HT transmitting enforcement

[scanmanmi]

As a rule I don't answer questions from anyone. Police, polls, questionaires, etc. So I was thinking about all these chinese HTs that can transmit on about any frequency. How would they be able to catch anyone just transmitting on a random frequency? What would that look like? I just can't picture anyone walking up and asking if they are licensed?

 

[alcahuete]

You would never be able to catch them, unless of course they were actually interfering with something major...i.e. law enforcement. Then there seems to be some extra enthusiasm in catching folks.

But if somebody just wanted to use those HTs on any old business band frequency or such, they'd never be caught.

 

[zz0468]

Locating a transmitter isn't difficult, and it doesn't take long. What actually happens would depend on who you bother. Come up on a government channel and you WILL be found. The motivation to do so is high.

The first question asked isn't if you're licenced. It's usually understood that the idiot with the Baofeng isn't.

 

[K9DAK]

Sorry for the off topic... but I remember that from reading my Dad's 1940-ish US Air Force flight training textbook... nice memory!

Keepest thou thy airspeed, lest the ground rise up and smite thee.

 

[jonwienke]

Locating a transmitter isn't difficult, and it doesn't take long.

Less than a second with a couple of these and GPS:
GLOBAL TSCM GROUP, INC. - Radio DF DDF2020T

 

[zz0468]

Less than a second with a couple of these and GPS:
GLOBAL TSCM GROUP, INC. - Radio DF DDF2020T

I first used a Doppler DF back in the mid-1980's. The first day I had it, I was asked to track an interfering signal. I started about 50 miles away and on the other side of an 11,000 foot mountain.

I practically drove straight to the signal source, it was super easy.

 

[zz0468]

Sorry for the off topic... but I remember that from reading my Dad's 1940-ish US Air Force flight training textbook... nice memory!

It's up there with the instrument panel placard that says "If you wish to smoke, please step outside".

Gear up, cleared to land!

</thread hijack>

 

[Rred]

In reality, the FCC has no time, no budget, no real concern with illegal use and will do nothing UNLESS someone files a complaint. Preferably lots of people filing lots of complaints with lots of details. And then when they get around to the bottom of the priority list...Yes, they do issue notices of violation. You can find those published on the ARRL site and other web sources. Sometimes they slap someone for $20,000. Sometimes they take all the radio equipment and sometimes, they dismiss everything.

The thing is, illegal radio use is rolling the dice. If you are discreet, if you are not interfering, if you are in a remote location and you're not overheard...You can get away with it.

What was Dirty Harry's line? "Do you feel lucky, kid?"

 

[zz0468]

In reality, the FCC has no time, no budget, no real concern with illegal use and will do nothing UNLESS someone files a complaint. Preferably lots of people filing lots of complaints with lots of details...

You do your own investigation, identify the interfering source, take pictures and screen grabs from the spectrum analyzer, put it into a nice report and the FCC will fall all over themselves to wrap it up for you.

At least they have for me.

 

[KK4JUG]

You do your own investigation, identify the interfering source, take pictures and screen grabs from the spectrum analyzer, put it into a nice report and the FCC will fall all over themselves to wrap it up for you.

At least they have for me.

The feds are like that. In Georgia, bank robbery is both a state offense (armed robbery) and a federal offense (bank robbery). The initial investigations are always handled by the local police. If a suspect is identified and arrested, the FBI will take over the case. Otherwise, they stay in the office and let the PD handle it.