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Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

pcmag.com

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Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#31

Post by gh02t »

jasonjayr wrote: post #29
gh02t wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Those are really good radios for the money, have fun. I have nicer radios but still use my UVK5 just because it's easy to use and works well. Plus all the firmware mods are fun to play with. FYI if you're not aware... not to be the no fun police, but you do need a license to transmit with one. And it's technically not legal to use them on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies even with a license, though that's probably the least…

I found the UVMOD website that lets you make a patched Firmware to enable all sorts of hacks. Since I don't have a license yet, the next time I'm playing with it, I am going to enable the TX block on all bands, so as to prevent any accidents. Of course, much to the FCC's annoyance, in the "dangerous mods" list, you can also choose to disable the TX block on all bands. You really shouldn't do that, though. The folks t…

I actually did install the frequency block disable mod. Mine lives in my car as an emergency radio, so I figured might as well have the ability in an emergency (which is allowed) and just stick to frequencies covered by my amateur license normally. Granted the mod isn't really very useful since the radio performs very poorly out of band and sprays out interference, so I should probably just take it back off.

I don't think the FCC cares too much about mods like that on hardware that's meant for licensed amateurs. Amateur license covers all sorts of radio modifications, you're supposed to police yourself and manage what you have the right to do. It's actually using the mod to transmit out of band they would fine you for (theoretically... you're unlikely to get caught), not just having the ability. The thing that they get pissed off about is when people without a license can buy hardware meant for amateurs and easily use it out of band without really needing to do anything. That's what they've cracked down on in the past, especially shady importers on Amazon marketing unlocked amateur radios for bands like FRS.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#33

Post by SV_BubbleTime »

big-green-man wrote: post #32

Anybody can eavesdrop on walkie talkies. I can do it with my baofeng. It's not that interesting. What is interesting is everything else that that device can do.

>What is interesting is everything else that that device can do.

Leaving me hanging.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#34

Post by georgyo »

big-green-man wrote: post #32

Anybody can eavesdrop on walkie talkies. I can do it with my baofeng. It's not that interesting. What is interesting is everything else that that device can do.

I think this is undercutting the announcement. A baofeng is a specialized tool specifically for RX/TX 2m and 70cm analog audio radio waves. Of course it can listen to walkie talkies which are transmitting on 70cm.

I read your comment as someone posting about making toast with an iron and saying "Anyone can make toast. I can do it with my toaster. It's not that interesting"

All things that device can do is interesting because it is so many things, including this new ability.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#36

Post by somat »

zactato wrote: post #35

Is the Flipper Zero still legit? I know it’s only quasi legal in some places. I see a lot of ads for it to the point where I kind of suspect it’s some sort of FBI entrapment program. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.

It is an software defined radio with a nice interface built around it. Perhaps the nice interface has lowered the bar enough for it to now be in the crosshairs of the state, this has happened before, sometimes just making the tool easy enough for anybody to use is enough to make it illegal/controlled.

The point being the flipper does not do anything that is not possible with other tools, it just makes it easy.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#37

Post by system2 »

zactato wrote: post #35

Is the Flipper Zero still legit? I know it’s only quasi legal in some places. I see a lot of ads for it to the point where I kind of suspect it’s some sort of FBI entrapment program. Maybe I’m just being paranoid.

Not as small or sleek, but you can still get everything Flipper Zero is doing with Arduino or a small laptop with basic antenna hardware. Flipper Zero is the iPhone of radio pentest gadgets.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#38

Post by system2 »

big-green-man wrote: post #32

Anybody can eavesdrop on walkie talkies. I can do it with my baofeng. It's not that interesting. What is interesting is everything else that that device can do.

UV5R with antenna upgrade works perfectly. I was able to listen to ISS from my backyard too. Hard to believe it is $20 for the quality of its hardware.

Re: Flipper Zero Gets Major Firmware Update, Can Eavesdrop on Walkie-Talkies

#40

Post by wferrell »

solardev wrote: post #14
wferrell wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cool! What sort of radio do you use? My friend and I tried to do -- the two of us in different cars driving down the same stretch of highway this with GPRS radios and very quickly we were not able to pick up the other's broadcast. We assumed it was that we didn't have big enough antennas and were not using a repeater. Note - others were driving we were each a passenger in our respective cars.

Did you have car mounted external antennas? I'm totally new to the hobby so I might be wrong here, but I believe the handheld units are kinda trapped in a Faraday cage if you use them inside the car. If you have the 20W+ mobile (not handheld) kind and mount it to an external antenna though, there should be enough range even just with GMRS as long as you're not on the other side of the mountain or something? Edit: Sor…

We were not using car mounted antennas. We will try this next time!
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