Aurora, IL - New police system to render scanners useless

[TrenchFeeder]

(BTW...if Naperville really had alot of money in their coffers then why did they have to layoff several police officers earlier in the year? )

The same reason they are getting laid off all over the country. Fat cat politicians who don't wanna take a cut in their pension, so they fire a few cops and firemen, who's gonna notice?

That won't help. They'll just get arrested and spend time in prison for that, and before they get arrested - the radios will be disabled by the radio admin so they won't hear anything in any case.

[/QUOTE]

Because there has never been a successful attack on a police officer for their radio or weapon. It's extremely sad, but it does happen, and not every bad guy gets caught.

I read more about Open Sky and if it works like I understand from it's wikipedia article, it should be EASIER to hear this system, you just wont be able to use a regular scanner. Anything transmitted over an IP adress can be intercepted, find out the IP adresses of the radio system and it's a matter of time before you crack it, the worst part is that if it is so, there will literaly be NO WAY to backtrack and see who is breaking into the system. With the tools available to the average 15 year old on the internet today for FREE, you can get the necessary programs to mask your IP adress completely, break firewalls, move undetected through firewalls, and so on.

Bassicly what I am trying to say is a radio system that relies on computer software to function versus hardware, it is much easier to intercept, decode and hear. It's that simple, the more complex the system the less stable it is. I think soon Aurora and Naperville will realize they wasted a boat load of money on a system they did not need, and will not live up to their expectations

It'll do more harm than good and they're too stupid to realize it. Hopefully the scanner companies can get it together to circumvent some of these new systems so it will become a moot point.


.

Exactly, I would be willing to bet real money that within the next year a scanner model will come out capable of hearing Open Sky. If the signal is in the air, it ain't too hard to hear

 

[ncarpenter]

Perhaps the more OpenSky systems that pop up around the country will prompt the scanner design people to include it in their devices??

 

[SkipSanders]

Perhaps the more OpenSky systems that pop up around the country will prompt the scanner design people to include it in their devices??

Scanner manufacturers don't have that option. OpenSky is a proprietary format, and the creator will not license its use to scanner makers.

 

[rdale]

I read more about Open Sky and if it works like I understand from it's wikipedia article, it should be EASIER to hear this system, you just wont be able to use a regular scanner. Anything transmitted over an IP adress can be intercepted, find out the IP adresses of the radio system and it's a matter of time before you crack it, the worst part is that if it is so, there will literaly be NO WAY to backtrack and see who is breaking into the system. With the tools available to the average 15 year old on the internet today for FREE, you can get the necessary programs to mask your IP adress completely, break firewalls, move undetected through firewalls, and so on.

Either that Wikipedia article is very wrong, or your interpretation is wrong. OpenSky doesn't use the Internet IP addresses. You need some sort of receiver.

 

[cousinkix1953]

There are a lot s systems that have "rendered scanners useless" but it bothers me that this is the headline of the story implying they spent 10 Million just to spoil the fun of the "benign hobbyist" becuase a few criminals have used scanners in the past. I hate to say it, but I am actually surprised at how few criminal actually do use scanners. Most of the ones that do are well organized and dangerous and are being pursued by special units anyway.

In all of the years that I have owned scanners, we never heard the FCC; when they were here busting the CB radio idiots.

The real truth of the matter is, nobody likes being watched while there working and the police are no exception. They all cite "criminals with scanners" as their real concern but the truth is they don't like the public listening in and second guessing them. After all its a tough enough job already without all the arm chair cops looking (or listening in this case) over your shoulder.

Right on! Most of the police departments (in Orange county California) went to full time encryption, not long after the corrupt sheriff went to federal prison and a police chief's relative was caught dealing drugs. Something to hide? You betcha.

I am glad this isn't happening in my town. They were pitched an "Encrypted" system by the local Motrola salesman and they rejected it out of hand accepting the fact that the community had a "right" to listen in and he likes to promote police civilian cooperation (wow what a novel concept).

Same here too. Activists already have a healthy distrust of the police any way. Attempts to encrypt everything 24/7/365 would generate protests at city hall. Local cops haven't used scramblers, since they got rid of those analog "Donald Duck" cheapies that sound like a SSB CB radio back in the 70s. The county narks have some scramblers for undercover operations; but you won't hear this on the sheriff's regular channels.

If there are sensitive communications that need to take place they have other means at their disposal.

This can be simple as calling your friends on a "digital" cellular phone which almost every officer seems to have these days. Forget trying to listen on a modified Pro 2006 in 2010.

In fact, I think our police chief had the right attitude. Let the criminals listen to all the car stops they want on the dispatch channel, meanwhile, detectives and tactical teams are sneaking up on them with barely a peep on the radio.

Beleiving your radio is unmonitorable may give you a false sense of security.

