ever hear taxicabs on the scanner?

[RIVERSMVP09]

I do over here but I know in big cities they use cellphones.

[awattam]

They use FM here so yes I can hear them.

[bravo14]

Back home One company uses vhf non repeater. The other company uses the nextel not sure when they will change to another system when nextel drops all the service on beep beep. Where I live now one uses 800 CONV the other(s) not sure as of yet.

[Jay911]

In my area, for reasons I can't fathom other than some backwards thinking that it will prevent cabs from jumping calls, the frequencies are not used in a repeater format, but as two simplex channels. Dispatch calls on one frequency, which all the cabs have as their receive channel, and the cabs' replies are on a separate frequency. Essentially a full-duplex system except that the cabs can't hear the dispatcher while they're transmitting. And because the dispatcher routinely doesn't unkey while waiting for a cab to reply, you don't get to hear both sides of the conversation, just: "Dispatch to 456..... pickup at 123 main street, for joe.... yup... good, thanks."

Fortunately I have much more interesting things to listen to than taxicabs in my area.

[scannerman71]

Originally Posted by Jay911

In my area, for reasons I can't fathom other than some backwards thinking that it will prevent cabs from jumping calls, the frequencies are not used in a repeater format, but as two simplex channels. Dispatch calls on one frequency, which all the cabs have as their receive channel, and the cabs' replies are on a separate frequency. Essentially a full-duplex system except that the cabs can't hear the dispatcher while they're transmitting. And because the dispatcher routinely doesn't unkey while waiting for a cab to reply, you don't get to hear both sides of the conversation, just: "Dispatch to 456..... pickup at 123 main street, for joe.... yup... good, thanks."

Fortunately I have much more interesting things to listen to than taxicabs in my area.

In my home County, there are at least TWO cab companies on LTR systems. Our hometown airport shuttle service is also on the LTR system.

the other cab companies are on single freqs.

The LTR's i mentioned above operate their system on a CC/VC format most of the time but I have seen in rare calls that the CC and VC are the same freq.

[RDGDigital]

Originally Posted by Jay911

In my area, for reasons I can't fathom other than some backwards thinking that it will prevent cabs from jumping calls, the frequencies are not used in a repeater format, but as two simplex channels. Dispatch calls on one frequency, which all the cabs have as their receive channel, and the cabs' replies are on a separate frequency. Essentially a full-duplex system except that the cabs can't hear the dispatcher while they're transmitting. And because the dispatcher routinely doesn't unkey while waiting for a cab to reply, you don't get to hear both sides of the conversation, just: "Dispatch to 456..... pickup at 123 main street, for joe.... yup... good, thanks."

Fortunately I have much more interesting things to listen to than taxicabs in my area.

Back in the days when I used to drive a cab this is the system we used and it was exactly as you say, to keep other drivers from stealing fares. This is the reason many cab drivers brought scanners, so they could hear the other drivers.

Sometime after I stopped driving they switched to some computerized system where the calls were sent to a machine in the cabs. Most likely this was some type of digital system, but I never did find out how it worked or if it could be monitored since I wasn't working there anymore.

[W8RMH]

In my area they are UHF and answer their phone calls through a phone/radio patch....if you can get by the accents it can be interesting.....especially on News Years Eve.

[zzdiesel]

We have one cab company here in my town and the owners are old friends of mine. They're on an LTR system and I often listen to them.

[gewecke]

There are several here in Ill. Some are on conventional uhf, and some on ltr with scrambling, and some with nothing but cell phones.

73,
n9zas

[SouthSideScannerGuy]

I have three different cab companies programmed into my scanners. One seems to operate almost exclusively in the downtown Chicago area, one services O'Hare airport and the third, and most interesting, operates in the southern suburbs. Some folks may find listening to cabs boring, but I love it, especially when the dispatcher jumps all over a driver. It can get pretty hilarious sometimes.

[quarterwave]

This was a traditional setup (semi-duplex), and I was always told it was so the cabbies could not talk to each other. If the base TX is xxx and all mobiles RX xxx, then all mobiles hear the base, so I don't know how that keeps you from hearing and stealing others calls. It really only keeps the other cabs from hearing what one cab says to the base.

In Chicago a few years back, a cab I had ridden in had VHF, and the driver said he could not hear the other cabs, just his base, and it was also scrambled. (So the scanner was out...)

[conrails]

Used to listen to them back in the 80's when it was fun; now you need to speak Arabic or African to understand what they are saying.

[bravo14]

Originally Posted by SouthSideScannerGuy

Some folks may find listening to cabs boring, but I love it, especially when the dispatcher jumps all over a driver. It can get pretty hilarious sometimes.

They one driver that would eat people's food or drinks. Example that driver will eat a slice of pizza or take 1 doughnut etc... everything I hear dispatch will tap the mic on the table and say Johnny keep your hands on the wheel.

[bravo14]

I'm sure if a cab driver gets caught stealing call(s) with a scanner they can be arrested and fired.

[doctordialtone]

Originally Posted by quarterwave

This was a traditional setup (semi-duplex), and I was always told it was so the Cabbies could not talk to each other.

Utilizing this system, the Dispatcher controls who gets the most calls - and tips. Therefore, the way the "System" works, is the Cabbie who kicks back the most tips and other "goodies" to the Dispatcher, gets the most attention - and the most lucrative fares. It takes a new Cabbie a short time to figure this out.

Use your imagination. These are people who work long hours, and may or may not make great money as a result. Cabbies who play along get the 50 mile fares from the airport for the passenger who has no other options.

Other than that, listening to cabs? I don't get it.

[gewecke]

I drove a taxi years ago for 2 different companies, and I can tell you some confessions of a taxi driver that would blow your mind!
One company had uhf simplex mobile and a base and still does as far as I know, with routine calls for assistance trying to get drunk women out of the cars!

So yes ... weekends are prime times to listen to taxi comms!

73,
n9zas