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| Keeping Two Way Conversations Private; Methods to keep your conversation private on the public airwaves | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 12 2015, 07:02 AM (44 Views) | |
| Michigan Swampbuck | Oct 12 2015, 07:02 AM Post #1 |
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Common ways to preserve your privacy on a two way Language and Conversations: The first line of defense in privacy on any 2-way radio frequency is to obscure your language using codes and jargon and sound as normal as possible while you do it. Be proper and polite and don't blatantly break any laws while you're on the air. Use only unit numbers, as few words as possible and put a lot of dead air space between comments. Now, let's say that these efforts aren't enough to preserve privacy or you suspect you're being monitored and tracked. What to do when someone starts to question you on the radio? Do you stay silent and just listen, ignore them and keep talking or go to another frequency? If you are using proper radio jargon and keeping conversations short, no one will probably question you on the unlicensed frequencies. However, if someone is getting nosey and asking questions, they are either just curious, trying to start trouble, or it's someone trying to infiltrate your communications. If they seem like they are genuine and not messing with you, you could use conversation to determine if they are a problem. When questioned, give more or less accurate information about yourself. When you're questioning them, use carefully worded questions while making it sound like a normal conversation. If there isn't any heat on you, they are probably not a threat, but always be careful what you say to anyone on the air. Operation Times: A good way to keep under cover is to limit conversation time and operate on a rotating or random time schedule. This makes it less likely anyone will catch more than a single conversation. Radio Silence: Using a predetermined duration of radio silence works well when there is someone is messing with you. After 10 minutes, most instigators will get bored and leave the frequency. However, this may not work if the frequency in question is considered by the trouble maker to be his home frequency. In such a case, just quietly go to a more private frequency. Standby Frequency: Another strategy to employ is to have a contact channel, or standby, on a frequency with little traffic. You make contact on that channel and use it until any traffic causes you to go to another predetermined frequency. In some cases you may need to go from the contact frequency immediately to another one after making contact. Stealth Two-Way Communications Whatever frequencies are used, certain protocols and methods can be used in different scenarios to insure the highest privacy for sensitive communications. In addition to the methods described above, are the following . . . Line of Sight: When communicating in line of sight, obstructions like hills and buildings can be used to block your signal from other stations. Also, the horizon line can be used by limiting the height of your antenna. An antenna at a height of 6 feet will be blocked by the horizon line at about 3 miles away. Basically every two feet of antenna height equals a range of one mile. When using directional antennas, ie. yagi "beam" antennas, the signal is mostly traveling in the forward direction it is pointed with some traveling behind. A 3db forward gain increases your transmit and receive signal strength 2X, a 6db gain will increase your signal 4X. When two directional antenna are pointed at each other, the signal becomes harder for other stations to pick up from either side of the line of sight. If the antennas are polarized horzontally (placed on it's side), rather than the typical vertical polarization (placed up up and down), the signal becomes harder to pick up on a vertical antenna. Terrain: The local terrain could help keep conversations private by blocking signals. If your group is in a valley, chances are no one outside the valley will hear you. If you have an open area, like an open plain or lake, communications are better across the opening, but you'd want some obstructions in unwanted directions to block your signals. In an urban setting, you could communicate down a long open street with your signal blocked by the buildings along the side of the street. Low Power: A low powered signal may seem like a disadvantage esp. concerning distance, however, when in range, a low powered signal will not be heard beyond said range. With multiple low power stations within range of each other, a message can be relayed from station to station. When relaying messages, switching frequencies from one station to the next will help to hide your signal. Relaying messages can be done manually or automatically with a repeater. Specialized Codes: Creating a specialized code (like the 10 code) or jargon (like CB slang) will help keep your two way conversations private. It is illegal to use specialized codes, however, the 10-code and Q-code are accepted for use. Altering these codes to have other meanings will make it seem that you are obeying the law on code use. Creating a locally relevant slang jargon could be used if it sounds like a normal conversation, although a modified CB slang would pass as legit. Using historic place names, nick names, or obscure/private references that would only be understood by other stations would comply with the plain language use laws. Edited by Michigan Swampbuck, Mar 5 2016, 09:58 AM.
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4:35 AM Jul 11