From there, BC III, then 101 getting my new copy of Police Call from Radio Shack every year. I would record on an old VCR using just the audio input because they would do 16 hours. To the poster who said file FOIA for the key: it rolls from a random generator and would take the NSA to break and that would only work until it rolled again. When the ppl fear the government...

[@ELEVOPR]

We need to have this done to our phones, emails and anything else they can snoop on. Then push to make it illegal for a public servant to listen to.

[@yung-megafone]

This aged like a fine wine They can use encryption (even if it hides illegal corruption) but if a few rug dealers use an encrypted messenger it's an issue #abolishthem

[@RellyOhBoy]

Actually, you don't need two separate dongles to use unitrunker just as long as the Control channel and Voice channel fall within the max bandwidth capability of the dongle.

[@T4eTurtleC1ub]

Really sucks that you have to give up on this project. You had a very similar setup to mine. My area has a digital trunking system which luckily isn't encrypted. It's fun to just sit here and listen for hours. Looking forward to any future content you put on here about HAM Radio if you decide to post it here.

[@benhawke7231]

It's actually illegal for them to encrypt their frequencies. It falls under the same problem as if they ran their body cams with duct tape over the lens and mic. They tried to make police scanners illegal, and the supreme court ruled that all over air communication made by public entities have to be easily rx'd by the general public without encryption. There were a few exemptions, i.e... The military during classified communications. You may have just won the lottery if you sue them.

[@SpencerRichKM4KFG]

Ben Hawke do you have a link to the Supreme Court case for that ruling saying it must be easily received? I’d be really curious to see that ruling. Here in FL, encryption runs rampant and I’d love to throw that in the jack boot Sheriff’s and Police Chiefs pushing for encrypted communications.

[@jfmc2581]

Absolute B u l l s h i t!!

[@benhawke7231]

@@SpencerRichKM4KFG Sorry.. I don't know why I'm just seeing this reply. A year ago I could've shown you that supreme court ruling because I was researching something at the time when I came across your video. But now I don't remember. You'd probably find it just as fast as me now. But I'll try to look it up again. I'd say Google it, but Google sucks now so try duck duck go.

[@jamesweisbeck2966]

agencies joined HOMEAND SECURITY -- pds arnt local entities ever since just after 911

[@jamesweisbeck2966]

government anency claiming there milatary and claiming milatary exemptions decides

[@jimjordan2209]

If you don't want me to listen to your transmission then keep your signal off of my antenna. Once it hits my antenna it becomes my signal and I will do anything that I want with it. This includes demodulating it and analysing the demodulized signal.Encrypting sigmals is a very controversial subject. I don't mind building my own hardware and developing my own software to accomplish something once I decide to do it either.

[@thesixgunfighter288]

Have to say I agree with you once it hits your antenna

[@randywhite6468]

Unless the signal is from the provider of a paid service, and requires a subscription for which they provede the exclusive decoding equipment and the codes, then they really have no control. Only then are you stealing revenue from them. But if its not a subscribed service, and you manage to decode it whereis there problem , as long as you don;t rebroadcast it, and or use it for personal gain there is really nothing they can do........But NOW lets get real,,, How in the hell are they going to know what your doing unless you tell someone. That type of thing, where your only receiving is at best almost impossible to police in the first place..... If I wanted to listen to them I would set my equpiment up and do what I wanted to and keep my mouth shut, But the communications act of 1934 clearly says if it falls on your property then you can listen to it. Now if they have in someway changed that, then they need to be paying me for there signals landing on my property......So you see guys the sword cuts both ways and the FCC knows it too. They really don't want any part of it. To many conflicting issues.

[@adamarzo559]

LMFAO this gave me a great laugh.

[@jamesupdates3494]

I really would love to know how to decrypt.

[@antidecepticon]

@Peter Holt the law is interpertated in many ways. I cant speak english

[@SpookyJohnathan]

That really sucks man. I've been following CO for a while and I got in on your RFO as soon as you launched the project. I was looking forward to the great things you'd be sharing with us, such a shame. Good luck with your other projects and I'll keep an eye on here to see what else you come up with.

[@shoominati23]

I used to love listening to the old analogue mobile phones on scanners back in the early 90s before they went to digital. I used to hear all sorts of saucy stuff like Guys arranging to see their mistresses after work all the way to a married couple breaking up on air!

[@markplott4820]

some Baby monitors and Cordless phones are still NOT Digital and Not Encrypted.

[@juliogonzo2718]

I had a scanner when I was 12 or so and used to listen to cell phones. My misspent youth lol

[@DBroncoman7]

Got to love that American transparency from or public servants.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

You could interpret it as protection of privacy.

[@drnv150]

+Mawerick77 If you're about privacy, google, facebook, twitter, etc. would not be used.

[@ParrotSailor]

SCOTUS says police doing there job have no right to privacy.You can film and record police anytime anywhere

[@ParrotSailor]

Conduct yourselves properly and you wont be targeted.Only the militarized police in this country have this issue.Nothing to do with radio its training and pychological screening which is the issue. The average iraq vet has no business being a LEO

[@ParrotSailor]

Just wow indeed. The fact you want to be a cop is telling in itself. Police are supposed to help the public but you want to be a cop to wear a uniform badge and gun to intiminate people. I dont NEED your help I dont WANT your help. Half the cops in town can be replaced by putting up automatic traffic cams like they have in England. Cameras went up cops lost there job crime went way down. If you want to put on a uniform and kill black men then move to Africa...plenty of jobs doing that there

[@F41Driver]

I get so upset with encryption. Public safety departments are too damn secretive and this drives a stake between them and the citizens they work for. It creates distrust and and frustration. You'd think during times like these they'd want more transparency. The Federal government and radio salesmen push it and departments eat it up.

