[ScanIndiana] Re: police simplex update

[David L Norris]

I suppose it might help to explain how a freq is added to the unlicensed
"police simplex" list.  Extensive research is done on every frequency on
that list.  This isn't just the work of a single author.  Tom has taken
the time to compile the listing and keep it updated.  He finds the most
new frequencies.  But, the end result is the product of several people
cross checking and listening.  A frequency is listed as "possible" once
it's first heard.  Then it is monitored by others for some time (days,
weeks, months) to determine who's using it, when, and where.

But, the very first thing done is to check current and pending FCC
records; then check other references such as Police Call from years
past.

The original freq posting on March 13 has extensive notes about
licensing and usage over the course of years of monitoring. (Years, in
some cases, meaning 10+ years.)  In some _very_ rare cases they are
running on city and county freqs; many of which have expired licenses. 
In even rarer cases they could be running with the consent of a
business.  From conversations I've heard they don't bother to ask anyone
but now are at least considering asking business users for permission.

On air I've heard several licensed business users trying to run them off
channel and then being harassed by the police for "interfering with
their police channel."  Even on city/county freqs I've heard dispatchers
trying to run them off of, no longer used but still monitored, channels
they have not been authorized to use.

Many of these "police simplex" freqs are licensed by no one whatsoever
in the US.  Many are not even licensable frequencies.  I have to wonder
how often FCC licenses amateur, marine, NOAA, military, incorrectly
spaced, etc freqs to local police agencies or cities or counties. 
Nevermind that they are not using type accepted equipment for those
bands.


As far as I'm concerned, we are not singling out the police.  The police
are singling themselves out by running so many radios with so much power
on so many unlicensed freqs.  Add to that vulgar language and
indifference to the requests of licensed users.  A few dozen ran
unlicensed for over a decade and no one cared because they never caused
anyone a problem.  But, all of the sudden we have a few hundred police,
many of which, just doing whatever they please wherever they please and
harassing the licensed users for daring to question them.  If hams or
businesses are doing the same thing they should suffer the same fate.
This isn't just some cops running unlicensed freqs.  Some of them are
simply running amok.

-- 
 David Norris
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