CFD Command Van 2-7-3 (Assigned at O'Hare), was heard testing on the CFD talkgroup 2506 this morning, with no response from the OCC.
I have a G4 and it's great. The receiver is super. You're right though in your question, I just run the std firmware and on one knob position you can only scan one system. Here in Iowa we have the Statewide Moto system and another regional Harris system in places. I listen to both but not at the same time. I may end up doing new firmware down the road but just don't have time now to be a beta tester.
Downtown Protesters Disrupted Police Radio Communications, Source Says
Protesters in downtown Chicago on Saturday were able to disrupt police communications so as to prevent police from responding properly, a source said.
chicago.cbslocal.com
Not entirely related, but I'd fully expect the CPD to expedite the migration to this system after this. Reminds me of CFD "rogue radio/racial slurs" incident some years ago, the switch to digital and poof, no more rogue radios.
In the report, mention of "putting their frequency on line". Could this be referring to the RR database, or Broadcastify? Maybe it's time we think about reviewing the database and limit our information.
I don't think it's referring to the database. I know there's been a debate for years on whether input information is needed on here. But on the other hand anyone who has to knowledge to do anything with it can find the information for themselves with the FCC database and some trial and error: there are only so many possible tones. What I fear is this is going to get more of the system secured than already is/will be. But I digress.Downtown Protesters Disrupted Police Radio Communications, Source Says
Protesters in downtown Chicago on Saturday were able to disrupt police communications so as to prevent police from responding properly, a source said.
Not entirely related, but I'd fully expect the CPD to expedite the migration to this system after this. Reminds me of CFD "rogue radio/racial slurs" incident some years ago, the switch to digital and poof, no more rogue radios.
In the report, mention of "putting their frequency on line". Could this be referring to the RR database, or Broadcastify? Maybe it's time we think about reviewing the database and limit our information.
More on topic, I've been running Unitrunker on the city simulcast and other than some traffic on what I have labeled as SWAT there really hasn't been a whole lot out of the ordinary. Couple new talkgroup affiliations but nothing identifiable or noteworthy.
rustyhodge
I like to listen
This reporting from CBS Chicago is so bad… "CBS 2’s Dorothy Tucker reported protesters put police radio frequencies on the internet, and when police attempted to talk to each other, they heard music. That was one reason the property damage and violence was so sporadic, the source said." Downtown Protesters Disrupted Police Radio Communications, Source Says
PL/CTCSS on analog systems was never designed for security. It was designed to reduce interference. Agencies thinking their analog/PL systems are secure are living in a fantasy.
PL/CTCSS on analog systems was never designed for security. It was designed to reduce interference. Agencies thinking their analog/PL systems are secure are living in a fantasy.
Sadly more examples of either guessing as to the information for the article or even worse talking to "officials" who barely know what a radio is and now attempting to educate the reporter what is going on. Just move to the P25 system and you are pretty much done with rogue and unwanted problems - it doesn't take encryption to fix those issues. Then the other thing that is hard to swallow is that the attack could be coming from within. That can be fixed on P25 as well with Radio ID and Radio Inhibit.
Hopefully if CPD decision makers talk to their tech folks they would hear the right answers and then providing they believe and implement from those conversations we will still have things to listen too. They need encryption for somethings for sure but not everything. Too often though our friends in some government agencies like to jump up and over react or not have the 'true' facts just to tell their superiors (mayors, alderman, etc) that they "did something" and by the time anyone figures out what they did was nothing or a waste there are new lightening rods or no one remembers.
Either way Godspeed to the Officers and fireman on the front lines of this mess fighting rona and rioters
Hopefully if CPD decision makers talk to their tech folks they would hear the right answers and then providing they believe and implement from those conversations we will still have things to listen too. They need encryption for somethings for sure but not everything. Too often though our friends in some government agencies like to jump up and over react or not have the 'true' facts just to tell their superiors (mayors, alderman, etc) that they "did something" and by the time anyone figures out what they did was nothing or a waste there are new lightening rods or no one remembers.
Either way Godspeed to the Officers and fireman on the front lines of this mess fighting rona and rioters
While I'd like agree with you, the guessing part isn't as far-fetched as you might think. The 20+ talkgroups that I have logged, 2 so far have been in the clear. When this is over with and critiques are done, you can bet radio communication issues will be right up there.
Downtown Protesters Disrupted Police Radio Communications, Source Says
Protesters in downtown Chicago on Saturday were able to disrupt police communications so as to prevent police from responding properly, a source said.
Not entirely related, but I'd fully expect the CPD to expedite the migration to this system after this. Reminds me of CFD "rogue radio/racial slurs" incident some years ago, the switch to digital and poof, no more rogue radios.
