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From: frankb@hpsad.HP.COM (Frank Ball)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: I listen to cellular traffic on my VCR !
Message-ID: <1840041@hpsad.HP.COM>
Date: 25 Mar 91 19:07:30 GMT
References: <77415@bu.edu.bu.edu>
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Lines: 24


* I was messing around with my RCA Stereo VCR the other day, and noticed
*I could use the fine tuning channel selector to literally tune the
*entire range of frequencies that the TV channels are located in.  And I
*mean tune them _finely_.    Anyway, I realized after stumbling upon
*the MBTA traffic (Bostons subway) that I needed to get the AM portion
*of the information, since TV's audio is FM.  So I took the video out of
*my VCR and connected it to my amplifier.   Lo and behold, suddenly I could
*tune to most airport traffic, subway traffic, and yes, local cellular phone
*traffic.
* 
*I assume I'm probably not supposed to be listening to other people's 
*telephone calls.

The FM band is just above channel 6.  Channel 6 can be picked up on
an FM radio also.

Cellular radio is what used to be UHF channels 70 thru 81 or 83 (whatever
it went up to).  These were re-allocated for cellular radio.  

You can only get 1/2 of the conversation, since they transmit and receive
on different frequencies.

Frank Ball   frankb@hpsad.HP.COM   pyramid!hplabs!hpsad!frankb