US Virgin Islands

[GM]

I will be going on a cruise in early December to various places within the Caribbean and will be stopping for a visit on the US V.I. Does anyone know of any scanner laws specifically for the US V.I. (legal, illegal, restrictions, etc.) that are in place. I tried a broad search, but to no avail. I also see that Public Safety is running an LTR TRS with Passport in some cases. Is the entire system running the Passport option or are some of the communications "in the clear?" (meaning monitorable with a BC296D) Any intel. is greatly appreciated.

 

[WP4MZR]

As far as I know, Puerto Rico and USVI have no rules against scanners, but dont know about the other VIs.

I think most of puerto rico's public safety systems are still on non-trucked vhf and uhf systems(and speaking in spanish). Now, when you get to the "El Condado" area, You will be able to pick up the Hotels (450-460MHz). Also Fort Buchanan is in that area as well so dont forget to check the Military and Fed freqs. San Juan International AP gets a lot of traffic so dont forget that one. The 2 meter band is pretty active as well.

 

[spiritwolfpr]

Hello Friends:

WP4-MZR I'm sorry sir, but you are mistaken MOST of Puerto Rico Public Safety
IS trunked. Puerto Rico State Police or "Policia Estatal" is trunked(Motorola) with very few
exeptions like Police nation wide or "San Juan Control Polica De Puerto Rico" on
154.7250 MHz.
Now "La Policia Municipal De San Juan" or San Juan Municipal Police (I guess that will
be like county Sherif) is in VHF.
Here RR have a very good data base on Puerto Rico,I live here and RR data base is
what I use.

The ruling and scanner laws here in Puerto Rico are very similar or equal to the scanners laws
in The State of Florida. Also the general ruling e/a The use of the scanner in the comsion of a crime...Ect

 

[WP4MZR]

Hey spiritwolfpr, I appreciate the you correcting me out, it has been a while since I moved to...everywhere. I just learned something new today, thank you. I will bring my radio with me next time I go visit my family/friends over there.

 

[ecps92]

Crusing the Islands...

I usually leave my Scanner on-board when playing tourist on the islands. Unfortunately I never picked up Spanish in High School [took shop instead] and have found many of the Islands are in a native language not english.

I will be going on a cruise in early December to various places within the Caribbean and will be stopping for a visit on the US V.I. Does anyone know of any scanner laws specifically for the US V.I. (legal, illegal, restrictions, etc.) that are in place. I tried a broad search, but to no avail. I also see that Public Safety is running an LTR TRS with Passport in some cases. Is the entire system running the Passport option or are some of the communications "in the clear?" (meaning monitorable with a BC296D) Any intel. is greatly appreciated.

 

[silverbk]

Definitely bring your scanner.

I was there in 2006,

I was able to work a few 2 meter repeaters even though I'm a gringo and don't speak Spanish. I can barely order rice and beans holding a qso in Spanish would be out of the question. Many hams speak english.

I then went over to St Johns USVI where my 2 meter rig was essential in getting the local info. There was a huge storm the night before and many govt and business entities were closed.

The best scanning was aboard the ship on the way down, ships crew, navigation frs and there was a film crew aboard doing a commercial.

 

[gcgrotz]

I've done some Cruise ship hamming also, USVI and St Maarten to be exact, and you can actually work DX on a handheld in St Maarten. Probably from USVI if there is a repeater in range from BVI.

 

[RayAir]

I've done some Cruise ship hamming also, USVI and St Maarten to be exact, and you can actually work DX on a handheld in St Maarten. Probably from USVI if there is a repeater in range from BVI.

Speaking of St. Maarten, ever visited Maho Bay?