Encryption (Killing) Killed the Scanning Hobby
A commentary and retrospect.
During the era of WWII, The Cold War and until now, various and mostly totalitarian nation states would have their army, secret police or similar agency or group go door to door of their citizens and remove (by force if necessary) those radio receivers not sanctioned or approved by the “state”. If the “state” was somewhat benevolent they would replace the confiscated radios with “state” approved model or allow the citizen to purchase an inexpensive “approved” radio at a “state” store. However after a specific time period if a citizen was caught with an unauthorized radio. The citizen (and his entire family) would often face charges of sedition or treason usually punishable by a long term in prison and or death.
Now what does this have to do with Encryption Killed the Scanning Hobby?
Well, It is a means to an end. With the advent of 911 and Homeland Security striving to protect internal national security, and along with major push by radio communications corporations, special interest groups a concerted effort to “protect” radio communications especially in the Public Safety field. While, I can understand the need to protect “certain and sensitive” communications on all levels Federal, state, county and local, this is common sense.
However the pressure is on for all public safety agencies to encrypt all their communications 24/7. In their minds,” the public does not need to know what we are doing. It’s a matter of "national internal security". Terrorists may be listening!”
As one example, going are the days where the local citizen by monitoring their local agency via scanner could assist officials by being another set of eyes during an incident and assisting when they can by reporting what they see and not interfering.
Therefore, there will be no Gestapo storm troopers coming to your door to confiscate your precarious scanner or receiver in the near future. Slowly but surely as agencies go encrypted full time, your scanner / receiver will just become technologically obsolete. Thank you P25 Encryption!
Those of you who are electronic wizards, who do manage to build, create or obtain an “unauthorized” radio to decrypts transmissions. You and your family my find yourselves in great danger, because if you are discovered by “the state” (the laws are already in the books i.e., Patriot Act, Executive orders etc.) You and your family could face the death sentence for treason and sedition. Here in this country you may ask. I am not exaggerating...Yes here, please do the research…
I myself have enjoyed this hobby for forty plus years and to see this trend is somewhat frightening. I fear we are becoming that “police state” where the government by the people for the people is perishing of the face of the earth.
Therefore, encryption killed (is killing) the scanning hobby.
Comments anyone?
A commentary and retrospect.
During the era of WWII, The Cold War and until now, various and mostly totalitarian nation states would have their army, secret police or similar agency or group go door to door of their citizens and remove (by force if necessary) those radio receivers not sanctioned or approved by the “state”. If the “state” was somewhat benevolent they would replace the confiscated radios with “state” approved model or allow the citizen to purchase an inexpensive “approved” radio at a “state” store. However after a specific time period if a citizen was caught with an unauthorized radio. The citizen (and his entire family) would often face charges of sedition or treason usually punishable by a long term in prison and or death.
Now what does this have to do with Encryption Killed the Scanning Hobby?
Well, It is a means to an end. With the advent of 911 and Homeland Security striving to protect internal national security, and along with major push by radio communications corporations, special interest groups a concerted effort to “protect” radio communications especially in the Public Safety field. While, I can understand the need to protect “certain and sensitive” communications on all levels Federal, state, county and local, this is common sense.
However the pressure is on for all public safety agencies to encrypt all their communications 24/7. In their minds,” the public does not need to know what we are doing. It’s a matter of "national internal security". Terrorists may be listening!”
As one example, going are the days where the local citizen by monitoring their local agency via scanner could assist officials by being another set of eyes during an incident and assisting when they can by reporting what they see and not interfering.
Therefore, there will be no Gestapo storm troopers coming to your door to confiscate your precarious scanner or receiver in the near future. Slowly but surely as agencies go encrypted full time, your scanner / receiver will just become technologically obsolete. Thank you P25 Encryption!
Those of you who are electronic wizards, who do manage to build, create or obtain an “unauthorized” radio to decrypts transmissions. You and your family my find yourselves in great danger, because if you are discovered by “the state” (the laws are already in the books i.e., Patriot Act, Executive orders etc.) You and your family could face the death sentence for treason and sedition. Here in this country you may ask. I am not exaggerating...Yes here, please do the research…
I myself have enjoyed this hobby for forty plus years and to see this trend is somewhat frightening. I fear we are becoming that “police state” where the government by the people for the people is perishing of the face of the earth.
Therefore, encryption killed (is killing) the scanning hobby.
Comments anyone?
