scanning discreetly
 

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed? I heard
from few sources that scanners produce internal oscillator signals
that can be detected. I suppose there is no "stealth" way to listen a
scanner. Any ideas?

Jim wrote:

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed? I heard
from few sources that scanners produce internal oscillator signals
that can be detected. I suppose there is no "stealth" way to listen a
scanner. Any ideas?

Not sure exactly what you're asking...

You can put the innards of the scanner into a Faraday cage and just run
in the (shielded) antenna cable (perhaps with a notch filter to hammer
the IF frequency(ies)) and run out (very low pass filtered) audio
cables.

Sure you'll have some small coupling back to the antenna and audio
leads, but you could knock it way down.

It really depends on what you consider the threat to be...

I have a hard time imaging it to be an issue without serious cloak and
dagger stuff going on. (In which case, there is probably specialized
equipment...)

-Donald
--
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem,
see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable
words." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Jim wrote:

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed? I heard
from few sources that scanners produce internal oscillator signals
that can be detected. I suppose there is no "stealth" way to listen a
scanner. Any ideas?


Trying to sneek a scanner (or other computing device) into a Casino????
Good Luck!

George
http://www.MilAirComms.com

"GeorgeF" wrote in message
.. .

Trying to sneek a scanner (or other computing device) into a Casino????
Good Luck!

Sneak? I've walked for hours through the Trump Taj Majal in Atlantic City
with a scanner on my belt.

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed? I heard
from few sources that scanners produce internal oscillator signals
that can be detected.

aqnd my question is, does this screw up Smartsignmedia and Mobiltrak to
detetrmine which radio station you're listening to?

They're using machines to read the local osciallator on your car radio and
looking 10.7 MHZ away to determine which radio station you're listening to.

But they're looking for which radio station between 88 and 108 mhz you're
listening to, so advertisers can target their advertising to you on freeway
signs.

But if you're listening to a scanner in your car instead of the car's radio,
and if their machines can handle it, they'l get a frequency readout such as
"144. 250 mhz" or "455.325 mhz", in which case they'll probably be scratching
their heads and going "huh?" ;)

Since this would be an accurate readout of which station or frequency you're
listening to, it doesn't really screw them up. It just confuses the heck out of
them. ;)

However, my own scanner uses a local oscillater of 240.1 mhz, which I imagine
probably would screw them up since their machines are looking for and reading
as 10.7 mhz away from the local osciallator frequency.

They would probably get a completely wrong readout of what station I'm
listening to.

Of course, this also has it's possible drawbacks

Okay so if it is the fact that scanners produce IF, what is the range
of such signals produced by local oscillator?

Mark wrote:

On 9 Jul 2004 18:21:25 -0700, (Jim) wrote:

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed?

Perhaps you should wear better fitting clothes.

Is that a rubber-ducky or are you happy to see me?

=D
--
"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem,
see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable
words." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Mark wrote in news:8p4af01aqem8bqpcbiar9d519q66vojgav@
4ax.com:

On 9 Jul 2004 18:21:25 -0700, (Jim) wrote:

Is it really possible to use a scanner without being exposed?

Perhaps you should wear better fitting clothes.

There are some pretty small scanners available, I'm currently using an Icom
R5 which is about the size of the smaller cellphones out today. You can get
very small general use antennas as well, I use a 3/4inch one and a 1.5inch
one for most things. Plug a discreet earphone into it and route the wire
through your jacket and it looks as though your using a handsfree
cellphone.

Also, take a look at the Scott E-Vest http://www.scottevest.com/ for
clothing that is somewhat 'stealthy' for carrying gear.

--
ICQ: 4304313
Gadgets: Zen 20Gb/Shure E2/Ipaq 3850/Sharp 702

Wired one for most things. Plug a discreet earphone

Or get stereo walkman earphones, and tap your toes and snap your
fingers, they'll never guess. A phony walkman dangling from your neck
completes the picture. Or dress the scanner up as a walkman. A mono
earphone here would be a dead giveaway.

Older non toe tappers can dress up as a sports fan with an old AM
radio clipped to their belt but the actual wire to the ear would be
coming from the scanner, whilst the scanner is hidden in a
pocket. Here we use an old white mono earphone.

When the authorities come, slide the whole mess in your pants. the
rubber ducky bulge is no problemo; "After the operation I was left
with a permanent `boner'", you say. But as you have unfortunately
dislodged the earphone jack, you are cut off by a gruff "1 Adam 12 see
Mrs. Nurdsbury about stolen napkins, over" emulating from your
trousers.