[FedCom] Who Tracks Down Military/Federal Frequencies Interference?

[Robert Bennett]

Hello Ken;

I normally just lurk on this list but thought I would reply to your 
last post. Your post implies that there is no coordinated effort to 
locate illegal transmitters operating on the federal bands.

This may be true in other parts of the country but is absolutely not 
true in the southwest. In NM, AZ and west TX, there is a dedicated 
monitoring net operated by the DOD to police the military/government 
bands. This is not an intelligence operation but spectrum 
surveillance. The network consists of at least six fixed monitoring 
stations in NM, two in west TX, and at least two in AZ. There are 
probably others that I have not located yet. There are also a number 
of mobile intercept vans. This system constantly monitors the federal 
bands looking for unauthorized transmissions and other forms of 
interference. Illegal operation on a federal band (especially the 400 
MHZ band) will result in a visit by federal law enforcement. As far 
as I know, the FCC has no role in this spectrum surveillance 
operation.

Robert

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ken" <rfinder1 at verizon.net>
To: "Discussion of Federal Government Communications" 
<fedcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 11:29 AM
Subject: [FedCom] Who Tracks Down Military/Federal Frequencies 
Interference?


> Interestingly here's a question for the group.. Who actually tracks 
> down the source to inteference to US government LMR nets?
>
> I would assume that the Federal Communications Commission would be 
> one of those involved "eventually" 
> http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/unauthorizedradio.html  BUT 
> how "timely" would the response be??
>
> US Secret Service -- Interestingly, locally we had a case involving 
> deliberate interference to a local small town PD's radio system, 
> and it was the USSS that actually tracked down and ID'd the 
> transmitter being used.
>
> USCG  -- Definitely involved in tracking down any false radio 
> transmissions on 156.80 Channel 16
>
> Generally also, doesn't the respective DF teams have some federal 
> law enforcement members with them (e.g. USMS, FBI, USSS)?
>
> I'd assume that initially respective federal agencies'/military 
> departments (local/regional) communications professionals would be 
> involved BUT probably don't have the sophisticated tracking 
> equipment available locally.
>
> Perhaps the various MARS programs actually have volunteers with 
> appropriate DF equipment that can be called in relatively quickly 
> to assist in tracking down interference to local military LMR nets? 
> Visiting my local tarot reader ---  Another possibility is that 
> Civil Air Patrol might be getting some modified DF equipment that 
> can be placed in their aircraft for virtually tracking ANY 
> frequency and this will be another mission under DHS mission 
> "funding" ;) :) .
>
> Surely, with the enhanced federal laws now on the books regarding 
> radio interference/unauthorized use on any public safety/government 
> frequency, which now treats such inteference as acts of terrorism 
> with severe penalities, it would be surprising if more of these 
> type of incidents occur. Although, I guess there might be a 
> differentiation between unauthorized use of a military/federal 
> frequency (that doesn't have anyone using it in the local area) 
> versus individuals who deliberately interferes (jams) with 
> government radio communications BUT again, it's doubtful that the 
> legal penalities would be very different....
>
> So keep your radio scanners searching..  Even if you don't monitor 
> unauthorized/illegal use, you still might discover some new 
> federal/military frequencies in use in your local area.
>
> IF all else remember the point is to HAVE FUN!!!!!
>
> Ken
>
>
>
>
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