It Begins - Time to scan the band - Heard anything?

[Lscott]

So has anybody been monitoring the local GMRS channels, and the Ham bands? I remember a few years back when various protests were going on hearing local chatter on the Ham bands, a protest by the General Dynamics tank plant, on 70cm. Then believe it or not on some of the commercial business frequencies too! It seemed another protest was also ongoing at the same time. That one the protesters were using a local mall to park and get organized and the mall security there was keeping an eye on them. You can get live up to date news on what's happening without having to wait for the "filtered" coverage from the media. This is really a safety issue. The mall protest was only about 15 minutes by car from my home so yes it was of big interest to me. If it wasn't for the chatter on the radio I wouldn't have had any idea it was happening.

People frequently mention getting into GMRS for emergency reasons, well trying to stay ahead, and away from, any potential trouble I think qualifies.

[kidphc]

I would say for those purposes you would be better off buying a dedicated scanner.

Still won't help you with encrypted traffic. Which you already know.

They were purpose-built for scanning. They can fly through the memory bank so much FASTER. Really disappointed at how slow some of my Yaesu gear is. Which is still 1000% than a Baofeng.

Here outside of D.C. almost makes no sense to waste radio gear on scanning. In D.C. the Office of Unified Communications has everything encrypted, you can't hear them talking about the explosion in a porta potty.. Only PG County police and Moco aren't encrypted yet. Although both have been talking about flipping the switch.

[StogieVol]

I have several emergency frequencies programmed in my 935 so I can stay posted on things in my area already. I also have a "scanner"  app on my work phone. 

[WRYZ926]

I haven't heard anything . I live in a very rural area and the nearest big cities are at least an hour away. St Louis is 1 1/2 hours away.

[Lscott]

9 minutes ago, kidphc said:

They were purpose-built for scanning. They can fly through the memory bank so much FASTER.

I believe that. I did benchmark my TH-D74A once. It scanned through about 20+ channels in a second. For an HT that's quick.

[kidphc]

I believe that. I did benchmark my TH-D74A once. It scanned through about 20+ channels in a second. For an HT that's quick.

To the original question you posted.

During the rush in the Capital. I could see the increased activity through the Simulcast repeaters on the SDR. But the data meant crap, obviously I don't have the keys, so it like trying to listen Charlie Browns teacher and decipher it. MoCo had switched to some encrypted TAC inoperability channels, to assist.

Since the rioters were using HTs, no buneo on traffic from where I am.

I am better off turning on the t.v. and watching for smoke over the horizon.

I wish sometimes...lol most i get on gmrs is from friends whom use to know my commute. They would inform me of avoid areas due to accidents and such.

[Lscott]

3 minutes ago, kidphc said:

During the rush in the Capital. I could see the increased activity through the Simulcast repeaters on the SDR. But the data meant crap, obviously I don't have the keys, so it like trying to listen Charlie Browns teacher and decipher it. MoCo had switched to some encrypted TAC inoperability channels, to assist.

I've been reading a few posts here and there where there is more activity to get a bill passed to prohibit encrypting things like police communications, at least for the dispatch frequencies, the tactical communications could remain encrypted. The logic used is two fold. One the equipment is paid for through public funds, and second for public transparency.

7 minutes ago, kidphc said:

Since the rioters were using HTs, no buneo on traffic from where I am.

Most likely not encrypted. Depending on location somebody might be have been in range to pickup the local radio traffic.

That's not so sure now-days about HT's and encryption. Several of my radios have anything from RC4 enhanced 40 bit encryption, compatible with various other manufacture's radios.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

And I have two with AES256 bit included.

[kidphc]

Most likely not encrypted. Depending on location somebody might be have been in range to pickup the local radio traffic.
That's not so sure now-days about HT's and encryption. Several of my radios have anything from RC4 enhanced 40 bit encryption, compatible with various other manufacture's radios.
https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new
And I have two with AES256 bit included.

I have heard of them discussing here. Having dispatch outbound un-encrypted and the rest encrypted.

Personally, I am in favor of encryption. There is just traffic that the average people do not need access to. It could save the life of a first responder, HIPPA compliance etc.



