Posts: 20
Threads: 6
Joined: Jan 2014
I used to listen to the County Police scanner streamed online by radioreference. They are no longer streaming the link it has been taken down. I really miss knowing whats going on in my neighborhood.
Does anyone have an recommendations for a not too expensive scanner to use to pick-up the police transmissions for east Hawaii, and is there anywhere in Hilo to get one.
Thanks.
Posts: 14,137
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
If I'm not mistaken, all the police/fire/emergency radio systems have been/are being "upgraded" with newfangled digital technology which is more difficult to scan.
At least that's what last years' $33M loan was supposedly for. (I think there's a few more $M in the current round of State disbursements.)
Of course, where these upgrades have taken place, it's been found that the new technology is substantially inferior; it has the same problems as the cell phone network (dead spots, incompatible technologies, etc).
Posts: 3,188
Threads: 216
Joined: Sep 2007
problem with dead spots is that they wont come out - unless they come in with full back up......
Posts: 3,188
Threads: 216
Joined: Sep 2007
getting back to the original post ..... I like these -
software defined radio pretty recent .... opens up the entire radio frequency spectrum. Digital decoders (software based add on) and recorders out there as well.
https://www.adafruit.com/blog/2013/09/25...e-adapter/
Posts: 14,137
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Second problem with digital transmission is that it may be encrypted; you're legally allowed to intercept the communication, but it's a separate felony to "circumvent the protection".
Posts: 3,188
Threads: 216
Joined: Sep 2007
may be wise not to take your "radio" through tsa ...grin
Im afraid I am going to have to sound like the second amendment guys on this one -
if you dont want me to listen in - dont aim your signal at my house or make it easy to decrypt
....Im still of the generation that believes the airwaves to be part of public domain - me thinks most in Hawaii would agree btw.... all of this bad legislation post 9/11 btw
Posts: 14,137
Threads: 424
Joined: Aug 2012
Criminal penalties for decryption are from the entertainment ("content") industry, not 9/11. (Ironically, DVD pirates don't bother to decrypt the content... separate issues.)
New radio systems for first responders is a post-9/11 issue -- for over 10 years now.
By some "amazing coincidence", legacy police/fire systems are now sitting on "valuable" RF spectrum; the new digital systems require less spectrum, and are probably also relegated to new frequencies (which happen to have comparatively poor propogation).
Basically the same thing they did with "digital TV", with chunks of what used to be "high UHF" now reallocated to the cell carriers, who then make obscene profits by renting it back to the public, while also creating the infrastructure for large-scale spying.
You might say that government is monetizing the gentrification of the public airwaves.
I call it the "pay twice for the privilege of paying again" principle.
Posts: 3,188
Threads: 216
Joined: Sep 2007
most of the outright piracy on the net right now - distributed to us by internet providers that own tv networks producing said hacked wares - but a felony if the end user puts it all together "hobbyist" in past times
funny world we live in - keeps a lot of legal types employed splitting hairs - interesting watching the time warner deal - 75 million exit bonus to the tw guy..... im sure he has the share holders and subscribers at heart.....
Posts: 7
Threads: 1
Joined: Jun 2014
Feed for Hilo Police and Fire/EMS
Here is the correct link! Sorry about that!
http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/ctid/542
Posts: 1,557
Threads: 50
Joined: Oct 2012
I use a pro-404 (cheap radio shack handheld) and pick up police,marine,aircraft.. just fine.
I read somewhere that by the end of the year they will be switching to digital,
Whether it is encrypted or not(like Oahu) is yet to be seen.
