Something very strange is happening

[SvenMarbles]

I noticed weeks ago that there was some sort of constantly transmitting signal interfering on GMRS channel 22 (462.725). I spent the better part of a couple of days driving around direction finding. I can hear this signal for MILES. 

Tonight I noticed it again, but this time I can actually hear FM audio and it sounds like ambient sounds inside of a person's home. A childrens cartoon is clearly audible and occasional sounds of kids. When you switch to USB, you can hear some sort of data. 

Ok so baby monitor? But,... for miles? And why is it on 462.725mhz? Is someone doing some shady surveillance on someone and I've come across their listening device?

 

What do you guys make of this...

 

 

[SteveShannon]

11 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:

I noticed weeks ago that there was some sort of constantly transmitting signal interfering on GMRS channel 22 (462.725). I spent the better part of a couple of days driving around direction finding. I can hear this signal for MILES. 

Tonight I noticed it again, but this time I can actually hear FM audio and it sounds like ambient sounds inside of a person's home. A childrens cartoon is clearly audible and occasional sounds of kids. When you switch to USB, you can hear some sort of data. 

Ok so baby monitor? But,... for miles? And why is it on 462.725mhz? Is someone doing some shady surveillance on someone and I've come across their listening device?

 

What do you guys make of this...

 

 

Someone has their radio turned on with VOX turned on. 

[WRUE951]

i would say some bratty kid got a cheap walkie talkie for Christmas..  You should easily be able to pin point the location since its pretty much a dead key..  get ya a short Yagi our build one,  you'll find the location pretty easy unless you encounter a gated community..    

[OffRoaderX]

3 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

You should easily be able to pin point the location

Then what?

[SteveShannon]

Take that frequency out of your scan list. 

[SvenMarbles]

7 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Someone has their radio turned on with VOX turned on. 

This has been continuously transmitting for weeks… 

[WRUE951]

1 minute ago, OffRoaderX said:

Then what?

Well, if i could get to the door, i would 'knock knock' and have a civil conversation with the parents....  Most of the time that would work, but no guarantee..  You'll never know unless you try..   

[SvenMarbles]

Just now, SteveShannon said:

Take that frequency out of your scan list. 

We use this frequency for something important.

[SvenMarbles]

7 minutes ago, WRUE951 said:

i would say some bratty kid got a cheap walkie talkie for Christmas..  You should easily be able to pin point the location since its pretty much a dead key..  get ya a short Yagi our build one,  you'll find the location pretty easy unless you encounter a gated community..    

This has been transmitting for weeks.

[SteveShannon]

Just now, SvenMarbles said:

We use this frequency for something important.

Doesn’t matter. You can’t reserve a frequency. 

[SvenMarbles]

Just now, SteveShannon said:

Doesn’t matter. You can’t reserve a frequency. 

I’m aware… I’ve got over 300 people in my city with radios programmed for this channel. Most of them not at all familiar with how to do much with the radio beside switch them on and key to talk. We’re set up to use channel 22 and to pivot from that would be a hair pulling mess. 
 

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make anyway… This thing isn’t supposed to be operating in the way that it is.

[WRUE951]

6 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:

This has been transmitting for weeks.

very easy to locate,,,  If it were me and it was impacting my repeater, i would talk with the homeowner and explain what is going on and offer to help them locate the interfering signal, which is more than likely a walkie talkie in VOX as Steve mentioned..  Be nice, have  a civil conversation, don't storm in,  parents have no clue what is happening.  Good Luck.. 

[SvenMarbles]

1 minute ago, WRUE951 said:

very easy to locate,,,  If it were me and it was impacting my repeater, i would take with the homeowner and explain what is going on and offer to help them locate the interfering signal, which is more than likely a walkie talkie in VOX as Steve mentioned..  Be nice, have  a civil conversation, don't storm in,  parents have no clue what is happening.  Good Luck.. 

I spent a little bit of time shooting azimuths with a yagi and have a general idea the region that it’s in, but I was never able to get on all sides of it to converge everything. 