In the report, mention of "putting their frequency on line". Could this be referring to the RR database, or Broadcastify? Maybe it's time we think about reviewing the database and limit our information.
Chicago police officers’ radios crackled with rogue messages during weekend of chaos
The city has launched an investigation to unmask those responsible for "jamming" its emergency radio system. Everything from anti-cop music to pro-cop slogans interrupted police dispatchers.
chicago.suntimes.com
Failure to communicate: CPD radio system exposed during protests, looting
CHICAGO — A long-standing weakness in the Chicago Police Department’s radio system was once again exposed this weekend at the height of confrontational clashes between police and protesters. In vol…
wgntv.com
An "investigative report"...
The communications capability that is enabling the demonstrators (and looters / arsonists) to communicate / "organize" instantaneously is cheap and widely deployed radios, aka smartphones. It is not the interception or disruption of police comms.
KB9WUV
Member
Actually it is. The bad protesters had Baofeng radios and was using them to intercept and disrupt communications. I see it every protest I work.
Hmmm. I can't say it didn't happen, but it wasn't an issue in the Baltimore riots in 2015. Baltimore and the state have mixed open and encrypted trunked radio systems in the 700/800 band, so in order to disrupt these system, someone would have to be more sophisticated. What cannot happen is to use an anecdotal / theoretical vulnerability become an excuse for total encryption. After the disaster in policing that occurred in Minneapolis, the public will / should demand more openness and accountability - which means access to routine operations.
We do know that Smartphones are key enablers in the rapid movement of demonstrators and criminals, which has been an issue for years.
Last edited:
KB9WUV
Member
Its happening right now on Zone 4. Someone is playing a speech on the air. Units told to switch to CITYWIDE 5.
Pretty insecure system - not sure why it exists in 2020. As I said, it doesn't happen here, but again, different band; different access.
During the Chicago NATO Summit in 2012, many of us had extensive training on Antifa "techniques" but one thing that caught much attention involved "radio jamming" as it was called. We were prepared, and had workarounds in place. What happened here and all across the nation was states were ill-prepared. Once the video came out, a contingency plan should have been put in place by both our state and local leaders. What you heard was total chaos, with over 200 CPD officers injured, property damage up the wazooo and communities in fear.
One thing being looked at is Chicago's communications systems {again}. Many in the CFD administration in the past have been fearful of "another 911" like New York had where transmitters and repeaters were knocked out. The difference now is Chicago is utilizing digital trunking systems on a daily basis, some of which is in "secure mode". While I'm not part of any inner circle, since the communications issues have been widely broadcast by the local media, I suspect much of CPD will be migrating over very soon. When CFD was embarrassed by a rogue radio making racial slurs over the old analog system, we were quickly trained and migrated to it shortly after that. We're all keeping our fingers crossed they will model the system like DuComm or Lake County, IN which has a large dispatch centers and numerous departments they dispatch for and have plenty of normal dispatch traffic to keep the citizens and media satisfied, and enough encryption available when needed by the local departments. Time will tell, but I can say from listening to CPD for 40+ years, this was one of the worst.
One thing being looked at is Chicago's communications systems {again}. Many in the CFD administration in the past have been fearful of "another 911" like New York had where transmitters and repeaters were knocked out. The difference now is Chicago is utilizing digital trunking systems on a daily basis, some of which is in "secure mode". While I'm not part of any inner circle, since the communications issues have been widely broadcast by the local media, I suspect much of CPD will be migrating over very soon. When CFD was embarrassed by a rogue radio making racial slurs over the old analog system, we were quickly trained and migrated to it shortly after that. We're all keeping our fingers crossed they will model the system like DuComm or Lake County, IN which has a large dispatch centers and numerous departments they dispatch for and have plenty of normal dispatch traffic to keep the citizens and media satisfied, and enough encryption available when needed by the local departments. Time will tell, but I can say from listening to CPD for 40+ years, this was one of the worst.
GTO_04
Member
Well that is NOT a scanner issue then. A fire department in Ohio got in trouble with the FCC for using Baofeng radios for their communications!
GTO_04
Blanton already posted a thread about this article, but I thought I'd share it here since it does talk a lot about Chicago. Joe Casey of the OEMC was quoted, among other things, as saying "[the OEMC is] on schedule with a plan to secure public safety radio channels...We believe that the benefits of securing the system outweigh the disadvantages.”
builtin.com
Encrypted Police Scanners Are Raising Big Questions | Built In
Encrypted police scanners are gaining attention recently. Protests and unrest prompted a dramatic spike in downloads of police-radio apps, just as some agencies have pushed to strip public access via encrypted police scanners.
builtin.com
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked
