CBer FINED $10,000 for his "Export" Radio and Amp!

Sir,

You are seriously behind the times. I'd bet you think the Feds still have white vans with multiple antennas! NOT!!! The computer age has advanced beyond amazement. The ability to pinpoint ONE signal out of hundreds has been around for decades. The instrument is called a
Spectrum Analyzer. Surely you have heard of the ON STAR system or other mapping programs that show where you are at a given moment. The On Star program (or similar mapping program) simply takes that, combines it with spectrum analysis, displays it on a screen and, if a vehicle are transmitting a signal, it will display 1) where the agent's vehicle is on his dash, 2) show the highway the offending signal is traveling on, 3) compute the distance TO that signal, 4) and show the best route to intercept that signal. Yes, if YOU are traveling on a highway,
and transmitting a signal the agent is interested in, it will show that road, the intersections (exits if an Interstate), and essential landmarks such as houses. For example, if you are driving on I-77 Northbound near a milepost/exit, the agent's program will SHOW that fact. Remember, the government has satellites that can READ your TAG number of they want to!!!!!! They just don't TELL you about it.

I rode with the Norfolk, VA agent for an entire day, so don't tell me what I didn't see. I have been using and operating electronic equipment for over 40 years. I am very adept at locating radio signals as I do it for the USAF searching for downed aircraft.

The vehicle was a plain jane Tahoe with NO antennas (satellites don't need no stinkin' antennas sticking everywhere). The equipment--spectrum analyzer, frequency counter, display module, map screen, distance calculating, and others----ALL built into the dash as if it was intended to be there from the factory. A separate analyzer, handie talkie, and field strength meter was in the back. The agent was very happy to demonstrate the equipment to me, and it is very impressive!!!!

Your method that you described is ancient history (like a CB radio) and is partly described as "triangulation" and field strength. The computer age has enhanced that ability vastly and gone beyond that as well. Triangulation is also how certain aircraft navigation systems work. The instrument in the a/c is a Visual OmniRange (VOR).

Gadfly

 

VOR--referred to by both methods. I've heard it called both.

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The way the tracking method works is simple, but astounding. To Me, it was anyway. As you must know, lots of people use such programs as GM's OnStar program, and others like Tom Tom, to home in on an address. If he wants to go to a certain address, he dials up that address, etc. and the little device sitting up the dash has a screen that displays the streets of interest. Periodically, the little device announces the distance, the turns he needs to make, and so on. ("You are approaching right turn in 50 yards, etc. Turn right on Selwin Ave").

The FCC agent's vehicle has this same program but enhanced quite a bit. It has a scope screen that displays several functions including some spectrum analysis so that a signal of interest can be picked out of a gaggle (such as several CB stations transmitting at once). The agent dials up the frequency (let's say they are interested in a trucker transmitting on 28.085 AM), also on the dash of this "wonder" device of his) He also has a screen farther down that displays the streets with (I didn't get the exact range of this...oh, maybe 15 miles or so????) landmarks, intersections, squares representing buildings, and so on). SO. He dials up the frequency, and the trucker is transmitting long enough for the agent to get a definite "fix" on him. Agent is on a parallel road, say..............3 miles away. Agent analyzes this signal, determines that this is the truck on 28.085 AM, then presses "plot". The screen now (if I remember correctly and I believe I do) sets a plot line "TO" the offending signal, shows the distance and displays on the map the fastest way to intercept this truck. The agent then follows the adjacent roads (they even have the NAMES of the roads on the display!) to intercept and overtake the offender! Kinda like OnStar in REVERSE!

Now the "catch". It is dependent on the guy transmitting LONG enough to get this fix. IF that signal goes off the air, then he's kinda stuck until the guy starts talking again. Meantime, the agent can simply follow the data he has to the last known position of the transmitted signal. If the guy will talk long enough to get a new plot, GOTCHA!!! Agent then can follow the new plot until he is able to intercept the signal.

These guys have some really NEAT stuff! I had no idea until I rode with the agent that day. It is all based on satellites. NO antennas showing. He can listen to most any frequency (I didn't get the actual range of the installed receivers).

Many of the FCC Field Offices were replaced with discrete "antennas" distributed around the country. They can sit in Laurel, MD (Columbia) and listen to an offending radio signal without leaving their chair. When they get the general plots, they send out the agent with the "goodies" installed in their cars. No "white vans". No multi-multi antennas. You will NEVER see the agent until he flashes his badge at you! That day, we were in a green Tahoe. Just like a soccor Mom car! We blended into the traffic and no one knew!

The agent told me that this can be a REALLY boring job. Hours and hours just sitting near a suspected station gathering data. Most of their work concerns commercial and fixed stations. Just don't think that because you are mobile, you can't be caught. Like I said, this equipment is some pretty neat toys!!! While we might argue the details, this technology goes FAR beyond mere triangulation! When we have "Google Earth" that a civilian can access and "cyber" visit Pyonyang, N, Korea, you KNOW they have some awesome things that WE don't know about! LOL!


Gadfly