[@johnirby493]

Criminals and gangs wish it was more transparent too.

[@RLH-xr8nd]

They're acting like masters who have a lot to hide rather than the servants they're suppose to be.

[@RLH-xr8nd]

@@johnirby493 reply is the fruit of an ill-informed public that uses emotions rather than thought. The gangs run the drugs, do the hits, gang-stalking run the children/sex slaves etc for the elite, Intel, and powerful politicians who make a lot of money from/off them. I remember asking myself 20 years ago or more before I educated myself, this question... how come these known gangs that hang out with machine guns, in the cities are never raided or arrested? Some low ranking ones are, noncom,s are to fund/fill the criminal industry complex/Law and ONLY enough as crime = more money, more power, more public fear, thus less civil liberties for all.

[@johnirby493]

Where are the gangs that hang out with machine guns, who work for politicians, located in the U.S.?@@RLH-xr8nd

[@masskiller9206]

@@johnirby493 police are the gangs and criminals

[@paranoidzkitszo]

Bummer dude! I'll sub anyway...just incase you put out anything... since this type-o-content really tickles my fancy. I've always had a itch regarding subject matter on RF. Though- and you helped big time here in this ol video- you mentioned that this is how the city works members from police, ambulance, garbage, mail, and a huge plethora more - well, how they communicate. See, I am harassed/ gang stalked by the above mentioned- I already battle anxiety and depression so it's mega draining. But hey, at least it's given me something to get my mind off the hideouts acts portrayed by them- The wonderful world of SDR has been a treat so far- and it's content like yours that really helps. Take care.

[@hbarwickjr]

Well finally the answer to why my hand held police frequencies are silent. Thank you

[@jmautobrokers6568]

I feel your pain. I live in St. Lucie county on the east coast of Florida and my local system recently switched to the P25 system and I'm pissed. I understand wanting better officer safety but I feel this has gone too far. They say that want transparency but them they go do stuff like this. If you say anything negative about the switch in RR they will ban you.

[@rjfear]

They've all been moving to that over the last few years. One budget at a time. They were sold those systems when the department of homeland security gave funding for the switch. That use to be part of my job until I resigned.

[@brandonharrell494]

You have 2 people to blame for this situation. 1st is Motorola. Motorola has pushed digital encryption on radio systems throughout the country. Part of it is the Department of Homeland Security getting everyone encrypted for safety sake. There really haven't been any demonstrable situations where people have interfered with digital trucking systems or even analog tracking systems for that matter to such an extent as to be completely disruptive. But there is an individual and a website that has brought this to the fore front. Lindsay Blaine and Radio Reference. Anyone that is into scanning knows this website and the fact that it has the frequencies and the specific codes used by specific entities on the trunk radio system. Such as Citywide police frequency one. Countywide mutual Aid frequency 3. Etc. Lindsay has been warned over the years as he has made money hand over fist that he was going to force Police Department's to encrypt their Communications because he made it so easy for people to listen to police broadcasts on nothing but their cell phone. There's still no proof that criminals have been using their cell phones to listen while committing crimes but he brought this to the forefront. All because he wanted to make a dime off of it. Had he stayed low key this probably wouldn't be the issue that it is today. My county has recently gone to encryption and I can't listen to anything. I can listen to the fire department but I'm not really into that. They're not encrypted yet. Except for the ALS back and forth to the hospital's. That's for HIPAA. But the point is is that Motorola pushed the technology and a private individual made a buck selling the information that allowed people to listen. You didn't even need to know anything. All you had to do was download a file for your particular scanner and use a piece of software to load it and your scanner would be automatically programmed for you. In fact the new Uniden scanners plug directly into RadioReference to get their database once a week. Thank you Lindsay for destroying a hobby that many of us have enjoyed for years. I hope you made enough money in the process. You thought only of yourself and not what you were doing to the hobby nationwide.

[@Redneck_Ed]

Motorola developed a less expensive non-P25 form of encryption (ADP) in the mid 00's because public safety wanted encryption, but they initially couldn't afford full blown AES256. The demand came from public safety and then yeah Motorola sold it all, ADP and AES256. Encryption has been around since the days of SecureNet in the early 80s. Up until about the early 00's, you couldn't even rekey radios over trunked channels. You'd need a standalone conventional channel and everyone would have to switch to do key rotations. Very clunky. Securenet sounded like crap, rekey technology was complicated for decades. Enter server virtualization and the ability to rekey radios seamlessly over trunking channels. There is a solid argument to be made that the reason increased use of encryption is possible is because it is drastically easier to administer and has been since about 2010. In other words, add HP and VMware to the blame list, lol.

[@daveparker4415]

I would suggest using a 90 degree adapter for your laptop audio cable to reduce the chance of cable or jack damage. Repairing a headphone jack on your laptop can get pretty expensive when it's so easy to avoid.

[@Flexin010]

Wait a while. Someone will figure it out. I miss listening to my local police dept.

[@notsure9355]

...allowed you to sleep at night, eh.

[@tracker001]

Yes you can legally decrypt any over there air transmissions . The rub comes > You cannot legally share the decrypted information .

[@JonMichaelDeBona]

Nope. You can decode digitally encoded transmissions but not decrypt encrypted transmissions. There is a difference. Digitally encoded communication can be in-the-clear and legal to monitor but not encrypted communication. Besides, decrypting would require a key to be obtained illegally or computing resources that only a very few people in the entire world have access to.

