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Tracking down radio transmissions

In Canada, the USA, and likely other countries in the world, there are Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) capable portable two-way radios. These average 1 or 2 mile maximum range “walkie-talkies” as many people call them are free for the public to use without a government issued licence. They can be bought in many retail stores. For the past couple of weeks, my scanner receiver has been tuned to these FRS/GMRS frequencies. There is not much activity that I hear except two groups that I am now attempting to find out who and where they are.

These two groups broadcast each day, but they do not broadcast frequently. Both are some kind of business as the radio users are employees. They have not yet said anything over the radio that I can use to identify them. All I know for sure so far is that they must be fairly close by because the radios they are using are not long range. Probably within a couple of city blocks. Not all transmissions are clear, so that also makes me guess where they could be coming from.

To assist me in my search, I have the audio from my scanner recorded by my computer through Audacity having it set in the “sound activation recording” mode. This way I can listen to all the recorded transmissions in a few minutes and pick out any clues I might hear. I can also listen again to hard to hear transmissions. What is annoying is there are many radio "call" transmissions recorded.

Another thing I can do is walk around with my scanner and earphones where I suspect these people could be. I may be able to identify them this way.

It is a fun game that kind of makes me feel like an investigator, or a spy, or somthing sometimes.

UPDATE: I think I may have identified one. A new transmission was heard. I keep listening.

© Trevor Dailey

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