The demise of the payphone - Page 2

Checkmite · 10th November 2012, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by rjh01

On the other hand anything said could be recorded. If you say "we will rob the bank in New York city at 10 am tomorrow" you can be confident that the police will know about it.

If one is concerned about the incredibly unlikely possibility of police randomly recording all CB channels hoping to catch random incriminating utterings, this kind of thing is pretty easily gotten around by simply not mentioning New York City by name, banks, or robbing.

rjh01 · 10th November 2012, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Checkmite

If one is concerned about the incredibly unlikely possibility of police randomly recording all CB channels hoping to catch random incriminating utterings, this kind of thing is pretty easily gotten around by simply not mentioning New York City by name, banks, or robbing.

It does not have to be the police. It could be a normal human being. They hear something possibly criminal, record it and report it to the police.

This has happened in the movies, like this one The Bank Job. This was based on reality. I include this just to show what I mean and to show that what I am saying is not impossible.

carlitos · 10th November 2012, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Almo

I hate that there are no pay phones in Dallas. What do you do if you're from Canada and have pay-as-you-go phone? I couldn't make a call.

Why couldn't you make a call?

OnlyTellsTruths · 11th November 2012, 03:12 AM

Originally Posted by carlitos

Why couldn't you make a call?

Roaming charges perhaps?

Or perhaps their carrier did not have an agreement with any of the US carriers....

Dan O. · 11th November 2012, 08:00 AM

Originally Posted by Checkmite

If the people you need to be in contact with while maintaining collective anonymity are all in the same general area, it's quite difficult to beat CB radio. As long as you don't directly mention any proper names, it's pretty much foolproof:

Unless whoever your are trying to hide from has RDF capability.

Mercurial Artism · 11th November 2012, 07:39 PM

They can't get rid of all payphones, or Maxwell Smart won't be able to get to CONTROL HQ!

Checkmite · 11th November 2012, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by rjh01

It does not have to be the police. It could be a normal human being. They hear something possibly criminal, record it and report it to the police.

This has happened in the movies, like this one The Bank Job. This was based on reality. I include this just to show what I mean and to show that what I am saying is not impossible.

I'd thought it could be safely assumed people would not be using proper names, dates, and times during their communications using CB. But if that wasn't an assumption readers were making, let it be so now.

Checkmite · 11th November 2012, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dan O.

Unless whoever your are trying to hide from has RDF capability.

Also something it is extremely unlikely law enforcement authorities will be using against you. The FCC has occasionally used RDF to find pirate FM radio stations and such which by nature are continually-broadcasting or at the very least broadcasting for long periods of time, allowing an operator with RDF equipment in a vehicle the opportunity to drive around and figure out the location of the station by trial and error. I've never heard of any LEA using RDF in this fashion, apart from the FCC using it for this very specific kind of case.

CB radio, on the other hand, is by nature a more transient thing and mostly a mobile communications platform. It would be a waste of time to try to use RDF to chase a CB transmitter. If you're paranoid enough to think the government will be doing this, all you have to do to evade RDF is use a mobile transceiver and drive around while doing your communication.

Fishstick · 11th November 2012, 11:56 PM

They have phones in booths now? Finally, I don't have to lug this cellphone around anymore!

SezMe · 12th November 2012, 12:54 AM

Somehow reminds me of that phrase to "drop a dime" on a perp. Do kids even know what that means anymore?

Dan O. · 12th November 2012, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Checkmite

CB radio, on the other hand, is by nature a more transient thing and mostly a mobile communications platform. It would be a waste of time to try to use RDF to chase a CB transmitter. If you're paranoid enough to think the government will be doing this, all you have to do to evade RDF is use a mobile transceiver and drive around while doing your communication.

I build and use my own RDF equipment so I know the capabilities. It doesn't take continuous transmission to track down a rogue transmitter except in the movies. I've even considered building a network of auto trackers to triangulate signals on certain public service bands just so I could know where there might be a speed trap.

As to evading RDF by driving around, that just saves the tracker the trouble of having to drive around to find you.