[@markplott4820]

Miachel Nance - there is NO Legal way for Obtaining a Decription Key for a Digital Public Safety Radio using Encryption in ANY City or County. and its a Federal Crime to Listen to Analog Celluar transmissions as well as ANY Digital Encrypted Transmmision and using a Decryption Key.

[@TheUniversalEyes]

@@markplott4820 Give it time, eventually that encryption will be cracked, just like everything else. The thing about their encryption is, it all falls under a certain range of bits. The good thing about police radios too, is that when it is finally cracked, they will be using those systems for a long time. Most systems are used for 10+ years before they are upgraded.

[@markplott4820]

@@TheUniversalEyes - Issue with Encryption is NOT with the Ability of Someone breaking Digital Encryption, but rather the CRIME Accociated with Breaking Encryption , weither YOU can Break Encryption or NOT is a MOOT POINT, its Still a FEDERAL CRIME to Break Digital Encryption.

[@xephael3485]

@@markplott4820 cite the federal statutes that make it illegal to decrypt encrypted communication.

[@kwgm8578]

I'm sure that by now you know this, but another reason for going digital, well two reasons, is that a digital radio can multiplex the channels. That means they can stack multiple radios on a single frequency, similar to how your home LAN can stack multiple devices on your network, or a better analogy is how USB can manage 256 devices on a single port. So, their capacity on a single carrier went up exponentially, which is why today you can have a radio in every garbage truck and water/power truck, etc. -- whatever your county supports, they can talk to you via radio. There are other features that can now make digital radios seem like magic to county managers, but I'll defer to your knowledge. It's your channel, but I wanted to mention frequency stacking. Your SDR video popped up on my home page as I've been learning about this interesting tech. I hope that you're still UToobing. 😊 The second reason is noise -- it sounds much better. Remember when cell phones were analog? The signal-to-noise ratio was often 1 or more, which is why engineers measured it on the dB scale. When digital towers and phones came to town, it was like the difference between seeing in thick fog and a clear day.

[@radiohobbyist13]

The joke is on them, they can't hear MY encrypted communications either. Two can play that game. GOTCHA!!!

[@james10739]

I dont think the public can encrypt radio that's not like wifi which is greatly limited on power output

[@dustoff499]

@@james10739 With a little knowledge - oh yes they can! And do it cheaper them.

[@james10739]

@@dustoff499 I ment legally the ability to was not really in question because it would basically be the same as wifi if you are transmitting data or packets

[@justsomedude4660]

@@james10739 I think it is totally legal

[@james10739]

@@justsomedude4660I mean im not 100% sure but i believe if its over a limited amount of power then than you can't encrypt like you can make wifi much more powerful but it is illegal but I believe its the encryption is part of that

[@wjackstl]

yep, welcome to the police state

[@ps2hacker]

Indeed.

[@gordonemery6949]

Wesley Jackson r

[@jefferyrightmire9520]

I would rather live in a world with police, as one that is lawless.

[@johnjeffy4895]

If you have enough money and in the "1%club" the police don't matter

[@edstar83]

Watch thou tongue citizen 02687569056-69

[@Scott_AI5EF]

I hope you continue the channel with your HAM radio adventures.

[@rallyguy132321]

Transitioning from analog to digital is expensive and requires a lot of planning between the Sheriff's Office and any local police departments. I can assure you it was a coincidence. I'm surprised they encrypted every channel they use? There are likely hundreds of channels. Usually only a handful are encrypted due to cost.

[@zachv1942]

I used to work for L3Harris. It's not a coincidence. L3Harris will do an entire system for the County/local authorities. It's literally plug and play.

[@jewmanji8064]

The county is governed of , by and for the people . You are a taxpayer. ( i assume ) .. But anyway. How can it be illegal for citizens to listen to local and county police transmissions ? Encrypted or not ? Digital or not ? . I think that as citizens we should have complete access to all their trannsmitted communications.

[@markplott4820]

I beleave Washington DC and Virginia you cannot Legally use Scanners to Listen to Radio Transmissions and if you use an SDR in DC or VA there are stiff penalties and perhaps jail time involved. If you don't want Digital Encryption then petition your City or County to remove Encryption.

[@chuckermatinger3794]

An informed public can help law enforcement. I don't believe their cutting us off from their communications will make society safer.

[@JunkMailBoxStuff]

Radio traffic is only a portion of the emergency, fire, and police dispatch communications. In many agencies calls for service are sent/dispatched to the computers in the vehicles and never heard over the radios. Most info is now done via computer, not radio, so persons and vehicle checks, medical call details, details of incidents, etc. are displayed on the computer screen to save valuable air traffic, provide more detail & information, and free up talk group and frequency space. The encryption was already coming from a DHS mandate. This was due to various terrorist attacks and the need for security, *not to keep info from the American people* who want to monitor calls around the community. The *media does have access to these current encrypted transmissions and they do monitor* the radio traffic. If liberal politicians had kept dangerous people out of our borders, things may have been different. Now we all pay the price.

[@1978garfield]

Many officers have said they never caught a bad guy with a scanner but were helped by the public who knew to look for a suspect. It is sad that post 9/11 many departments have been trained to see the public as an enemy to be controlled rather than friends and neighbors they are sworn to protect. I don't think it is a coincidence that anti police feelings are stronger than ever now.

[@jamesupdates3494]

Yes,we need to demand decryption.

