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Law Enforcement Surveillance Scanning
by Sterling
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Now days it seems that Big Brother is always listening in. Wherever you
are, whatever you do, there is a good chance that your private conversations
aren't so private. The FBI, Secret Service, DEA, local police, and dozens of
other government agencies are definitely interested in what you have to say.
What can we do about this? Well, unfortunately they have the badges and the
guns, so we may as well get used to it. Since we can't beat'em, might as well
enjoy it, understand it, and learn something from it.
Mikes and Bugs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Most FCC legal devices are found in the 150 to 174 MHz band, and other,
limited parts of the 40 to 952 MHz range. Here is a list of FCC approved bands
for wireless mike, room bugs, and body mikes. Also note that other bands MAY
be used with special FCC permission. (An "*" indicates a band that may be used
by vehicle tracking transmitters. More on that later)
42.02 to 42.94 MHz
44.62 to 46.58 MHz
47.02 to 47.50 MHz
72.00 to 76.00 MHz
150.995 to 151.49 MHz *
153.74 to 154.445 MHz *
154.635 to 156.25 MHz *
157.05 to 157.11 MHz
158.715 to 159.645 MHz
166.25 to ------ MHz
170.15 to 173.40 MHz
453.05 to 453.95 MHz
458.05 to 458.95 MHz
460.025 to 460.625 MHz
462.95 to 462.975 MHz
465.025 to 465.625 MHz
467.95 to 467.975 MHz
470.00 to 512.00 MHz
821.00 to 824.00 MHz
866.00 to 869.00 MHz
If the purpose of the surveillance is not going to be used for criminal
prosecution, agencies are reported to work outside of FCC restrictions to
avoid detection. Though the FCC declares them illegal, devices have been
found that work in the government, TV broadcast, and even aero bands. The
following areas of the spectrum are known to be used on occasion:
73.00 to 74.6 MHz
137.00 to 138.00 MHz
216.00 to 222.00 MHz
400.00 to 406.10 MHz
608.00 to 614.00 MHz
Surveillance Repeaters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Law enforcement agencies use mobile repeaters and extenders to retransmit comms
of interest. These low power (about 15 watts) repeaters are usually located in
patrol cars. This allows the officer to monitor the surveillance device from
outside his car via portable handheld transceiver. These are often simply
little used channels of their normal assigned bands. Surveillance mobile
repeaters are still quite weak, so if you can hear it, it's probably close by!
(under your bed ?!) Here is a list of mobile repeaters used by state
enforcement agencies:
Mobile Repeaters (Extenders)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State Frequency Comments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama - - - - May equip in the future
Arizona 155.505 15% equipped; no more planned
Arkansas 154.785 Fully equipped
California 154.905 Fully equipped
Colorado - - - - May equip in the future
Connecticut 154.83 40% equipped
Delaware 465.475 Fully equipped
460.50 Alternate frequency
Florida 465.1625 Fully equipped
156.18 Turnpike frequency
Georgia 458.4875 Fully equipped
Idaho - - - - May be equipped
Illinois 155.505 Fully equipped
151.16 Dept. of Criminal Investigation
Indiana 155.445 Fully equipped
Iowa 453.625 Fully equipped
Kansas 154.92 Fully equipped
Kentucky 154.665 Fully equipped
Louisiana 453.45 Fully equipped
Maine 460.225 Some cars equipped
Maryland 155.73 Fully equipped
Massachusetts 154.92 About 40% of cars equipped
Michigan 154.695 Over half of cars equipped
Minnesota 458.25 Fully equipped
453.25 Minneapolis
Mississippi 158.97 Fully equipped
Missouri 154.905 Fully equipped
Montana - - - - May or will be equipped
Nebraska 465.525 Fully equipped
Nevada 154.92 Fully equipped
New Hampshire - - - - May be equipped
New Jersey - - - - Not now equipped
New Mexico 460.15 Fully equipped
465.15 Alternate frequency
New York - - - - Not now equipped
North Carolina 155.445 Fully equipped, freqs. vary by area
154.68 Alternate frequency
154.92 Alternate frequency
159.21 Alternate frequency
North Dakota 453.45 Partially equipped
Ohio 465.55 Northern areas
465.375 Southern areas
465.425 Some units
465.525 Turnpike units
Oklahoma 154.905 Fully equipped (?)
465.0125 Alternate frequency
465.1625 Alternate frequency
465.3875 Alternate frequency
465.5625 Alternate frequency
Oregon - - - - May be equipped or soon will
Pennsylvania 154.755 Fully equipped
Rhode Island - - - - May have future plans
South Carolina 154.445 Some or all cars equipped
South Dakota 453.375 Some cars equipped
Tennessee 154.905 Fully equipped
Texas - - - - Not now equipped
Utah - - - - May have future plans
Vermont - - - - May have future plans
Virginia 453.35 Fully equipped
Washington 453.475 Some cars equipped
453.975 Alternate frequency
West Virginia 155.505 May be equipped, or soon will
Wisconsin 465.125 Fully equipped
Wyoming - - - - May be equipped, or soon will
Vehicle Tracking Transmitters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Enforcement agencies often need to track suspect vehicles, cargo
shipments, or packages. Tiny transmitters are used that emit a quarter second
beep once each second. Some contain motion detectors that beep once every ten
seconds when not in motion. This saves battery life and of course provides
some information as to the status of the tagged object. Vehicles used for
tracking these transmitters are easy to spot. Look for four identical
antennas mounted in a square configuration. (Hmm, that pizza-van has been
parked across the street for over four days!)
Remote Control Surveillance
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some transmitters can be set for remote control operation. That way they
can be turned off during times of inactivity to conserver power. They can also
be turned off to avoid detection during countersurveillance sweeps to avoid
detection. Look for these types of systems in the 72.01 to 72.99 MHz and 75.99
MHz bands (20 kHz steps). Some are thought to operate in the 300 to 350 MHz
band as well.
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