How to tell if frequency is encrypted or just digital?

[BS10]

Okay so I have an analog scanner, which I used last year to listen to this certain frequency. Recently the people that use that frequency upgraded their radio systems, and now I cannot listen to them on my analog scanner. All I hear is squelch. They use MOTOTRBO radios, and they're in the ~460s frequency. So on my analog scanner, I can still pick up the squelch on those frequencies, I just can't hear what they're saying. I just wanted to know if I upgraded to a BCD436HP that I could hear those frequencies, but also I don't know if it's encrypted now, I hear that's becoming more popular.

I don't want to go any more specific than that, I'm sorry. I hope you guys can help anyways. All I really want to know is if there's any way to tell using my analog scanner if it's encrypted, or if they just switched to a digital frequency. I don't know if since I can hear squelch if it's still analog but encrypted, or digital and I can't pick it up on an analog scanner, or if it's digital and encrypted. Thanks for all your help!

 

[N4GIX]

If as you state they switched to "MOTOTRBO" then that system is DMR (digital TDMA). It could also be encrypted, but you wouldn't be able to detect the difference using only an analog scanner.

If you are hearing a staccato buzz-saw sound when they are transmitting, then that is a sure sign of TDMA as the transmitter cycles on/off rapidly.

 

[tglendye]

Try the software with your scanner at this link: Digital Speech Decoder (software package) - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[Your_account]

Use an SDR Dongle and you will see what it is.

 

[W8RMH]

Others in your area may have a DMR radio or scanner and may be monitoring this system. They would know if it is encrypted or not.

You could try asking in your state forum or click on the red and white triangle in the upper right hand corner and ask that this thread be moved.

 

[ElroyJetson]

If the local system you're trying to listen to is in the RR database, then just check the database, and it'll tell you if it's encrypted or something else.

I guess you have a reason to buy a modern scanner now. Or the SDR dongle, which is cheap and fun and gets the job done, but it's not as portable as a hand-held scanner by any stretch of the imagination.