Bulletins
August 1, 1999 ----- Cellphone & Cordless Phone Privacy
Something that most people overlook when using a cellphone or cordless
telephone is that they may be monitored. You should never give out sensitive
or personal info over these devices.
Cellphones can be monitored from a few
miles away due to the signal going through the cellsite. Some policescanners
are capable of receiving cellular frequencies. Newer models have cellular
frequencies blocked or restricted. This is due, in part, to the fact that
many of these scanners are built for the US market where it is illegal to
monitor those conversations. Even though it is illegal, this does not
stop anyone intent on getting personal info on you from these conversations.
Most of these scanners will still receive your cellular conversation on what is
called the image frequency as long as they are near the cellsite.
There are other methods available as well to anyone intent on listening.
Cordless phones are another device that broadcasts your conversations. Many
of the cheaper models can be received by even the most basic scanners. Even
though a cordless phone may have a useful range of up to 500 feet, it may be received
up to a mile away in some circumstances. Some cordless phones have scambling to aid in privacy, but
there are devices on the market that allow one to unscramble the
conversation, making it perfectly understandable again. The best cordless
phones on the market to combat interception are the 900 Mhz and 2.4 Ghz
digital spread spectrum phones. The audio is broken down and apart before being
broadcast via radio waves. A psuedo-random code is introduced, and without that
code, the signal cannot be reassembled in any intelligent manner. Thus
casual eavesdroppers are eliminated. Be prepared to pay more for these phones though.
Still, the best method of avoiding your private conversations being intercepted
is not to talk about sensitive information over these devices. In essence, they are
radios. Whenever you can, use a wireline phone. Don't give out credit card
info on a cellphone or cordless phone.
October 2, 2000 ----- User Programmable Radios
Many radio and potential radio users these days are at a misunderstanding regarding user
programmable radios. User programmable radios are not, and have never been legal to possess.
Industry Canada, the governing body for radio licensing and frequency coordination in Canada states
that:
No person shall lease, offer for sale, sell, or possess a user programmable radio in the Land
Mobile Service bands (138-174 MHz, 406-470 MHz).
It is illegal to modify an approved radio in the land mobile service bands to make it a user
programmable radio.
Each radio used in the Land Mobile service is required to be licensed by Industry Canada. There
are specific exceptions, for detailed information contact an Industry Canada office.
Fines for violation of the above are stated in the Radiocommunications Act - up to $25,000.00.
Each frequency installed in a Land Mobile service radio must appear on the Radio License, and the
frequency must only be used in the area of operation approved and shown on the license.
Many people state that they require a user programmable radio because they are always entering new
areas with different frequencies. Many modern radios have very high channel capacity in which these
frequencies may be set initially.
If you are entering an area in which you do not know the frequency,
it is your responsibility to research the frequency, seek approval if applicable and have your
radio programmed with the appropriate channel by a certified radio shop.
Any radio that enters
our shop user programmable will be made non-user programmable as required by
Industry Canada.
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