Surveillance Frequency Selection COPYRIGHT (C) 1991 BY FULL DISCLOSURE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This article will over techniques of selecting frequency for surveillance use. This information pertains to lawful surveillance by State and Local government agencies. Federal agencies are not bound by FCC regulations. Those not intending to use the technical surveillance information in a criminal prosecutor might be more apt to hide their operation by using a more obscure frequency. The information herein has been derived from ``A Guide For Establishing Electronic Surveillance Operations,'' distributed by Audio Intelligence Devices, 1400 NW 62d St, Ft Lauderdale, Florida 33309. Phone: (305) 776-5000, Fax: (305) 776-5005 at the NATIA conference. The starting point is the examination of FCC regulations that relate to surveillance radio operation. FCC Regulation 90.19(g)(3): ``A licensee may use, without special approval from the Commission, any mobile service frequency between 40 and 952 MHz listed in Subpart B of this part of the Rules, for communications in connection with physical surveillance, stakeouts, raids and other such activities. Such use shall be on a secondary basis to the operations of licensees regularly authorized on the assigned frequencies. The maximum output power that may be used for such communications is 2 watts. Transmitters operating under this provision of the Rules, shall be exempted from the station identification requirements, of Section 90.425. Use of Public Safety frequencies not listed in paragraph (d) of this section is conditional on the approval of the coordinator corresponding to each frequency...'' Three suggestions on selecting a frequency to use within these specifications are provided: 1) Contacting the Association of Public Communication Officers (APCO) frequency coordinator and reviewing the options for your area, 2) Using a mobile police scanner to search through the VHF band and make a list of the used and unused frequencies in your area. Any of the unused ones that meet the FCC requirements would be usable, or 3) Deriving a list of unused frequency from a police frequency directory and then using a scanner to make sure they are in fact open. After selection of a frequency or frequencies, a surveillance user has to remain aware that it could be assigned to someone in the future requiring reselection of a surveillance frequency. Surveillance transmitters used for tracking purposes (vehicle, person, etc) have a different set of requirements to fulfil. In addition to power output requirements, there are stricter frequency requirements and the transmitters must have a ``positive means'' to limit the transmission time to no more than 10 days. The use of battery life is an allowable method to control transmission time. Tracking transmitters are required to operate in the following frequency ranges: 150.999 - 151.490 MHz 153.740 - 154.445 MHz 154.635 - 155.195 MHz 155.415 - 156.250 MHz 158.715 - 159.465 MHz The following public safety radio frequencies have been allocated by the FCC for the following services: Police 154.650 154.665 154.680 154.695 154.710 154.725 154.740 154.770 154.785 154.800 154.815 154.830 154.845 154.860 154.875 154.890 154.905 154.920 154.935 154.950 155.010 155.070 155.130 155.190 155.250 155.310 155.370 155.415 155.430 155.445 155.460 155.475 155.490 155.505 155.535 155.550 155.580 155.595 155.610 155.625 155.640 155.655 155.670 155.685 155.700 155.730 155.790 155.850 155.910 155.970 156.030 156.090 156.150 156.210 158.730 158.790 158.850 158.910 159.030 159.090 159.150 159.210 Local Government 153.740 153.755 153.785 153.800 153.815 153.845 153.860 153.875 153.905 153.920 153.935 153.965 153.980 153.995 154.025 154.040 154.055 154.085 154.100 154.115 154.45625 154.46375 154.47175 154.47875 154.965 154.980 154.995 154.025 154.040 154.055 154.085 155.100 155.115 155.145 155.715 155.745 155.760 155.775 155.805 155.820 155.835 155.865 155.880 155.895 155.925 155.940 155.955 155.985 156.000 156.015 158.745 158.760 158.775 158.805 158.820 158.835 158.865 158.880 158.895 158.925 158.940 158.955 173.20375 173.210 173.2375 173.2625 173.2875 173.3125 173.3375 173.3625 173.390 173.39625 Fire 153.770 153.830 153.890 153.950 154.010 154.070 154.130 154.145 154.160 154.175 154.190 154.205 154.220 154.235 154.250 154.265 154.280 154.295 154.310 154.325 154.340 154.355 154.370 154.385 154.400 154.415 154.430 154.445 166.250 170.150 Highway Maintenance 150.995 151.010 151.025 151.040 151.055 151.070 151.085 151.100 151.115 151.130 156.045 156.060 156.075 156.105 156.120 156.135 156.165 156.180 156.195 156.225 156.240 157.050 157.110 158.985 159.000 159.015 159.045 159.060 159.075 159.105 159.120 159.135 153.165 159.180 159.159 Forest Conservation 151.145 151.160 151.175 151.190 151.205 151.220 151.235 151.250 151.265 151.280 151.295 151.310 151.325 151.340 151.355 151.370 151.385 151.400 151.415 151.430 151.445 151.460 151.475 151.490 159.225 159.240 159.255 159.270 159.285 159.300 159.315 153.330 153.345 159.360 159.375 159.390 159.405 159.420 159.435 159.465 170.425 170.475 170.575 171.425 171.475 171.575 172.225 172.275 172.375 The above is reprinted from Full Disclosure Newspaper. 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