[WRUE951]

1 minute ago, SvenMarbles said:

I spent a little bit of time shooting azimuths with a yagi and have a general idea the region that it’s in, but I was never able to get on all sides of it to converge everything. 

i would google "how to direction find with a yagi"  They are very effective in pin pointing locations..  You may need an attenuator if you encounter an apartment complex..  You can build one very quickly,  google that too..  You'll find it..  

[LeoG]

 

[SvenMarbles]

1 minute ago, WRUE951 said:

i would google "how to direction find with a yagi"  They are very effective in pin pointing locations..  You may need an attenuator if you encounter an apartment complex..  You can build one very quickly,  google that too..  You'll find it..  

Truthfully it was cold out and my hand was getting frozen holding up the Yagi on a stick thing I have lol. I did like 5 points and gave up. 
 

I use a little 4 element LMR band yagi and a Alinco DJ-X11 handheld. All mode wideband receiver with an S meter and attenuator levels…

[SvenMarbles]

3 minutes ago, LeoG said:

 

That’s got to be what it is… Thanks! 
 

So if I key up on the correct DCS tone, maybe I can come through the intercom and make noises that might convince them to disconnect it

[OffRoaderX]

18 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:

I spent a little bit of time shooting azimuths with a yagi and have a general idea the region that it’s in, but I was never able to get on all sides of it to converge everything. 

If you are really intent on tracking it down, look into the KrakenSDR - it will cost you, but it will take you to their front door in a matter of minutes - literally.
SOURCE: I had one and used it to track down several repeater-jammers, one of them whilst he was driving in his car

[SvenMarbles]

3 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

If you are really intent on tracking it down, look into the KrakenSDR - it will cost you, but it will take you to their front door in a matter of minutes - literally.
SOURCE: I had one and used it to track down several repeater-jammers, one of them whilst he was driving in his car

It's exactly what I wish I had. I can't really swing that purchase. I'd love to just borrow one for a day! Or task someone who might own one local to me with the challenge..

[SteveShannon]

Another company that sells FRS baby monitors:

https://roaroutside.com/pages/faqs?srsltid=AfmBOoqPv7k7oop_6MIL4grQqkl1l5HDLiGFFCud_MW_eNhDSoMX_R-8
 

The point is that if you have 300 people who rely on GMRS, you’re already vulnerable to a communication failure of your very important something. At the very least you need to develop contingency plans that include meeting up on other channels in case the channel you rely on is busy and training so they know more than turning them on and pushing the PTT. 
 

[SvenMarbles]

4 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Another company that sells FRS baby monitors:

https://roaroutside.com/pages/faqs?srsltid=AfmBOoqPv7k7oop_6MIL4grQqkl1l5HDLiGFFCud_MW_eNhDSoMX_R-8
 

The point is that if you have 300 people who rely on GMRS, you’re already vulnerable to a communication failure of your very important something. At the very least you need to develop contingency plans that include meeting up on other channels in case the channel you rely on is busy and training so they know more than turning them on and pushing the PTT. 
 

Just don't even worry about it. It's not really the issue I'm bringing forth in this post. The point is that there's an interfering signal parked right onto a GMRS channel. 

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:

interfering signal parked right onto a GMRS channel. 

Or a legal use of an FRS channel. 

[SvenMarbles]

3 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Or a legal use of an FRS channel. 

Is that the case? You can operate a constant broadcast on FRS?

[SteveShannon]

4 minutes ago, SvenMarbles said:

Is that the case? You can operate a constant broadcast on FRS?

That’s a good point. One way transmissions are limited to certain uses; a baby monitor isn’t one. 
But if it’s a two way intercom triggered by sounds I’m not sure what the FCC might think. 

[Lscott]

On a GMRS repeater frequency? Well see how good a 50 watt radio does compared to a low power FRS signal. I'm sure when the new parents are getting quizzed on what the kids name is on the receiver end, reminding them it's due for a diaper change every 15 minutes and asking if they can repeat their credit card number with the pin since you missed it the last time they will likely turn the D**mn thing off and get rid of it. Nobody wants something in their house that lets the whole neighborhood spy on them.

From time to time this kind of crap gets imported and missed by the FCC. I remember when there was a rash of "high power" cordless phones showing up on the Ham 2 meter band. You could hear the things from several miles away.