Do you think the scanning hobby will die out (for most people) by the next decade?

[Omega-TI]

Your post is like so many before makes me suspicious that it's just another fear-mongering attempt to panic people and convince them to sell their scanners on the cheap. Good luck with that.

Feel free to use your imagination and read into it whatever you like, I cannot stop you, however it was a sincere question and I stated my reasons for it.

Fear mongering? Trying to panic people? Trying to convince people to sell their scanners cheap? Sounds more like projection on your part.

 

[Omega-TI]

Instead of starting threads asking if and when our hobby will be dead we should be starting threads to keep the airwaves clear.

So, I guess your opinion is people should not be allowed to ask questions of people in the hobby that probably know better than the person asking the question, or questions you don't personally approve of? I remember people being more tolerant in my youth.

 

[ten13]

You could have asked if delivery of television signals via a cable (not talking about streaming) would die. In reality, many people never started using the service. You could ask if delivery of television signals over-the-air would die. It's evolving too and will become essentially an over-the-air "internet" connection.

That doesn't compute.

You're comparing something of limited interest (scanning) to things that are acceptable to the general public, part of the societal "fabric," that has a very wide commercial viability, and whose costs have dropped precipitously.

I would more likely compare "scanning" to buggy whips.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Your post is like so many before makes me suspicious that it's just another fear-mongering attempt to panic people and convince them to sell their scanners on the cheap. Good luck with that.

I think it is a valid concern. I live in one of the few counties in Central Florida that has not turned on the big E.

I have always been able to listen wherever I lived. I was part of the /\/\ team putting in the first 800 MHz system in City of Miami in the 80's. Of course I had the secret sauce to program my own radio and listen in. Not so lucky was my elderly neighbor "Dottie" who was also our very capable neighborhood watch. She came by to see me the day the UHF system shut down to tell me she had been scanning for decades, her father was a police commander at City of Miami. Let me tell you, this was a very nice neighborhood, but folks were often traveling (airline workers) or simply at work. We had burglaries, a hold up, random theft. So her phone calls to report suspicious activities were very welcome. I was so tempted to give her a radio, but knew my job would be at risk.

 

[MTS2000des]

I can see Dottie sitting in her chair chain smoking sitting outside, while she puffs away and that STX you never gave her blasting with the sounds of good ol' Smartnet I goodness. Like a scene out of "There's Something About Mary".

The days of past are great to play, "remember when",

today is a much different scene and technology has marched on. When AT&Turd has convinced everyone to toss those APX radios into the river and sign up for their secure, simple and affordable FirstNet, we'll all be saying "it's all over now".

I digress. True radio people will love the art of radio and find a way to enjoy it. Ham radio will always be "in the clear". For now.

 

[mmckenna]

Ham radio will always be "in the clear". For now.

They've tried, as I'm sure you are aware:

Order Dismissing Rolph Amateur Encryption Rulemaking Petition

Dismissed the Amateur Encryption Rulemaking Petition filed by Don Rolph, without prejudice

www.fcc.gov

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I can see Dottie sitting in her chair chain smoking sitting outside, while she puffs away and that STX you never gave her blasting with the sounds of good ol' Smartnet I goodness. Like a scene out of "There's Something About Mary".

The days of past are great to play, "remember when",

today is a much different scene and technology has marched on. When AT&Turd has convinced everyone to toss those APX radios into the river and sign up for their secure, simple and affordable FirstNet, we'll all be saying "it's all over now".

I digress. True radio people will love the art of radio and find a way to enjoy it. Ham radio will always be "in the clear". For now.

So Grady was a hacker and today could be arrested for decoding an encrypted transmission.

Something About Mary was hilarious. Yeah her neighbor was pretty weird. I don't think Dottie smoked or tongue kissed poodles.


Sheriff Grady or The Beaver?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Dottie's obit RIP. She was a gem. Fed all the stray cats in the neighborhood while keeping an eye out for the perps.

DOROTHEA HOPWOOD Obituary (2010) - Miami, FL - the Miami Herald

View DOROTHEA HOPWOOD's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

www.legacy.com

 

[pb_lonny]

I now only monitor our UHF CB band and a couple of other business UHF frequencies. No point with the police / fire / ambulance these days...

 

[drdeputy]

I've been police monitoring Non-Stop since I was a kid in the early to mid 60's, it does get in your blood

I think we’re of the same vintage. While I haven’t listened non-stop, I’ve been a listener since then and it was always fun to come back to the hobby and find things pretty much 100% available. “Was” being the operative word. We all know where these rants end up, so I won’t beat a dead horse, but it’s a shame.

 

[trentbob]

I think we’re of the same vintage. While I haven’t listened non-stop, I’ve been a listener since then and it was always fun to come back to the hobby and find things pretty much 100% available. “Was” being the operative word. We all know where these rants end up, so I won’t beat a dead horse, but it’s a shame.

Just saw your post before going to bed, yeah there's nothing we can do about it but after listening to police nonstop for 58 years, stringing as a news photographer in my late teens, and eventually becoming a full-time newspaper reporter and retiring as an editor, it has led to a very rewarding career.

