Anyone tried this? - Pick up Police frequencies with a TV tuner

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Anyone tried this? - Pick up Police frequencies with a TV tuner

PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#106657 28-Jul-2012 19:19

Hi guys, was digging up several old posts and I found this. http://9w2hmi.takeforum.com/2007/05/05/scanning-the-waves-with-your-tv-card/

Tried this several years ago, without success but I was a lot younger then I am now and I do believe that if I tried again now I might have better chances.

Apparently you need a Philips card with a SAA7134 chipset.

Was thinking of giving it another go, but was first wondering if you guys have tried it or will after you've seen this, and when you have please post here and report your success if it works or not, as installing Linux is a pain in the neck for me compared to Windows and I'm not going to even try unless I know for certain whether it's going to work.

Thanks

wellygary

8261 posts

Uber Geek

#663399 28-Jul-2012 19:43

PaulZA: Hi guys....

Tried this several years ago, without success but I was a lot younger then I am now and I do believe that if I tried again now I might have better chances.

Except that in the time since that the NZpolice have begun rolling out a digital p25 encrypted network,
If you are in a rural area you might pick up something, but the big cities are pretty much gone

jmumby

141 posts

Master Geek

#663400 28-Jul-2012 19:43

If you have an Android or iphone you can search for the 'police scanner' app, claims to have NZ Police channels on it. Whole lot easier than building one.

kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#663401 28-Jul-2012 19:50

Police in Auckland/central, Chirstchurch and Wellington has moved to encrypted AP25. (No, you won't be able to crack/decrypt it)

You can use some DVB-T USB dongles that'll do ~68mhz-1700mhz.
See http://www.reddit.com/r/RTLSDR/comments/vpte0/new_tuner_for_ezcap_usb_20_dvbtdabfm_dongle/
https://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-dvb-t-digital-tv-usb-2-0-dongle-with-fm-dab-remote-controller-92096

There are various windows app that'll work with it. I've got one and it works OK, you need a better antenna though.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#663404 28-Jul-2012 19:54

If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#663405 28-Jul-2012 19:56

sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

Where can you get a scanner for $20?

The scanners I've seen are at least $100 and upwards.

Also, regarding the police going to digital not a big deal as there are plenty of other things in the radio spectrum to have a play with.

kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#663417 28-Jul-2012 20:32

sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

If you aren't afraid of playing around with SDR software, you're better off with one of the DVB-T dongles that work! You can tune them to anything between 85-1700mhz, including any pager/digital (unencrypted) data/etc services. (Like pagers which are FLEX/POCSAG)

nakedmolerat

4625 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#663419 28-Jul-2012 20:50

sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

show me where can i get $20 scanner..

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#663420 28-Jul-2012 20:57

nakedmolerat:
sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

show me where can i get $20 scanner..

Here's a $10 no reserve http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/radio-equipment/amateur-radio/auction-498285973.htm

PaulZA

314 posts

Ultimate Geek

#663421 28-Jul-2012 21:00

kyhwana2:
sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

If you aren't afraid of playing around with SDR software, you're better off with one of the DVB-T dongles that work! You can tune them to anything between 85-1700mhz, including any pager/digital (unencrypted) data/etc services. (Like pagers which are FLEX/POCSAG)

Thanks guys, will consider that as it will save me a lot of hassle, and plus I love big challenges from time to time.

Quick question, will that DVB-T USB stick do a analog services too? Such as those that are not encrypted such as Taxi, fire etc?

Or will it just do digital transmissions, which I think there's less of compaired to analog?

kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#663423 28-Jul-2012 21:02

PaulZA:
Quick question, will that DVB-T USB stick do a analog services too? Such as those that are not encrypted such as Taxi, fire etc?
Or will it just do digital transmissions, which I think there's less of compaired to analog?

Of course it'll do analog! In order to decode anything digital you'll have to feed it's output into a program that'll decode it for you.

nakedmolerat

4625 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#663486 29-Jul-2012 07:01

sbiddle:
nakedmolerat:
sbiddle: If you're somewhere that isn't jusing encryption yet you're far better off spending $20 and buying a scanner on Trademe.

show me where can i get $20 scanner..

Here's a $10 no reserve http://www.trademe.co.nz/electronics-photography/radio-equipment/amateur-radio/auction-498285973.htm

that is just one of many scanners that start at $10 reserve but will end up way above $60. i have been looking for cheap scanner but none of them ever SOLD for $20.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
13725 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#663490 29-Jul-2012 07:59

I got more for my scanner 2nd hand than what I paid for it new :)

But no, very very rare you see them go for under $60+. Anywhere that is still un-encrypted, will be sleepy country towns probably so not much to listen to except for farmer Bobs cows escaping again ;)

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree - kiwiblast.co.nz - Lego and more

Support Kiwi music! The People Black Smoke Trigger Like A Storm Devilskin

NZ GEEKS Discord______________________________

kyhwana2

2563 posts

Uber Geek

#663547 29-Jul-2012 11:35

xpd:
But no, very very rare you see them go for under $60+. Anywhere that is still un-encrypted, will be sleepy country towns probably so not much to listen to except for farmer Bobs cows escaping again ;)

Hey! Hamilton isn't a sleepy country town! ;)