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[RayDiddio]

I have heard nothing on 70cm or 2m and GMRS has been quiet as well so far as the subject here goes. I also have a Uniden SDS100 and while police activity of all kinds picked up yesterday during the voting process, it was mostly crowd control related with some towing of vehicles, but nothing serious at all.

Even right now (11:30A EST) the scanner is pretty quiet.

[Lscott]

5 minutes ago, RayDiddio said:

Even right now (11:30A EST) the scanner is pretty quiet.

Radio has been very quiet here too. Don't need the crazies.

I use a cheap triband CCR here at work as a cheapo scanner. I have it setup for FRS since most of the business are using them because they're cheap and no license required. Plus it's the same frequencies used by GMRS, at least the repeater outputs are.

[RayDiddio]

41 minutes ago, kidphc said:

I have heard of them discussing here. Having dispatch outbound un-encrypted and the rest encrypted.

Personally, I am in favor of encryption. There is just traffic that the average people do not need access to. It could save the life of a first responder, HIPPA compliance etc.



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The average person does not have a police scanner. Of the "average" types who do, most do not have the $600+ it takes to get into decoding P25-II or working with trunking systems. The SDS100 performs very well in this case. But to be honest, I hear local PD all the time. They never give out personally identifying information (which negates the HIPAA compliance needs) over the air. They are vague with the exception of condition of 911 callers and their needs. No names. No phone numbers (unless public numbers). No healthcare records transmitted.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (I am very familiar with it having been a trained billing and coder) doesn't truly apply here.

[RayDiddio]

10 minutes ago, Lscott said:

Radio has been very quiet here too. Don't need the crazies.

I use a cheap triband CCR here at work as a cheapo scanner. I have it setup for FRS since most of the business are using them because they're cheap and no license required. Plus it's the same frequencies used by GMRS, at least the repeater outputs are.

Yeah.

I suspect this will change in the coming months as the agitprops begin to crawl out from under their rocks to disrupt society, cause $30 billion in damages to individuals and businesses alike while everyone claims it is mostly peaceful protesting.

[kidphc]

Been working with HIPPA since the requirements came in. I was working at a fortune 5 software company. Our division dealt with document management. The amount of NDA with various organizations I signed is staggering.

I wish I could say the same here as far as HIPPA compliance and transmissions. Listen long enough to the conversations, and name, address, age, vital stats, previous medical conditions come across. Especially, on FD/EMS dispatched calls. That type of traffic irregardless of purpose should be encrypted, IMO.

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[Lscott]

1 hour ago, RayDiddio said:

while everyone claims it is mostly peaceful protesting.

It was sort of funny when the propaganda news media was reporting on the protests saying they were mostly peaceful with over turn cars on the street behind them, burning buildings and looters running by with arm fulls of stolen goods. Yup.  

[OffRoaderX]

7 minutes ago, Lscott said:

the propaganda news media was reporting on the protests saying they were mostly peaceful with over turn cars on the street behind them, burning buildings and looters running by with arm fulls of stolen goods.

I do not understand how anyone with an IQ higher than 75 believes anything the media says anymore.  

[StogieVol]

8 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

I do not understand how anyone with an IQ higher than 75 believes anything the media says anymore.  

1000% AGREE

[RayDiddio]

3 hours ago, kidphc said:

Been working with HIPPA since the requirements came in. I was working at a fortune 5 software company. Our division dealt with document management. The amount of NDA with various organizations I signed is staggering.

I wish I could say the same here as far as HIPPA compliance and transmissions. Listen long enough to the conversations, and name, address, age, vital stats, previous medical conditions come across. Especially, on FD/EMS dispatched calls. That type of traffic irregardless of purpose should be encrypted, IMO.

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Most people who work with HIPAA understand there is only one letter P in it. That is why I mentioned my being a billing and coder with extensive "hammered in" training about and surrounding the policy.

But HIPAA deals with transmitting health record in the clear for anyone to be able to see or even your doctor shouting your conditions or prognoses aloud while complete strangers or even family are around. You never hear this type of information over PD/FD/EMS channels. At all.

[Raybestos]

5 hours ago, kidphc said:

To the original question you posted.

During the rush in the Capital. I could see the increased activity through the Simulcast repeaters on the SDR. But the data meant crap, obviously I don't have the keys, so it like trying to listen Charlie Browns teacher and decipher it. MoCo had switched to some encrypted TAC inoperability channels, to assist.

