Listen to police radio - anyone found a way? Anything else worth listening to?

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Hiamie

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#102699 20-May-2012 10:08

I am in central Auckland, and I used to really enjoy listening to the police on a basic radio scanner. However, quite a few months ago, the police radio comms went digital - and worse still - encrypted!

Since then, I have not discovered any way to listen in. I tried scanning for an analog link frequency - no joy. Google searching has revealed nothing. I tried scanning the aeronautical bands just in case transmissions to the Eagle helicopter we relayed in analogue. All attempts failed!

So whats left? Well, I can use my iPad to listen in on some Australian police transmissions, and lots of US ones - but it's not the same as listening in to the local activities.

Scanning all the local frequencies that I know of, has left me disappointed - nothing as interesting as listening to the police.

Has anyone managed to find a way to listen in, or perhaps you might know of something else interesting to listen in to.

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#627885 20-May-2012 10:50

You can't listen in. That's the whole point of spending millions on a P25 network with encryption.

kyhwana2

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#627886 20-May-2012 10:53

You can't listen to police digital coms even with a digital scanner because it's encrypted. If they're smart, they're using AES, which you won't be able to break.

There should still be plenty of other stuff to listen to, including fire, ambos, security companies, people ordering stuff at drive throughs, council workers, road works stuff, etc.
Check radiowiki.org.nz

xpd

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#627888 20-May-2012 10:54

Listen to your local couriers, they seem to know whats going on all the time ;)

I miss listening into the cops as well.... but thankfully sold my scanner before they went digital and got more for my scanner 2nd hand than what I paid for it new :) Also where i moved to at the time had lousy coverage...

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hairy1

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#627896 20-May-2012 11:16

I imagine the aeronautical frequencies are not nearly as exciting. Mostly boring and when we do have a crisis in flight we generally talk in the same tone of voice anyway.

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

surfisup1000

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#627908 20-May-2012 12:00

Hiamie: I am in central Auckland, and I used to really enjoy listening to the police on a basic radio scanner. However, quite a few months ago, the police radio comms went digital - and worse still - encrypted!

Since then, I have not discovered any way to listen in. I tried scanning for an analog link frequency - no joy. Google searching has revealed nothing. I tried scanning the aeronautical bands just in case transmissions to the Eagle helicopter we relayed in analogue. All attempts failed!

So whats left? Well, I can use my iPad to listen in on some Australian police transmissions, and lots of US ones - but it's not the same as listening in to the local activities.

Scanning all the local frequencies that I know of, has left me disappointed - nothing as interesting as listening to the police.

Has anyone managed to find a way to listen in, or perhaps you might know of something else interesting to listen in to.

Cool, good to know the crims can't eavesdrop on the goodies.

johnr

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#627913 20-May-2012 12:32

Don't forget local taxi drivers

th3r3turn

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#627914 20-May-2012 12:56

yea i enjoyed listening in it was great!

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SteveON

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#627949 20-May-2012 15:14

surfisup1000:
Hiamie: I am in central Auckland, and I used to really enjoy listening to the police on a basic radio scanner. However, quite a few months ago, the police radio comms went digital - and worse still - encrypted!

Since then, I have not discovered any way to listen in. I tried scanning for an analog link frequency - no joy. Google searching has revealed nothing. I tried scanning the aeronautical bands just in case transmissions to the Eagle helicopter we relayed in analogue. All attempts failed!

So whats left? Well, I can use my iPad to listen in on some Australian police transmissions, and lots of US ones - but it's not the same as listening in to the local activities.

Scanning all the local frequencies that I know of, has left me disappointed - nothing as interesting as listening to the police.

Has anyone managed to find a way to listen in, or perhaps you might know of something else interesting to listen in to.

Cool, good to know the crims can't eavesdrop on the goodies.

kyhwana2

2566 posts

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#627952 20-May-2012 15:20

surfisup1000:
Cool, good to know the crims can't eavesdrop on the goodies.

Same with the boy racers! They carry scanners with them so they can bug out before the cops get to them.

keewee01

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#627958 20-May-2012 15:57

SteveON:
surfisup1000:
Hiamie: I am in central Auckland, and I used to really enjoy listening to the police on a basic radio scanner. However, quite a few months ago, the police radio comms went digital - and worse still - encrypted!

Since then, I have not discovered any way to listen in. I tried scanning for an analog link frequency - no joy. Google searching has revealed nothing. I tried scanning the aeronautical bands just in case transmissions to the Eagle helicopter we relayed in analogue. All attempts failed!

So whats left? Well, I can use my iPad to listen in on some Australian police transmissions, and lots of US ones - but it's not the same as listening in to the local activities.

Scanning all the local frequencies that I know of, has left me disappointed - nothing as interesting as listening to the police.

Has anyone managed to find a way to listen in, or perhaps you might know of something else interesting to listen in to.

Cool, good to know the crims can't eavesdrop on the goodies.

+1

+2 - if it keeps the element of surprise them people shouldn't be concerned that they can't listen in any more. It was very publicly stated at the time they did it why it was happening.

rscole86

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#627960 20-May-2012 16:15

Go into your local police station and ask for a ride along? Or approach your local communications centre (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) and ask if you can spend a Friday/Saturday evening with them?

kingjj

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#627981 20-May-2012 16:57

You are not missing much. You could always move to a non-digital area? Most of rural SI is still on analogue and likely will be for a long time yet.

Kyanar

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#628035 20-May-2012 19:53

Didn't the police say before they went digital that they would be looking at ways of making the transmissions available to the public, possibly on a time delay, in the interest of maintaining transparency? If so, I'd just wait and see what they do.

exportgoldman

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#628193 21-May-2012 09:16

Kyanar: Didn't the police say before they went digital that they would be looking at ways of making the transmissions available to the public, possibly on a time delay, in the interest of maintaining transparency? If so, I'd just wait and see what they do.

Call me a cynic, but I don't see this ever happening. The powers that be always take something away with half hearted promises it will return in a different form and once people get used to not having it, they do away with the sham they are bringing it back...

I used to love listening in as well.

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

xpd

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#628195 21-May-2012 09:19

Probably find you'll be able to stream "highlights" one day rather than a full feed......

Thinking of picking up a marine radio since Im out on the water a bit more now and living where I do, could be interesting to listen into whats going on out on the water :) (and find where the fish are biting ;) )

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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