[Scan-DC] BRITONS FACE JAIL IN INDIA FOR PLANE SPOTTING

[Andrew Clegg]

I almost always have a scanner with me when I travel, even overseas. Based on this I guess I better be more careful where I take it. 

 

There is a forum on RR that contains a thread discussing the legality of scanners, by country, in Asia. The rules vary widely. In Japan, you're A-OK, apparently. In Singapore, on the other hand, one post claims anything above 30 MHz (except broadcasts) are completely off-limits, under the threat of $100,000 fine and two years in prison. See http://forums.radioreference.com/asia-radio-discussion-forums/19355-legalities-scanners-asia.html

 

There is a post on RR about legality in the UK, with a link to an Ofcom page (Ofcom is their FCC)(http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/enforcement/guidance). In the UK it is only legal to use a scanner to listen to licensed broadcast stations, amateur & CB radio, and weather/navigation transmissions. All other use is illegal, even if you don't divulge the contents of the transmissions to anyone. Listening to non-licensed broadcasts (i.e., pirates) is also illegal.

 

Rich Wells' excellent-but-now-outdated-and-not-maintained Strong Signals site has a summary by country (where available). The policies may have changed in the intervening few years since his table was made. http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/laws.html

 

All of this information (except for the UK) was provided by hobbyists, so use with caution.

 

Anybody know about Switzerland off-hand?

 

Andy
 
> From: b_thom at juno.com
> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:03:30 +0000
> To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] BRITONS FACE JAIL IN INDIA FOR PLANE SPOTTING
> 
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: "b_thom at juno.com" <b_thom at juno.com>
> To: Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] BRITONS FACE JAIL IN INDIA FOR PLANE SPOTTING
> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:58:25 GMT
> 
> The same thing happened in Greece five years ago.
> =============================
> =============================
> 
> It was longer ago than that.
> 
> http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?uri=%2F&go=toolbar&q=planespotters
> 
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