[@johnstark4723]

It's a public safety issue that puts us in danger not knowing what is going on when systems are encrypted. No department needs every channel encrypted, in fact, no department needs more than a couple encrypted channels. For those that have encrypted you can fight it but you need to go to council meetings and the media. Some have even gone to court and won. It's also a risk for outside agencies who can't communicate or monitor the channels. And as found they have issues with encryption even locally putting first responders in danger. Unless you fight it, nothing will change though.

[@KentuckyRanger]

I can completely understand encrypted channels. But why do ambulance and fire departments need to be encrypted? I can see tactical channels for the police, but not all of them... A few years agog I purchased a Uniden Home Patrol II for almost $600! My old trunking scanner stopped working for some reason, so I upgraded when I replaced it. The only thing trunking and all the other digital stuff has caused is the common person to not be able to listen anymore. It's now only upper middle class, the rich, and criminals who can afford to listen anymore. I live in a small town, so I doubt digital encryption will be here anytime soon. But when it does, it'll get real boring around the house...

[@markplott4820]

AFIK ........AMR Ambulance and other Private Ones don't Encrypt, though they use Digital. In My area EMT's and Fire Don't Encrypt.

[@ninobrown252]

Kentucky Ranger hippa laws?

[@adgasdggfg]

how about the privacy of those involved (you might know of a death earlier than officials could relay this information to the respective family, or high profile emergency calls involving a politically sensitive person)

[@timm2020]

Most public safety communications that use DVP/DES are very hard to de-encrypt. It really is illegal to de-encrypt them. Also it is illegal in some states to use a scanner in a vehicle.

[@tommysmirks2494]

That's on point for caution type thing. And I don't know how to decrypt it and I worked with it lol

[@_Area-51]

That sucks they went off air, it's been like that here in UK since the 90's :-( the good old days!

[@DaveJohnsonad5nm]

All you need to do is file a lawsuit against the agency and and it will be stopped. There is absolutely nothing illegal about decoding the encryption. The you need to remember is that you are a taxpayer and legally entitled to access to the transmission. You can not transmit but they can not refuse you the right to listen. I have done it and won and all fees were returned.

[@sonyp180]

the police radios here in uk switched to Tetra radios few yrs back. laws are little different in uk.... but I did read a paper ages ago about how in theory it would be possible to listen to encrypted tetra. in the UK police tetra is managed by a mobile phone company named “O2 airwave“ the encryption key changes on a regular basis so even with loads if computer processing power if you crack the key by packet sniffing by the time you got the key it would have changed. But some of the radios have a SIM card that can be removed just like a mobile phone. it is possible providing you could borrow a radio for a short time to remove the sim card and clone the sim card to a blank sim. Then place the clone sim into another Tetra radio. However some problems occur as a result of this. when your clone radio connects to the O2 Airwave network it will disconnect the master and allow your clone to connect. So the clone and master would be fighting each other to connect. also even if you turned off Gps in the radio settings you could still be tracked the same way as the cell network of mobile phones depending on the size of the cell to the accuracy of a upto 100meters. I cant remember who wrote it but it was a intresting read showing it was and is possible but the risk of getting caught out ways the benifits. I assume that if a clone was suspected on the network that they can deactivate that account and assign a new sim card to that radio.

[@artweaver6963]

Actually the SC decided that if it's broadcast over RF spectrum and you can decrypt it... You can monitor it... Cable companies tried to file criminal charges against people for tuning in on their leaking signals! The court said they couldn't. So they scrabbled the channels. The court again refused to allow them to pursue criminal charges. Satellite was different. Because of its point to point nature the court have them some power to go after the scabbers...

[@lukeWiz44]

I didn’t quite understand what you were talking about when you said you needed 2 receivers. Say I wanted to just monitor 1 p25 frequency, and no others, could I get away with one?

[@DiverCTH]

Why not inundate them with FOIA requests for the master key. Plus you could always rent server space in Canada or another country where decryption is legal and pipe it to Broadcastify from there. #FornicateTheConstabulary

[@BLAZE13011]

I wonder if you could foia request something like that

[@MrKWiley918]

The systems that can rekey over the air can simply answer the question and rekey.

[@juliogonzo2718]

Decryption of encrypted signals that you are not the intended recipient of is illegal here in Canada too

[@randywhite6468]

Oh and by the way,,,, as an engineer I will tell you to keep your eyes on the SDRs,,,, once you get that signal into the digital domain there is nothing you cant do to it when you bring enough processing power to bare.

[@TexasTimelapse]

I second this.

[@cybermaniac1]

Can you elaborate or share some links?

[@McGrathBk]

Broadcastify has my local but I’d love to hear what’s being said when the say “switch to nine bravo”

[@masskiller9206]

i heard this one time and they were like "i brought the stuff today if you're still interested" ... yes, i am interested, what is the stuff? i will never know...

[@macmardo1537]

@@masskiller9206 It was donuts. Now you know.

[@masskiller9206]

@@macmardo1537 right. "powdered" donuts, i'm guessing...

