mdt monitoring

[rvawatch]

With all kinds of proggies and everything out for scanners... I'm surprised someone hasn't figd out a way to monitor mdt's (computers used by fire, etc). I know monitoring the police would obviously be illegal in some way, but finding fire's would be interesting as to know where all the accidents are, etc. I remember when being at station 13 here in chesterfield, their computer had a list of all the current fire calls in chesterfield. Is all that being broadcasted through the air or what? I assume so since their notebooks can pick it up, but maybe it's cellular? Now, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is encrypted, etc. I saw some posts by motorhead saying that his dept (VSP) uses the main voice channel for mdt communication. I'm assuming he means the p25 control channel one. I dunno, just thought it'd be interesting to find out. I'm not trying to be illegal so don't come bashing about what's right and what's not..

Thanks,

AC

 

[SkipSanders]

There have been a few programs floating around to monitor some types of MDT, but understand that MDT's are not computers (Those are called MCT's), and the data stream is somewhat 'incomplete' from a listener's viewpoint. That is, data is put into 'forms' on screen, with the info about 'what IS this line' and such all internal to the MDT, so you get strings of text and numbers without explanation. Not always easy to figure out.

Most agencies are going to MCT's now, and the computer data stream is normally encrypted, or via NEXTEL or equivilent common carrier, both encrypted and using TETRA and other multiplexing methods. Not monitorable, legal or not. (And it's not, probably)

 

[K4APR]

There is still plenty of 9600 RDLAP stuff out there and there was some kind of program floating around at one time that would decode it. I was told by a Motorola ST that it was actually an ST tool and was leaked out.

The "screens" bit is true, even if you decoded the data, it would'nt be in any format that would make it easy to make any rhyme or reason of it.