SDS-100 shown in New Orleans terrorist vehicle ?

[garys]

Maybe his plan to use the scanner was thwarted by the "Nothing to Scan" feature.

The photo shows what looks to be like a non programmed screen?

 

[KD8FSJ]

That looks like the low battery screen?

 

[Boingel331]

I wonder if the guy even knew what to listen to with his scanner.

 

[dmfalk]

"Bad guys" have used scanners since the 80's that I am aware of and who knows how long before that. It's not just limited to huge attacks either, even in small towns and areas to keep track of what is going on.

Can go back much further than that! What used to be the "police band" was 1500-1600kHz AM until the 1940s, when utility/service communications were pushed to the VHF Low bands (30-40MHz FM). Crystal-programmed scanners came into existence by the 1950s, but for however gobsmackingly simple they were, they were expensive! But yes, even then, "bad guys" had 'em! For as long as radio has existed, cops & criminals have been playing a cat-and-mouse game with them from the start! (In comparison, $700 for a scanner is chump change compared to the same values scanners back then had cost! And said $700 scanner was light-years ahead of what those scanners back then could do!)

 

[KD8FSJ]

That looks like the low battery screen?

Sorry didn't spot that was in the picture when I first looked at it.

 

[K9KLC]

Except back then, the big "E" was expensive, costly, worked poorly, and was a pain. In 2025, it's a check box in programming software for subscribers and consoles to implement, rendering consumer scanners useless. No loss of range, no degradation in voice quality, and contrary to some assertion, no real expense. Most P25 subscribers now include basic encryption and even single key AES256 with every radio sold at no extra cost.

The point wasn't about cost or availability, the point was bad guys using scanner is nothing new, and it's been done for years now even by petty thieves. I'm sure it was done way before my time in LE also but I didn't really know about it till I became one and caught some house burglars in 1979 with one. I was honestly a little surprised they spent the money back then and ya, they had actually bought it ( I'm sure with stolen goods money) and they were l pretty pricey back then for most people.

 

[merlin]

Why am I not surprised.

 

[kayn1n32008]

Except back then, the big "E" was expensive, costly, worked poorly, and was a pain. In 2025, it's a check box in programming software for subscribers and consoles to implement, rendering consumer scanners useless. No loss of range, no degradation in voice quality, and contrary to some assertion, no real expense. Most P25 subscribers now include basic encryption and even single key AES256 with every radio sold at no extra cost.

Yep, and with a KMF and OTAR, it's just a few extra steps when doing the initial programming of the radio. Add it to the KMF, load a UKEK, and once programmed, push the rekey button and voila, comms secured.

 

[kayn1n32008]

NOPD District 8 (French Quarter District) was in the clear, simulcasted on a statewide Interop talkgroup for interop between Louisiana State Police, NOPD, and other outside jurisdictions for NYE and the Sugar Bowl

That is a failure. On a large system like that, there is no reason for a normally encrypted agency to have to resort to clear comms.

Failing to plan, is planning to fail.