[@JerryEricsson]

To tell you the truth, being a former police officer, I am happy that scramblers are being attached. I can' tell you how many damn times we have had problems with the general public getting in the way of a call because they use those damn scanners. Back when I was on the Job, we had just plain high band radio, anyone, and it seemed everyone had one of those cheap radio shack scanners. Lost my best deer hunting area when the owner overheard me call an HP to check his tuck load when he was on the side of the highway with a busted axle. Guy probably still hates me for that one, and I could go on, but I shant. Now I have become one of those listeners, but now our State has gone statewide with trunked radio. I picked up a used Radio Shack Pro 90 TRUNKER scanner that I have yet to figure out how to program so I can pick up trunked dispatch. A couple of weeks ago we had to venture down to the Sturgis area, and the Bike Rally was going on. My little Bofeng two way lite up like a Christmas Tree with the old radio frequencies from pre trunked era, so I guess many of the old systems are still being used for stuff like that. I did not have my scanner along though, may take that along on our next trip down in that area and see what I can pick up. Where I live, you would need a lot of luck to catch one of the Deputies here on the air since there are only 3 in the County and they work mostly nights. I can get the Ambulance dispatch since they still use the analog system for that, and occasionally the Fire Department will talk on Analog when their digital radios are in the shop, which appears to be often. Now down to my question, can a fellow monitor the Ham Channels with that hardware/software combo? I got my ticket a year ago but haven't done much with it since there are no operators in my town,, the nearest is 26 miles away, which is also the nearest repeater as well. So it would be nice to be able to monitor the HF frequencies, since all I have are a few 2 meter rigs, two mobile and two hand held which I do use when we are wintering in Arizona.

[@garrettswoodworx1873]

It depends on the individual SDR. Some will cover the HF bands but it appears most of the "dongles" do not.

[@markplott4820]

If you got a Digital Anatuer license then you can use Digital IP repeaters , than you can have contacts all over the world.

[@ramorrisey]

CPU Utilage! I like it. :) I came here because I'm a ham and my wife asked me if I could listen to the police. I had to tell her about the encryption thing :(.

[@Doomsdaypress]

So my question would be. Isn't it against the freedom of information and accountablility, and unlawful to encrypt? Their communication should be open record information.

[@m3528i]

Hey! You’re my cigar guy!! I was very confused for a second...

[@СтивСкотт]

Legal? I can listen to whatever I want, however I want to listen to it. Quitters never win... Good Luck, Sir.

[@kellyj5389]

You know your stuff brother. Our city IT department could use your knowledge. Seriously.

[@harrystevens3885]

As somebody said the Police switched years ago in UK and made my scanner just about useless.

[@mpol701]

Plenty to listen to still police was only part of my set up, shopwatch systems, fire uhf, lots of businesses yes some enc, but most commercial aren't, dmr, nexedge yes many dmr especially but scanners can deal, with non encrypted The add in mating by the coast, military and civil airband, my scanners are stopping every few seconds

[@USScancast]

Same things happened in St Louis City, tho fire is not yet encrypted. I did find that not all PD radios are encrypted, there are quite a few I am able to hear. Not the dispatch side but the car or HT side. I set unitrunker to listen for individual radios rather than talk groups. Still not as good as being in the clear but I'm able to pick up bits and pieces, just something to check out on your end, never know..

[@ferway6295]

I just bought an SDR dongle to listen to police, ems and aircraft radio signals. Looks like I'm a couple years too late. At least it wasn't expensive.

[@jefferyrightmire9520]

There are all sorts of other things to listen to. I have mine connected to a rotatable, amplified broadband antenna. I hear all sorts of radio chatter.

[@ferway6295]

@@jefferyrightmire9520 where can I learn more about that stuff? I'm just getting started with SDR.

[@greenrefrigerator]

I guess the ONLY good thing is you didn't have an expensive scanner you had to dump. Uniden's current offering, the SDS200 base/mobile scanner is a $700 digital receiver and all it takes is the one agency you want to monitor to go encrypted and your $700 scanner is now rendered USELESS. I just sold my Uniden BCD996XT, which was their flagship model several years ago, as my local police switched to P25 Phase II. I sold my then $500 scanner for HALF what I paid for it (after fees even less than that). Scanning is a losing game today.

[@cerleywood]

Been watching TWO for over a year now. Recently became interested in Ham radio and guess who comes up on my KZbin searches. Small world I guess. Fire Depts respond to more EMS calls than anything else and as a result we transmit a lot of medical info back and forth with the hospitals. We had to have all our transmission encrypted to comply with HIPA regulations.

[@Mikesuklivan]

Thank all the goofs who show up to police calls with scanners.

[@gorillaau]

The goofs who get there before the officers arrive are putting everyone at risk... the victims of the crime, the perpetrator, innocent standerbys, as well as themselves.

[@828enigma6]

We never had a problem with this in our area. Just an excuse to hide what's happening from the public.

[@zazugee]

here in Algeria, i recently got into SDR scanning, the police still use analog, but i heard police talk to each others and refer to a certain device to continue the talk about a case over tetrapol device, they also use cellular when they want to have privacy

[@kc0eks]

My city just did this a few weeks ago. So long for citizens knowing what happens or possibly protecting themselves.

[@markplott4820]

wrong. get a Digital Scanner or Update your current Digital Scanner. there are still Targets of Interest to keep you informed, like nearby Cities or Nearby county's that are NOT digital yet or use Digital but don't encrypt. also, Remote NEWS crews don't encrypt , I tune those most Often and NEWS Helicopters for Traffic info.

[@danielscheive7619]

Mine here just went digital and is said to be encrypted as well.

[@scottashe984]

@@markplott4820 They will though..

[@luiscypher9844]

In my area they are using the NEC Ipassolink system with rolling encryption that can be changed every day or even every minute the system uses a OTA programming which mean all radios can be selectively programmed or reprogrammed for individual purposes or group operations on any given moment, this can even compartmentalize secure communications within there own departments so as to keep "a need to know" fully secure,this came at a cost of around $600 million +, i have seen the encryption described in a video..blew my mind... we have no chance.. update... all services here are moving across to this secure network.. (NSW Australia)

[@TexasTimelapse]

SDR radios are your friend. Capture the digital signals....then do what you want with it...hint...hint. 73

[@markplott4820]

Modern Digital radios are using 256K Encryption and is IMPOSSIBLE to Demodulate even with a Computer.

[@TexasTimelapse]

@@markplott4820 AES256 has already been exploited. Encryption means nothing anymore.

[@markplott4820]

@@TexasTimelapse - but NOT ICOM iDAS , its very Secure and Security can communicate over IP with VERY Discrete Radios that look like Smartphones.

[@dereklea1183]

TexasTimelapse - Any links or sources for that information?

[@dereklea1183]

Mark Plott - Huh? I was under the impression that iDAS was Icom’s open modulation protocol and same as Kenwood NXDN? I’m sure it has built in encryption, like NXDN, but as a modulation protocol it can be demodulated like any other open protocol. FYI, the railroad system, at least with CSX, has migrated to NXDN in some areas. I know this as my brother in law, and his son, work for CSX. They have used the Kenwood, and Icom, radios in digital mode. Both brand of radios can talk to each other.

[@melvyniandrag]

Hey I like Cigars and tech stuff too! Such a pleasant surprise to find this channel

[@scottb61669]

Well Bryan it was great while it lasted, as the saying goes.."all good things come to and end" I loved it while you did it!! Very entertaining!! Thanks for your efforts!!

[@Desert-edDave]

"Public" servants operating privately.

[@the_socompsp]

of course, why would you WANT gang member being able to keep tabs on law enforcement?

[@anonymousagp664]

@@the_socompsp The police is one big gang agianst everyone.

[@Ricodabodyguard22]

Aren’t many municipalities outsourcing their law enforcement services out to private military firms (i, e; Blackwater) to service their community via public-private partnerships? The public assumes all of the cost while the private military firm earns qualified immunity from most litigation and/or prosecution.

[@invictusaeternum]

@@Ricodabodyguard22 This is the case in some areas. In most cases it allows for contracted LEOs to operate within a defined budget rather than for-profit policing. So essentially a community can say "California stops aren't ticket-worthy at otherwise non-populated intersections."

[@earthdog1961]

Dude! You look like me! We could be twins. Also, the transition from analog to digital+encryption would be months (if not years) in the process. Municipalities have to plan for the monies ;-). Check your city council meeting notes and proposals, for leads. Here in Florida we have the "Sunshine Law" which means they can't back door these things least they be "personally liable". This really does stop a lot of hanky panky. I'd like to see a national sunshine law.

[@asherprice8429]

Would you have any tips on trying to run this type of set up on an android tablet? Just recently added a CB to my car and i was looking to add an SDR hooked up to a tablet as well. Eventually making it work as a police scanner.

[@davegrizzly6301]

What is relayed over radio is private info in regards to peoples ie general public info is sensitive... also for safety reasons u dont want badguys knowing police tactics or location of officers its all about safety and security... long story short it comes down to information getting in the wrong hands and also officer safety... Hope this helps with people's understanding ..

[@markplott4820]

RFObsession - You are BETTER of in getting a ICOM R30 Digital Receiver or a AOR DV-10. the R30 is a TRUE Wideband Receiver and works 100 khz - 3500 Mhz Continious (cell blocked). Best of all it can Demodulate CW, SSB, P25, NXDN and HAM Digital Voice modes. the ICOM R30 has both a Superhetrodyne Receiver and a SDR as well. this means is Better at LSM Simulcast Transmissions. the R30 also has Dual Receive + Dual Record as well as Built in GPS and Bluetooth Audio. you can even Record the Bandscope information and GPS data to the SD card used for Channel Management. the ONLY thing the ICOM and AOR Scanners cant do is TRUNKING, but they can still Listen to Trunking channels CONVENTIONALLY. ICOM R30 Receiver is a Powerful Scanner and has Multiple SCAN modes including VOICE scan. I have been using my AOR & ICOM Scanners for Decades for Listening to Cell Phones, Baby Monitors, Wireless Intercoms, and Cordless Phones as well as Monitoring HF, SSB, VHF Air, Military AIR .

[@jeffk7734]

People who live in these areas that are so encryption happy need to protest and rase hell!

[@dave24-73]

Just curious have you tried … DSD Decoding Digital Voice with RTL-SDR as a Radio Scanner KZbin user Geoff Wolf shows a video where he uses RTL-SDR as a police scanner to listen to public safety P25 digital radio using DSD, SDRSharp and virtual audio cable. Posted before you mentioned it illegal, so I’ll guess no.

[@raymondkennon1396]

Question im listening to police n my laptop but can't receive them on my police whistler scanner but I can hear other cities far away they haven't gone encrypted because I'm hearing them on my laptop any ideas

[@juliogonzo2718]

I just got unitrunker and dsd+ running on a mini pc in a Pelican case. I have a year or two to listen. Encrypted new system is to be started in 2021 and fully operational by 2023 at a cost of $765,000,000. :(

[@nsa7787]

So how is it that I see law enforcement agencies on broadcastify, but their system is trunked how are they getting the frequencies and communications and broadcasting it to us? How can I go about doing that not so much for broadcasting but listening

[@confirmhandle]

What would happen if somebody tried to illegally transmit on some of these frequencies with a modified transmitter. Would the radio system be able to circumvent or would it not even matter?

[@alltheboost5363]

Can't you just foia request it? It should be a matter of public record.

[@nathandcole]

Have you tried SDR Trunk? In my county some things are encrypted while others aren't. It makes it really easy to deal with and has super easy import from radioreference

[@backtoeden853]

Why not just disrupt the communications antenna? Use a volume receiver (microphone) to record police language, and apply those sound frequencies to a model in order to translate the incoming encrypted frequency that you already have using variables ??????

[@tsionwilliamson1385]

what kinda linux were you using my guy most linux distros have terminal tools for multiplexing audio and i believe audacity can as well

[@ghostshadow9046]

troopers did that then law said that communications have to be public so they now stream all radio communications on a web site

[@sergeantseven4240]

A Raspberry pi would have been so much tidier than a laptop on the motorcycle. You could still do this for other signals though if you wanted to. like CB.

[@AndTheCorrectAnswerIs]

Something is wrong when government entities want to operate in secret. There is nothing in 95% of public safety transmissions that would warrant a need for secret transmissions. I have no problem with tactical operations being encrypted, but daily operations of public officials taking place in the public domain, do not need to be encrypted for ANY reason.

[@5ringsaudits]

Hi, I'm in Pinellas. It has been a long time since you made this. I am new to hobby. Do you know if I can listen to Pinellas Sheriff with SdS100?

[@rogersmicharl]

you do what a guy i used to know did , STEAL ONE FROM A PARKED POLICE CAR.

[@voltmeter101]

Not a good idea since the new radios come equipped with GPS tracking location if the officer so decides to enable it.

[@michaeltaylor8835]

@@voltmeter101 And they wll kill the radio too

[@KRich408]

Unless you get the key before they shut it down! I’m not condoning this they will just change the encryption key if it’s known to be out, maybe not government can be slow?

[@williamlowley3657]

Or can get one from me who is a "crooked" cop like me! Why the quotes ? Because I believe in the rights and truth over the bad cops who claim they are keeping u safe

[@michaeltaylor8835]

@@williamlowley3657 The cop would have to report it missing

[@andymeresse6930]

I was actually surprised they were still on the analog system. Most of us have been on truncated digital for a few years now. I too would like to see you do your spin on some HAM oriented videos if you're interested.

[@cowboy6591]

I listen to EMA fire and rescue, most of them don't encrypt. 3rd party Ambulance companies can't afford it. The real BAD stuff always involves calling an ambulance. No police radio= no loss for me.

[@Texasmilitarydepartmentvid9654]

How to pick up a Police Department that's operating off a Trunked System easy by a Handheld Amature Radio. I listen to Dallas Police Department all the time. You don't have to worry about it there's always someone who is nice enough to post frequencies on line .

[@paulagne7525]

Wow, that was fast. Too bad, I know you were starting to get into it. I watched most of them, interesting stuff. They must have had it ready to go prior to your getting started, You're absolutely right, there's no way that they could have done it in a week. Going to have to find another hobby now, ever thought about trying Cigars, I hear that's pretty cool. LOL.

[@generalzod7959]

I will do as i please. If i want to listen to their stuff, i will. I don't care if they don't like it.

[@rory4547]

MONITOR FIRE OPERATIONS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING ELSE TO LISTEN TO ?

[@christophergossage4758]

Hey I have a question. I have a situation where I need to intercept a signal. I’m not sure the medium of transmission so I need to see everything. Can you give me some advice on how to do this?

[@jaytab3686]

Handheld scanners have been able to do trucking systems for well over 20 years

[@jjc4577]

It begs the question as to why the local government doesn't want the very citizens it is serving to listen to them.

[@gregorymckenna6609]

In Toronto all police services are encrypted and have been for years. All my scanners are paperweights and of course SDR is useless for encrypted communications.

[@maxtrac1]

Our police use digital motorola with a encrypted code plug.Some counties complained about it said it was a public service band and couldn't encrypt.So they went back to just trunked system.

[@larrygall5831]

I can't get Unitrunker to work. Everything else (DSDPlus, SRDSharp, many others) work just fine. I've been using my RTL2832U / R820T2 for a month now and have listened to many police / fire channels. I see a lot of encrypted? digital? signals there as well, but I can't get Unitrunker to work. It just says "Could not open!" and I've tried everything I can think of, installed multiple versions, settings, etc.. nothing works.

[@MrWhaatay]

Unitrunker is garbage. It's a half assed program that works 1% of the time .

[@senya148B]

Well... technically decrypting signals isn't illegal because you are not actively breaking into a system. You are just passively decoding them :) (Yay! loopholes in Sweden)

[@sisbrawny]

Do you understand how impossible it is to decode an encrypted signal? Legality is the least difficult part about it.

[@senya148B]

Yea, that's true

[@red2965]

I totally feel your pain. I have spent hundreds on radio equipment over the years and after getting the BCD396XT a couple of years ago the state I am in has part of their system in phase 1 and part phase 2. (I had no idea at the time as digital was new to me) I feel they will eventually go all the way with p2 tho and in itself is just as bad as it will cost us another $500.+ AND if you need update software another $100+ ea it is really becoming a rich mans game and what is worse we are paying the taxes so they can do it. I.E. they put police & fire fighter pensions on the ballot and guess what they figured out most made to much to get it..really! do you think they would give us the money back??? NO. to top that off a couple of years went by and I guess they thought we had our stupid hats on and asked for another increase on that same pension.

