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Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

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Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#81

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

jjhale wrote: post #50
UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #35

Baofeng's, Baofengs everywhere. Of all the images I have seen of the attempted coup, I have only seen baofeng radios. These are very cheap ($20'ish) radios that work very poorly (they splatter all over the bands) even when equipped with decent antennas. They barely work when equipped with the stock rubber-duck antennas. It's easy to be a snob about the type of radios that they are using, but that's not even the point…

Baofeng's website has a banner suggesting a surge in demand. > Due to overwhelming demand, we are not able to process any additional orders at this time https://baofengtech.com/

It'll be interesting to see if the CBP finally flexes its muscle and seizes them.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#82

Post by chociej »

lsh123 wrote: post #45

Does it also apply to WiFi? :)

WiFi is in the ISM (Industral, Scientific, and Medical) and certain "unlicensed" radio bands and, while there is spectrum shared between those bands and other services including ham, WiFi usage is regulated differently. This advisory applies to the Amateur Radio Service (ham) and Personal Radio Services (common walkie talkies)

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#83

Post by moftz »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #37
kmeisthax wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not only that, but you actually are prohibited from encrypting ham radio transmissions. This means, practically speaking, no ham Internet, as everything mandates encryption online nowadays.

Well, the whole purpose and ethos of ham radio is for everything to be public, and anyone can listen in to a conversation, so I think that's a good thing.

Except for the various proprietary voice codecs out there.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#84

Post by implements »

A4ET8a8uTh0 wrote: post #59

“messages encoded for the purpose of obscuring their meaning.” The language is troubling, but the laws on the books in US are already ridiculously broad and overbearing. Usually, the question is more along the lines of what stick you want to use. Just in case you never had a chance, "Three felonies a day" gives will give you an idea where US is now.

It’s a condition of licensed transmission on amateur radio frequencies that the operators are identifiable (give their official call sign as often as is practical) and that what is said is plainly understandable to anyone listening.

You can’t do ‘anonymous code talk’ even if you do happen to have a licence. You can’t broadcast music, or do one-to-many messages except to setup one-to-one conversations (ie CQ or during club “nets”) - it’s not free, in fact it’s quite regulated.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#85

Post by joshka »

jcpham2 wrote: post #55
UI_at_80x24 wrote: post #35

Baofeng's, Baofengs everywhere. Of all the images I have seen of the attempted coup, I have only seen baofeng radios. These are very cheap ($20'ish) radios that work very poorly (they splatter all over the bands) even when equipped with decent antennas. They barely work when equipped with the stock rubber-duck antennas. It's easy to be a snob about the type of radios that they are using, but that's not even the point…

100% agree with this comment. Why the warning from the FCC, who knows. I was always told ignorance of the law is no excuse. It must be cheaper to issue a warning rather than expend resources to prosecute the people involved.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-or... was signed 1/18/2021 coincidence?

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#86

Post by tyingq »

chmod600 wrote: post #3

What is the practical implication? I guess they are saying: "don't involve radios in your crime, or else the feds will be after you, too".

That sounds like what's being said, though I don't know how practical it will be to try and monitor/triangulate/whatever a bunch of short range, low-power FRS walkie-talkies. Maybe it just means if you get arrested and have one on your person, you get more charges.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#87

Post by generalizations »

chmod600 wrote: post #52
jjoonathan wrote: post #8

I can already hear the cries of censorship. "What do you mean crimes aren't protected speech?"

There is reason to worry when the tools of defiance or rebellion are taken away. Rebellion is bad, but maitaining some remote possibility is good. This case isn't really so bad because there's no prior restraint, no tools being taken away, or new tools for the government. There is still concern that charges could be heaped on someone to the point they feel the need to plea bargain for something that is either a very…

> Rebellion is bad

Not always. Not saying it is here, but I think it depends on the context. Arab Spring, for instance.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#88

Post by balozi »

clint wrote: post #34
unethical_ban wrote: post #4

tl;dr : How to turn a local or state crime into a federal one. It isn't particularly shocking that this is a statute. I wonder if ham radio was used in the capitol riot.

I've personally seen a couple photographs of insurrectionists with what looked like Baofeng (ironic?) style radios with police-style handsets that groups were using to coordinate at some level.

What exactly is a "police-style handset"? Definitions are important because soon we'll have journalist breathlessly writing about people arrested with police-style communication gear, military-style radios, and assault radios.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#89

Post by laurent92 »

netsharc wrote: post #30
mrdoornbos wrote: post #19

Don't use... well anything, in crimes. Duh.

Interesting law. I'm not sure about driving laws, but I would assume if you robbed a bank and drove away, there's no extra clause that says this usage your driving license is illegal?

There are certainly lots of terms of use, too. I’m betting most of inmates must have lost their gmail account or bank card, for example, which can actually become a severe social problem in repairing the social fabric.

Re: Radio users reminded not to use radios in crimes

#90

Post by remexre »

damnyou wrote: post #75
chociej wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Concealing the meaning of transmissions is contrary to the purposes of the amateur radio service. There are perfectly serviceable radio bands, modes, and services for those wanting to transmit encoded messages, just like there are for those wanting to broadcast, transmit music, engage in commerce, etc.

Personally I think private individuals should have a fundamental right to encryption regardless of the medium.

I think the goal is mainly to avoid people doing things that aren't useful to the amateur radio community on the fixed amount of spectrum made available by physics. (Well, and some Cold-War-era paranoia about foreign spies, but...)
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