[Scan-DC] Scanning in the Washington Post

[David Schoenberger]

The author of the story e-mailed me several questions for the article. I responded within a couple of hours, but he says he never received the e-mail. Not sure what happened to it. Here’s the e-mail exchange, if anyone’s interested…

Dave

> No, I never did see that email. Too bad! You wrote some good stuff in there. 
> From: David Schoenberger <davidschoenberger at icloud.com <mailto:davidschoenberger at icloud.com>>
> Sent: Monday, December 31, 2018 10:26:33 AM
> To: McCoy, Terrence
> Subject: Re: From the Washington Post: scanning
> 
> Hi Terry,
> 
> I read your article in the Post - thanks for writing it. I was curious; did you receive the below e-mail? I never received a response from you.
> 
> Thanks, and Happy New Year.
> 
> Dave Schoenberger
> 
>> On Dec 21, 2018, at 10:46 AM, David Schoenberger <davidschoenberger at icloud.com <mailto:davidschoenberger at icloud.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Good morning Terry,
>> 
>> Yes, I’d be happy to answer your questions. 
>> 
>> I believe the hobby is still viable, but it’s certainly changing. Twitter posts from public safety departments are no substitute for actual on-scene communications from first responders. There’s the time delay in getting the information out, and also the issue of the department only disseminating information it believes the public should have access to. As for encrypted signals, those have thankfully mostly been confined to law enforcement so far (although that may be changing). While access to law enforcement communications is missed, many times it is not too difficult for an experienced listener to “piece together” what’s going on by monitoring the fire service, other non-public safety local government users, and even private security.
>> 
>> I got into the hobby after perusing a Radio Shack catalog in about 1993. Scanner radios looked fascinating, I bought one, and I’ve been a hobbyist ever since. It is rewarding - I think the part I enjoy the most is trying to figure out who’s using what frequency by careful monitoring. It’s almost like putting together a puzzle, with many subtle and not-so-subtle clues gleaned from monitoring. Sometimes the thrill of the chase is the best part.
>> 
>> It is frustrating occasionally, and the encrypted signals are usually the main frustration. But there’s still so much more to monitor, and that keeps me interested. I think those predicting the “death of the hobby” are short-sighted, and sometimes not willing to explore more of what’s out there. As you can probably tell, I’m optimistic about the future at this point.
>> 
>> Thank you, and please let me know if you have further questions or you’d like me to elaborate on anything.
>> 
>> David Schoenberger
>> 
>>> On Dec 21, 2018, at 9:21 AM, McCoy, Terrence <Terrence.McCoy at washpost.com <mailto:Terrence.McCoy at washpost.com>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Dear David,
>>> 
>>> My name is Terry McCoy, and I'm a reporter with The Washington Post. I'm working on a story on the state of scanning. Fewer and fewer people seem to be picking up the hobby, and I'm wondering -- in this age of Twitter and encrypted radio signals -- will this classic activity soon be on the way out? It's a classic character known to most American newsrooms, the local scanner who calls in tips of mayhem. But is that still happening the same way? Do people still care?
>>> 
>>> I'm also wondering about your own story of scanning. How did you come to do this? Is it rewarding? In what way? Do you ever become frustrated with it? When and why? Do you think there's a future in this?
>>> 
>>> I'll be writing a story over the next few days, and if you could answer this email with a few of your thoughts -- the more the better -- I'd be greatly appreciative. 
>>> 
>>> Many thanks,
>>> 
>>> Terry