+1

 

[RADIOUSER5]

Only the two cities will be on OpenSky. It appears the County will go with STARCOM21 and if they have to put up patches for interoperability, then you may be able to monitor the patched talkgroups on STARCOM21. There should still be plenty of interesting things to monitor. Doomsday may be delayed.

 

[gewecke]

I love it when police say "This will render *blank* useless"

They said it with radar detectors when LADAR first came out, and what happened? New radar detectors that pick up LADAR were invented.

The same will happen no matter what radio system they use, or what encryption type they use.

If hardcore criminals were smart enough to use/program and understand the police transmissions, I doubt changing radios will stop them. At worst they will just start attacking police officers and stealing the radios.

If police were smart about encryption, they would have day to day dispatch in the clear, so hobbyists, and good guys who don't use the scanner for crime, are satisfied that they can hear something and any kind of tactically important information should be broadcast either over the phone, or on the in car computer systems that 90% of police cars have, which actually ARE un-scannable.


As a foot note, In my opinion, any criminal smart enough to properly use a scanner, is probably smart enough to commit crimes without it. I would like to see real numbers on how many criminals have posed danger to police because they were using a scanner, because I feel like the number is going to be sickeningly low

With the proper software you would have an easier time reading logs from MDT's than you would TRYING to receive an open sky system. Try as you might, this is NOT something you will listen to! Read about it then get to play with one,then you'll understand why it is what it is.:wink:
n9zas

 

[Lincoln-Six]

Alternative solution to hacking

If you can't beat them, join them. If have you the time, a decent background, good intentions and you're able to offer something to a community, why not volunteer. Many jurisdictions - not all - have a lot of ways to help out and allow those with their heart in the right place to stay connected to what's going on. Sometimes those opportunities require you to have access to what you're interested in (hearing) but a lot of responsibility goes along with that access. Do the wrong thing and it ruins it for everyone else.

Almost all places have a lot of budget and funding problems right now. What they don't have is more people willing to volunteer the time to go through new training requirements, make the comitment to give a portion of their free time and help ease the stretching of the limited resources they have. I realize it goes way beyond just having good relationships with the paid, appointed officials that do the job everyday and that it requires a greater personal sacrifice but it is a lawful Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 096-1236
(Public Act 096-1236) means to be aware and help at the same time.

 

[Squad10]

"One of three suits against Naperville (IL) and a company that produced a reality show about female police officers in the city — with a tagline “brains, beauty and a badge,” — has settled out of court, Naperville Senior Assistant City Attorney Mark Scarlato said this week."

“The city is quite pleased the parties could come together in a settlement,” Scarlato said, adding city officials believe the officers acted appropriately.

“(The arrest) was valid, nothing was done improperly,” he said. “We are confident that had it gone to trial we would have prevailed.”

The case is one of three lawsuits filed as a result of the city’s participation in “Female Forces,” which chronicled the day-to-day activities of female officers in Naperville’s police department.

Two others still pending include a suit filed June 23 by Matt Coan, who became ill after being pulled over for driving on a suspended license. The complaint, which was filed against Naperville officers Tracy Nance and Julie Lardino along with the city and production companies, alleged Coan did not sign a release for his likeness to be aired, and that Nance and Lardino made disparaging remarks as he vomited.

Another suit was filed against the city, producers and officers in December 2009 by Eran Best, which alleged officers made him submit to a field sobriety test after being pulled over for having an expired license plate sticker. The complaint alleges officers Stacy Malec and Timothy Boogard “made Best perform an unnecessary field sobriety test solely for the benefit of the ‘Female Forces’ camera crew.”


One 'Female Forces' lawsuit comes to an end - Triblocal - Voice of the town

Municiple money, wonder what this co$t Naperville.

 

[abbydabby]

what is florida statewide radio system hiding. the fhp is so undermaned. some day they will call for help an no one will be listening. i heard radio traffic standing beside a cruiser one day car to car was commenting about a blond chick getting gasoline. politics in this state is worse than dc kw

 

[Ensnared]

Yes, law enforcement continues to amaze me. In Texas, Williamson County encrypts all police, EMS and fire transmissions. Williamson county has been identified as an agency that looks the other way when K9 users employ false positive searches on innocent citizens (reference Barry Cooper, former drug officer). Nearby agencies within the same radio system do not encrypt all emergency channels. Why? When I have pointed out the "Constitution Free Zone" around these United States, some people have responded, "I don't care if they search a person or dwelling without checks and balances. If you don't have anything to hide, then don't worry." I could apply this same type of ideation to Williamson county. What do they have to hide?

 

[coachlight]

Anyone have any info about milwaukee system i know it is in the upper
emd of 700 system ?

Thanks

 

[ilgrant]

Might want to check the Wisconsin board, coachlight.