XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, uk.telecom.mobile   
   From: harrogate3@ntlworld.com   
      
   On Sat 09/04/2022 21:14, Alan Browne wrote:   
   > On 2022-04-09 13:08, Woody wrote:   
   >> On Sat 09/04/2022 17:08, David Woolley wrote:   
   >>> On 09/04/2022 16:16, gtr wrote:   
   >>>> Why would it be illegal to listen to ANY signal that is over the air?   
   >>>   
   >>> In this case, it is because they retransmit the signal in the vehicle.   
   >>>   
   >>> However there is an also expectation of privacy.  The default UK   
   >>> position is that you need a licence to receive radio transmissions,   
   >>> although there are some exemptions.   
   >>>   
   >>> Even the US makes it illegal to listen on cellular frequencies, even   
   >>> though other frequencies, including the police, were open.   
   >>>   
   >>> I don't think either country has changed its legislation to reflect   
   >>> that cellular systems are now encrypted.   
   >>   
   >> The default UK ruling is that you can only (in theory at least) listen   
   >> to transmissions intended for public entertainment, information, or   
   >> education. How anyone could be traced and/or prosecuted for listening   
   >> to anything in open speech on any waveband just shows how little the   
   >> establishment understands! Listening to civil aircraft is illegal but   
   >   
   > I seem to recall British government trucks roaming around with apparatus   
   > to listen for non-licensed television.  They would pick up   
   > characteristic signals from the television:   
   > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TV_detector_van   
   >   
   >   
   >> look see how many people you see standing around the perimeter fence   
   >> at most major airports with scanners stuck on their ears! Radio   
   >> amateur licences gave a much wider brief - they could legally listen   
   >> to maritime transmissions for instance which is why in the UK it was   
   >> necessary to take a 12wpm morse test so that you could identify marine   
   >> distress calls. OfCom recognised some years ago that maritime comms is   
   >> now largely VHF for short range and satellite for longer distance so   
   >> did away with the morse test requirement: Japan retained the morse   
   >> test for a long time but set the speed at 0 wpm.   
   >>   
   >> Always puzzled me why the US barred scanners from listening to   
   >> cellular channels but would let you listen to police. The latter have   
   >> now gone largely digital (mostly DMR) but with a suitable radio you   
   >> can still listen to them even from the UK! Barmy IMO.   
   >   
   > Cell calls, like phone calls are private.   
   > Police is public.  (So most police went to encrypted gear to hide).   
   >   
      
   I would argue that comment - in the UK police is most definitely not   
   public, neither is the ambulance service. As the Fire Service uses the   
   Airwave digital network which is encrypted then that is now also not public.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)