10th November 2012, 01:00 PM	#42
rjh01 Gentleman of leisure Tagger Join Date: May 2005 Location: Planet Earth Posts: 17,178	Originally Posted by Checkmite If one is concerned about the incredibly unlikely possibility of police randomly recording all CB channels hoping to catch random incriminating utterings, this kind of thing is pretty easily gotten around by simply not mentioning New York City by name, banks, or robbing. It does not have to be the police. It could be a normal human being. They hear something possibly criminal, record it and report it to the police. This has happened in the movies, like this one The Bank Job. This was based on reality. I include this just to show what I mean and to show that what I am saying is not impossible.
	__________________ dddffffpppqqqq Want to use your computer for something that will make society better? See this thread for details Folding@home

11th November 2012, 03:12 AM	#44
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	Originally Posted by carlitos Why couldn't you make a call? Roaming charges perhaps? Or perhaps their carrier did not have an agreement with any of the US carriers....
OnlyTellsTruths Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 5,787	__________________ ________________________

11th November 2012, 08:00 AM	#45
Dan O. Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,739	Originally Posted by Checkmite If the people you need to be in contact with while maintaining collective anonymity are all in the same general area, it's quite difficult to beat CB radio. As long as you don't directly mention any proper names, it's pretty much foolproof: Unless whoever your are trying to hide from has RDF capability.
Dan O. Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,739

11th November 2012, 07:39 PM	#46
Mercurial Artism Scholar Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 108	They can't get rid of all payphones, or Maxwell Smart won't be able to get to CONTROL HQ!
Mercurial Artism Scholar Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 108

12th November 2012, 06:45 AM	#51
Dan O. Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,739	Originally Posted by Checkmite CB radio, on the other hand, is by nature a more transient thing and mostly a mobile communications platform. It would be a waste of time to try to use RDF to chase a CB transmitter. If you're paranoid enough to think the government will be doing this, all you have to do to evade RDF is use a mobile transceiver and drive around while doing your communication. I build and use my own RDF equipment so I know the capabilities. It doesn't take continuous transmission to track down a rogue transmitter except in the movies. I've even considered building a network of auto trackers to triangulate signals on certain public service bands just so I could know where there might be a speed trap. As to evading RDF by driving around, that just saves the tracker the trouble of having to drive around to find you.
Dan O. Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,739

10th November 2012, 08:43 AM	#41
Checkmite Skepticifimisticalationist Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Third in line Posts: 14,879	Originally Posted by rjh01 On the other hand anything said could be recorded. If you say "we will rob the bank in New York city at 10 am tomorrow" you can be confident that the police will know about it. If one is concerned about the incredibly unlikely possibility of police randomly recording all CB channels hoping to catch random incriminating utterings, this kind of thing is pretty easily gotten around by simply not mentioning New York City by name, banks, or robbing.

10th November 2012, 10:16 PM	#43
carlitos "más divertido" Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 11,503	Originally Posted by Almo I hate that there are no pay phones in Dallas. What do you do if you're from Canada and have pay-as-you-go phone? I couldn't make a call. Why couldn't you make a call?

11th November 2012, 10:14 PM	#47
Checkmite Skepticifimisticalationist Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Third in line Posts: 14,879	Originally Posted by rjh01 It does not have to be the police. It could be a normal human being. They hear something possibly criminal, record it and report it to the police. This has happened in the movies, like this one The Bank Job. This was based on reality. I include this just to show what I mean and to show that what I am saying is not impossible. I'd thought it could be safely assumed people would not be using proper names, dates, and times during their communications using CB. But if that wasn't an assumption readers were making, let it be so now.

11th November 2012, 10:24 PM	#48
Checkmite Skepticifimisticalationist Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Third in line Posts: 14,879	Originally Posted by Dan O. Unless whoever your are trying to hide from has RDF capability. Also something it is extremely unlikely law enforcement authorities will be using against you. The FCC has occasionally used RDF to find pirate FM radio stations and such which by nature are continually-broadcasting or at the very least broadcasting for long periods of time, allowing an operator with RDF equipment in a vehicle the opportunity to drive around and figure out the location of the station by trial and error. I've never heard of any LEA using RDF in this fashion, apart from the FCC using it for this very specific kind of case. CB radio, on the other hand, is by nature a more transient thing and mostly a mobile communications platform. It would be a waste of time to try to use RDF to chase a CB transmitter. If you're paranoid enough to think the government will be doing this, all you have to do to evade RDF is use a mobile transceiver and drive around while doing your communication.

11th November 2012, 11:56 PM	#49
Fishstick Graduate Poster Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,303	They have phones in booths now? Finally, I don't have to lug this cellphone around anymore!

12th November 2012, 12:54 AM	#50
SezMe post-pre-born Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 16,369	Somehow reminds me of that phrase to "drop a dime" on a perp. Do kids even know what that means anymore?