Hello Alexb:

Yeah I wouldn't give the call sign thing too much concern especially
with low low power and hand held operation. But I would ID if any one
asked. Highly unlikely. And even more unlikely in areas that are not
heavily populated.

I don't think the codes your talking about are encrypted your signal. I
believe those are digital squelch codes that allow the other radio to
open its squelch. So scanner radios will be able to hear the conversation.

I am sure you can talk around the subject that you are framilur with. I
buy scanners at yard sales for something different to listen to. And
just listen to what ever they have programed in, or what ever crystal
channels are in the scanner. We have a local Tow Truck company here that
talks around everything. Except when Marge gets hammered on Friday
afternoons hehehehehehe.

I haven't a clue how to listen to encrypted signals?!?!?!?!? sorry.
Why would you want to? Just a bunch of guys saying Ten-4 and 2180 to
headquarters.

Jay in the Mojave


alexb wrote:
"Jay in the Mojave" wrote in message
...

Hello Alexb:

I listen in on a bunch on vhf and uhf Frequencies on my scanner. Most
GMRS and the commercial channels hardly any one uses call signs, except
for a few hams that are using modified UHF radios to talk on the GMRS
and FRS channels, they slip up and give their ham call sign, hehehehe

When call signs are used they mostly get it wrong or leave out letters
or numbers kind of funny. Or a foreign accent adds to the "What was that
they said"

If the general public was held for call sign accuracy we would all be in
jail.

So I wouldn't loose any sleep over it.


That's what I thought too. Common sense pictured me a similar image or
reality. Just wanted to find out what other people's experience is with it.

Aside from what you just said which is valuable, I want to point out that my
communications, I hate to say it, are encrypted. That small GMRS has 15 or
so codes and multiplied by the number of channels I can use (from the top of
my head from the 12th up since I transmit at "high power" of 4W) makes it
unlikely that somebody would instantly tune in. How in the world would I
make a fool of myself blubbering that gibberish? There is nothing especially
'secret' about what I talk about. It is all about stocks, like, "sell 500
GOOG right now" or "do you want me to bring you a sandwich?" but I still do
not want people with scanners like you hear it. I actually use the telephone
line most of the time but need a back up system since once in a while the
phones do fail.

How do you go about listening to encrypted conversations, I am curious?

You know I have a full respect for the law but I would hate to be
ridiculous.


We had a local vhf channel that at one time had Berts Pizza and a few
delivery cars, a cement truck company, a school, and a fire fighting
outfit showed on the same channel during a forest fire. No body used
call signs, but it was very entertaining. We call it the "E" channel,
hehehehehehehhehe

Jay in the Mojave

ALEXB wrote:

I've been granted an FCC license for a GMRS radio (ZA category), which I

use

in my business, and found on their website that my call sign is...

WQCTxxx.

It is a seven character combination or capital letters and digits.

What does it mean and how can I use it? My "radio" is a small handheld
walkie-talkie with 4W max power output. Where is the call number in

there?

Shall I use it when I talk to my counterpart: "Hello, this is WQCTxxx,
please, report to me?" Is it all to it? Like a caller ID only in the

air?

Is there a set of rules describing the proper use of it?

Thanks