Since the rioters were using HTs, no buneo on traffic from where I am.

I am better off turning on the t.v. and watching for smoke over the horizon.

I wish sometimes...lol most i get on gmrs is from friends whom use to know my commute. They would inform me of avoid areas due to accidents and such.


 

Hey, since you are in the DC area, you might be the guy I have been wanting to run in to to ask something.  Back in January of 2021, there were reports in alternative media about the military "jamming" CB, MURS, and GMRS in the DC area.  The sources have a long history of fear porn and frequently there being nothing to many of their "pending doom" stories.  Commenters on these sites were noting that possibly ham and even EMS were on the receiving end of such jamming.  Again, I never saw any verification from radio-oriented sites or sources.

I do not recall if this was around the time of Jan 6, or later, around the time of the Biden "inauguration".  

Do you know anything about this?

[kidphc]

Hey, since you are in the DC area, you might be the guy I have been wanting to run in to to ask something.  Back in January of 2021, there were reports in alternative media about the military "jamming" CB, MURS, and GMRS in the DC area.  The sources have a long history of fear porn and frequently there being nothing to many of their "pending doom" stories.  Commenters on these sites were noting that possibly ham and even EMS were on the receiving end of such jamming.  Again, I never saw any verification from radio-oriented sites or sources.
I do not recall if this was around the time of Jan 6, or later, around the time of the Biden "inauguration".  
Do you know anything about this?

No I haven't. I will ask some of the public safety guys, probably not anytime soon if they know anything about it.

For a while I couldn't get GPS, cellular or 2 way radio coms around the David Taylor Naval Research Center. But that was moons ago and there were patriot batteries right by the road. I got laughed at when I mentioned, because it seems a EMF dampeners were active in the area at the time. I just didn't know, but my friend were aware, 100+ feet down the road and everything was normal.

But I know where roadrunner gets fixed fairly often. Would be suprised if it wasn't active during an inauguration.

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[AdmiralCochrane]

8 minutes ago, kidphc said:

No I haven't. I will ask some of the public safety guys, probably not anytime soon if they know anything about it.

For a while I couldn't get GPS, cellular or 2 way radio coms around the David Taylor Naval Research Center. But that was moons ago and there were patriot batteries right by the road. I got laughed at when I mentioned, because it seems a EMF dampeners were active in the area at the time. I just didn't know, but my friend were aware, 100+ feet down the road and everything was normal.

But I know where roadrunner gets fixed fairly often. Would be suprised if it wasn't active during an inauguration.

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I have noticed the same while working at the Norwegian Embassy compound.  Particularly when the VP was on the move.  When the big black vehicle motorcade was in motion, nothing with an antenna seemed to function.

[kidphc]

I have noticed the same while working at the Norwegian Embassy compound.  Particularly when the VP was on the move.  When the big black vehicle motorcade was in motion, nothing with an antenna seemed to function.

Might be something like roadrunner. A former secret service customer I had mentioned that roadrunner, usually was staffed by former military electronic warfare specialists.

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[Raybestos]

17 minutes ago, kidphc said:

No I haven't. I will ask some of the public safety guys, probably not anytime soon if they know anything about it.

For a while I couldn't get GPS, cellular or 2 way radio coms around the David Taylor Naval Research Center. But that was moons ago and there were patriot batteries right by the road. I got laughed at when I mentioned, because it seems a EMF dampeners were active in the area at the time. I just didn't know, but my friend were aware, 100+ feet down the road and everything was normal.

But I know where roadrunner gets fixed fairly often. Would be suprised if it wasn't active during an inauguration.

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Thank You!

[AdmiralCochrane]

Very certain it was roadrunner.  It's kind of distinctive.

[Lscott]

14 hours ago, kidphc said:

Might be something like roadrunner. A former secret service customer I had mentioned that roadrunner, usually was staffed by former military electronic warfare specialists.

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Did it look something like this?

https://imgur.com/eUWMHhA

[kidphc]

Did it look something like this?
https://imgur.com/eUWMHhA

That kinda looks like an older version of the old one. Later version looked similar but had different arrays.

New one that I saw, well looks like the newer suburban. With kinda a fiberlass topper glued on to the roof and a crap ton of antennas.

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