XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, uk.telecom.mobile   
   From: keith_nuttle@sbcglobal.net   
      
   On 4/9/2022 4:21 PM, Woody wrote:   
      
   > 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.   
      
   Says it works for the whole world.   
   https://www.broadcastify.com/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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