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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>So, Greg, I presume you have never listened to
digital transmissions on a scanner.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>UHF frequencies in the ESC Band have been in use
for over a year in Christchurch and having both an analogue and a digital
scanner I have "listened" to these extensively in that time. With an analogue
scanner, digital transmissions make a hissing (like white noise) sound
but it is still easy to determine what frequencies are active, whether in the
scan or manual mode, but obviously you can't hear what is being
transmitted.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>With a digital scanner, the digital transmissions
obviously can't be listened to if they are encrypted but can be heard perfectly
if they are unencrypted. Virtually all the radio traffic is encrypted but the
scanner still locks on to them in the scan mode, they are heard as a series of
"gurgling" noises and you can see "ENC" on the scanner display. If the scanner
is in the hold mode you hear very little but still see the "ENC" when the
frequency is active.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The reason I still scan these frequencies, and
wanted to know what the ESB Band ones already in use in the Wellington area
were, is that occasionally, on all of the channels in use in Christchurch, I
have heard a portable in use with the encryption (probably inadvertently) turned
off. You can then hear that side of the conversation perfectly and this makes it
possible to detemine what that frequency is being used for.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>So you see, whether using an analogue scanner or a
digital scanner, it is still possible to determine what frequencies are in
use and that is what I was asking. It is not all "The Sound of
Silence" as some believe.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cheers.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Grunter1.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>