I can't tell you how much I miss it and yes every location is different and what one person has in their area is not the same as the next but my area is totally encrypted now secondary to easy access for free, or at least that's what law enforcement claims. They're also secret squirrels, LOL.

It really takes away from retirement. You're right there is no sense to beat a dead horse but I'm very resentful and bitter that this has happened. Nothing we can do about.

It's a good thread, a nice way to vent. As I said, the hobby will not die out for everybody, just individuals.

 

[PACNWDude]

This hobby, and link to possible career choices is not going to go dead. It will only change with the times, as it has continued to do over the decades I have monitored, collected and worked within the industry. Now, I just keep a spare computer and SDR# running along with my various scanners and radios, some of which are affiliated with radio networks I deal with in some way. Streaming online works for some, others it is still building their own receiver. In my case, with only a few pockets of digital and encryption in use, I have gone back to old shortwave and scanning receivers.

Picked up a great Halicrafters R22S recently, and tested it right there in the thrift shop. Several people were amazed that a 1941 receiver could still work, let alone tune into local AM radio stations. It even sounded better than the AM side of my current car stereo. That site might have influenced others in that store, as they had several other receivers, to include several Realistic/GRE/Radio Shack scanners. These were older analog only units though, Pro-2004/5/6/2032/2040's that looked pretty beat up and possibly from the homes of people that smoked by the yellow tinge on buttons and displays......none of mine have gone that color yet in comparison.

Scanning will not die out, and with all the prepping videos online, may become more prolific in some circles.

 

[Scan125]

Something that has not specifically been addressed (other than US States) is the International Country situation.

Whilst I suspect Radio Reference is basically US based and biased (no offence etc. meant) the international scene may / could / will provide different future laws, restrictions, encryption, ......... etc.

Here in UK the radio reception laws are pretty well defined and basically prohibit the reception of anything other than CB, Shortwave, MW and FM broadcast stations, commercial TV etc. Technically even listening to Airband is No No.

All that said these reception laws/restrictions/etc. have a further point/clause/restriction/stipulation in that should you inadvertently receive something to which you are not authorised then you must switch off/detune and NOT divulge anything you may have heard etc.

The way the legislation is written basically prohibits all but CB, Amateur, Broadcast and SW. That said if say on SW you heard something not in the commercial/broadcast domain and were then to personally publicise that received content then you may be liable to prosecution.

All that said/defined it has long been known that in the UK those agencies that could cause your personally grief for scanning etc. do not actively pursue / do so. They know people like listening to Airband and following aircraft on tracking sites. They know some like listening to Shop Watch / Pub Watch , etc stuff.

What is possibly different to other countries is that all the UK emergency, police, fire and other similarly important agencies/services are all Encrypted. To the UK authorities this encryption removes a huge potential workload and security and privacy issues to "back stage".

As I think they say in the US, don't **** with the FEDS. Here in the UK there is a similar situation with regards to radio signal reception etc. Step beyond the fuzzy line to an extent that pisses them off then you will get gonged and prosecuted with/by reference to the all encompassing laws.

 

[scannersnstuff]

Simple answer: no.

You could have asked if you think Grand Theft Auto was going to end because of locking ignitions & steering wheels. Things evolve and people find a way. You could have asked if delivery of television signals via a cable (not talking about streaming) would die. In reality, many people never started using the service. You could ask if delivery of television signals over-the-air would die. It's evolving too and will become essentially an over-the-air "internet" connection.

People who've monitored their entire lives will die. The ways of the past will largely die. But just like trunking, P25, CAD and streaming based protocols; there will be people who continue to monitor. Perhaps some will do it "under the RADAR", but it will happen. Every time I think the hobby has peaked, along comes something to extend it a few more years.

Unless I am missing something,cad and streaming are just what agencies make available to you. If a agency decides to take their cad offline,and/or go encrypted...that is the end of the monitoring.

 

[KB2GOM]

Here in the UK there is a similar situation with regards to radio signal reception etc. Step beyond the fuzzy line to an extent that pisses them off then you will get gonged and prosecuted with/by reference to the all encompassing laws.

PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE TOP OF THE RECEIVER; SPREAD 'EM! (Don't run afoul of the radio police.)

 

[PDXh0b0]

Raining, so surfing the spectrum while listening to the analog scanner, lots of activity, fights,speeders,robberies, thieves

 

[MStep]

I guess that's why we decided to split in 1776. We were not allowed to monitor Washington's boat crossing the Deleware, or the riots at the Boston Tea Party several years before.

Been an avid listener since the early 60's. At my age, I'm more worried that I'll die out before the hobby does !!!

 

[scannersnstuff]

Unless I am missing something,cad and streaming are just what agencies make available to you. If a agency decides to take their cad offline,and/or go encrypted...that is the end of the monitoring.

And if I'm not mistaken, I believe most cad info made available to the public,contain's a safety time delay ? .

 

[mmckenna]

And if I'm not mistaken, I believe most cad info made available to the public,contain's a safety time delay ? .

Not necessarily. CHP seems to stream theirs in real time (or darn close to it)
Inappropriate CAD entires are not shared with the public, however. If you read the CHP CAD page, you'll see that they don't share all the info on the page.

 

[K7MFC]

“This isn’t an airport. No need to announce your departure from the hobby.”