[@tacticalAV]

in my city I used to be able to listen to a trunk tracked frequency using a bearcat mobile or Bearcat handheld scanner and recently the city has converted to a Motorola digital utilizing a CDMA cell phone frequency that is unable to be tracked by a scanner however lately it does seem with a brand new Bearcat scanner I am able to pick up the trunk and track frequencies using the traditional 800 and 900 frequencies. so I'm a bit confused if they are utilizing the CDMA frequency how am I hearing them on my trunked radio scanner. also I was confused as to what trunked tracking actually means as far as I was concerned I was under the impression it involves a certain frequency switching from time to time I'm also under the impression that when I do hear certain situations engaging in say a police chase over the radio it does appear that they switch to another frequency possibly a tactical Channel that is untraceable or un trackable with a traditional scanner I wonder if this is true?

[@drnv150]

In an emergency their encrypted juggernaut they have created will be mostly useless after 48 hours as they don't have enough humans to run around refilling backup generators for cell sites, communications sites, providing the power bump, or outage doesn't brick their equipment racks. Most serious interoperability will revert to analog. Systems that are digital time slots, DMR / P25 etc. have very few actual frequencies, you're nothing but an algorithm timing slot, my local metro police switched they gave the local media the OTAR code to receive their encrypted P25, but local news reports maybe 1/1000th of the a total crime in my city, I have completely given up any and all involvement with local metropolitan police, scanners, etc. and now focusing on being involved with ham radio, emergency management, ARES/RACES, M.A.R.S., etc. HF is great, no need for a cell site, the internet, a cabled network or the power grid to send radio traffic to anywhere in U.S., like the convenience of the internet for entertainment, or comments like this, but power or internet goes out I can still send data text and voice over shortwave with thousands of pre scheduled HF radio networks all over the U.S. and abroad. If people don't think this can happen, please ignore the previous hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Florida & Texas the last few years. There are nets every night on HF the signals are so strong in surrounding states, they sound like down the block, and that's just with portable antennas, at the bottom of the 11 year solar minimum cycle.

[@sukhjitjosen1341]

How would you use it to "tune in" to a celluar TOWER LTE frequency to improve signal strength and then use a repeater to broadcast locally in your home?

[@markplott4820]

Simply , you cant. Its against Federal Law to receive Analog or Digital Cellular services. though, I still have a Pre BAN scanner capable of tuning Analog Cellular its still Illegal to Monitor. and Digital Scanners cant Decode or Receive Digital Cellular, Murs, iDEN, TDMA, CDMA, PCS, D-AMPS, GSM, ect.....

[@paulroberts2373]

Over here in the UK, all police radio is digital encrypted (TETRA) and can not hear a thing anymore. gutted

[@sam1ee]

The police in my area are using Kenwood's NXDN. Using DSD+ / RTL-SDR / and AMBE codec 2.0 I can listen. Encryption! LOL I'm so sorry...

[@juliogonzo2718]

It's funny, the trucks at my work have NXDN radios and they are encrypted despite the fact that business/civilians are not permitted to use encryption. I could not decode with dsd, and there is a little diamond on the screen which indicates encryption is turned on. I'm not saying anything...

[@wearewatchingyou4371]

Eventually all police chat will be encrypted. We need more people using crime apps like "Citizen" that allows real time communication and live video streaming to other app users. When police are at or approaching a crime scene Citizen users can report it and live stream the event to other users, and word will get out to the public almost as fast as the scanner broadcast. The software will evolve into a unencrypted citizen based live scanner and video feed. Community involvement is the oldest and most effective form of fighting crime.

[@GEAUXFRUGAL]

Most channels are separated by so many hertz to prevent bleed over in the case of FM family radio 250 hz separates each channel . You can use a calculator to find out what all 21 channels are if you know the starting frequency. 462.550 just add 250 to 550 you get channel 2 add 250 to that you get channel 3 and so forth until you reach channel 21. Which should be +5250 which should be 467.800 if my math is right. Digital is said to conserve bandwidth in that it can convey more information using less bandwidth.

[@أسعدالطائي-ر5ط]

مرحبا يا صديقي أحتاج خبرتك كيف يمكن نجعل جهاز الراديو العادي يستقبل موجات أعلى من 108 ميغا هيرتز حتى يستقبل الموجات اللاسلكية و الطيران مع خالص تحياتي لك

[@vibingwithvinyl]

Happened here in Finland as well, although couple of years ago. Police and rescue services went to a digital & encrypted radio system. Oh well, not much you can do about it.

[@jondough4116]

Here in America we supposedly have a Constitution...we have a right to monitor public safety systems...we pay for it through illegal taxes on the public..

[@karenwm1805]

How do I know if my local police department is using an unencrypted signal?

[@sithticklefingers7255]

Rational Routines You will need to use software defined radio to really figure it out. If your analog scanner makes noises like a diesel truck on uhf frequencies, you can bet that you’re hearing digital encoding. Plug the digital audio into a computer program like DSD+, and it will decode the signal. If it’s encrypted it will read “muting encrypted voice” on the event log. Check out TechMinds channel on KZbin. He’s got some great stuff about this.

[@karenwm1805]

Thanks

[@624radicalham]

@@sithticklefingers7255 I'll tell you something though, the diesel truck noises are in most cases CONTROL CHANNELS that can be programmed in trunked systems like Motorola Type II (city of Miami Florida is one example) and EDACS systems. They can be programmed into any scanner with trunked capabilities even older non P25 scanners and listened to. Radio Reference is the best website for programming your scanner. Diesel engine type noise does not mean encrypted.

[@youknow5569]

FCC rules and regulations state they are PUBLIC airwaves. Contact the FCC and tell them you are not able to receive them anymore, They can be shut down for NOT sharing the Public Broadcasts.

[@fuhwurd]

I think your username explains the exact opposite of you.