Monitoring the Secret Service

[DptyNIVEK3]

Has anyone tried monitoring the Secret Service when President Bush came to your area? I tried this two years ago when he came to Kansas. All I heard was digitally scrambled messages (peeps and honks) every time they transmitted. I am assuming that is all you are going to hear. If I am wrong, let me know. He comes to town on Tuesday.

 

[rdale]

That's all you'll hear with the Pres... Do a search here for what you can get in other events.

 

[ecps92]

When "Wheels are Down" yup 99.999999% encrypted. Traffic Before and After is usually just P25
or on a RARE occasion still Analog

Has anyone tried monitoring the Secret Service when President Bush came to your area? I tried this two years ago when he came to Kansas. All I heard was digitally scrambled messages (peeps and honks) every time they transmitted. I am assuming that is all you are going to hear. If I am wrong, let me know. He comes to town on Tuesday.

 

[SCPD]

TRY this also http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/2008/02/secret-service-frequency-list.html

 

[ChrisP]

Even at the political conventions, there was some Secret Service traffic that was not encrypted. You just can't predict when & where they will be in the clear.

- Chris

 

[iMONITOR]

In S.E. Michigan, I've often heard USSS in the clear. But I find the chatter on Macomb County Sheriff's freqs to be much more interesting! They're the ones that actually do all the work. The SS is just along for the ride! :wink:

 

[WayneH]

I've deleted the OT political comments. No more please.

 

[RayAir]

Has anyone tried monitoring the Secret Service when President Bush came to your area? I tried this two years ago when he came to Kansas. All I heard was digitally scrambled messages (peeps and honks) every time they transmitted. I am assuming that is all you are going to hear. If I am wrong, let me know. He comes to town on Tuesday.

Yes, but SS was encrypted. HOWEVER, Oakland County Sheriff was participating in the motorcade using a TAC channel on their TRS transmitting the location of the motorcade in the clear. And it was real time because I listened as they drove by with OCSD reporting the exact location.

 

[texasemt13]

I was near Crawford recently (and granted the big guy wasn't in town) but all the USSS freqs from that area/time were unencrypted P25. I would agree in general with ChrisP, you never know when and where they will be in the clear.

Another good source of USSS movements is the local PD they are corrdinating with. Recently, during an Obama rally the local PD would announce the principal's actions in the clear. Meaning, I would hear SS encrypted traffic and within seconds traffic was being broadcast on a local PD channel with the actions of whoever the SS was escorting- so it should be practice to monitor the local comms while any VIP is in town also, as the USSS usually has a liaison officer with it's advance team that coordinates with the local LE agencies.

 

[Rudy3145]

The local police broadcasting that type of info only hurts the security measures. USSS operates in the clear when doing routine BS, or low level assignments. When protecting high levels, encryption is used unless there is a problem with the radios.

 

[texasemt13]

The local police broadcasting that type of info only hurts the security measures.

I completely agree but, the local police have to be informed of movements also and they usually aren't concerned with OPSEC or COMSEC thus, thwarting the efforts of the USSS. I was simply expounding to others that listening to the local LE will give you some idea of the principal's actions.

 

[ecps92]

Not really, as the schedule has usally been posted in the local Newspapers before hand.

The real protection is the close to the body/person vs the location of motorcades. IMHO

The local police broadcasting that type of info only hurts the security measures. USSS operates in the clear when doing routine BS, or low level assignments. When protecting high levels, encryption is used unless there is a problem with the radios.

 

[Rudy3145]

Yes, while some events are known by the public, the arrival/departure areas and motorcade routes to and from sites are not given to the public by the USSS, maybe with the exception of a parade route.

When local police start giving this info over their radios, it compromises security measures that the USSS works very hard to achieve.

People shouldnt and have no need to know that type of info. Any traffic delays will be relayed by the media.

 

[Grog]

Yes, while some events are known by the public, the arrival/departure areas and motorcade routes to and from sites are not given to the public by the USSS, maybe with the exception of a parade route.

Eh, maybe in some areas where they have lots of options but the last time the POTUS came to my county (likely the only time one has been here since before we were a country ) the route had been cleared far ahead of time with electronic signs saying there was going to be a road closure for x hours on x date.

 

[SLWilson]

Here...

Here in the "hills" of southern Ohio, when Quayle came to town, their fancy trunked stuff didn't work AT ALL....(They BROUGHT their "mobile repeaters" too)

They resorted to using our local freqs.....But, then no one was after him anyway.....

Gore was here twice for flooding we had in the late 90's. Flew in by helicopter (there were three alike - Cobra gunships with them) & motorcaded to the damaged areas....

Local law enforcement handled all the road closings, traffic direction, intersections etc....

Everything was in the open then too...

We probably won't ever get to see any more politicians of that stature though....It CAN be a pain when they come to town.

Steve/KB8FAR

 

[Grog]

Flew in by helicopter (there were three alike - Cobra gunships with them) & motorcaded to the damaged areas....

Not a slam against dems or repubs but I think it might be better for them to just fly over if they really have to see it for themselves. As soon as they land it ends up taking up local resources that can be used elsewhere to deal with the real issues, not playing traffic cop for some stiff in a suit (even if the cops usually play traffic cop the rest of the time )....

 

[Rudy3145]

Here in the "hills" of southern Ohio, when Quayle came to town, their fancy trunked stuff didn't work AT ALL....(They BROUGHT their "mobile repeaters" too)

They resorted to using our local freqs.....But, then no one was after him anyway.....

Gore was here twice for flooding we had in the late 90's. Flew in by helicopter (there were three alike - Cobra gunships with them) & motorcaded to the damaged areas....

Local law enforcement handled all the road closings, traffic direction, intersections etc....

Everything was in the open then too...

We probably won't ever get to see any more politicians of that stature though....It CAN be a pain when they come to town.

Steve/KB8FAR

The Secret Service does not use a trunked system. They use VHF freqs mostly in simplex.

 

[N0JRD]

Bush in Topeka

166.5125 has been active this weekend in Topeka with p25 traffic in the clear and enc.

 

[mancow]

Is that simplex or repeated?

 

[ecps92]

Sierra has routinely been Simplex

Is that simplex or repeated?