Disabling Selective Inhibit in RSS

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 6:06 am

You may be out of luck. Although certain model radios support enabling/disabling of radio inhibit for conventional MDC systems, it's an intrinsic feature to Smartnet trunking systems & radios, meaning you can't turn it off (in the radios, at least). This is my understanding of it, anyway.

Todd

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 6:35 am

Smartnet/Smartzone radios can always be inhibited, regardless of what is set in the RSS.

If the radio gets inhibited, it is probably because it shouldn't be there in the first place. If you are a legitimate user of the system and wish to have a 2nd radio, then ask for another id or permission for the clone so the radio doesn't get inhibited.

And if none of this applies to you and you continue using the radio and it gets inhibited, just read it with RSS and write back to it. That will clear the inhibit.

A word to the wise, unless you are trasmitting on a smartnet system, the controller won't see a cloned radio if it is cloned after a valid ID. Smartzone is a different beast though - Watch it, you can get in big trouble.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 10:24 am

I see your dilemma, I have not heard of new versions of RSS refusing to load codeplugs of inhibited radios, but I suppose it is possible considering the news of people hacking public safety systems and causing big problems.

In that case, all bets are off short of you having depot software for your particular radio (Which is highly unlikely since all new depot software is based on Flashport technology). I would talk to your friend about getting a valid system ID. Your other choice is buying a used console and uninhibiting your own radio. Motorola would definately give you a big run around if you sent a inhibited radio to them that was hacked with illegally obtained lab software.

Chris

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 12:55 pm

Something interesting along the lines of this post. I checked the readme files for both the MTS2000 and MCS2000 radios, and this is what it says:

MCS RSS R05.04.10 FEATURES:
--------------------------
The following new features are available ONLY for MCS 2000 radios
since Radio Software Version R05.04.10:

-Radio Selective Inhibit changes for Trunking

So, it looks like if you're using the latest version RSS (6.05.00 for MTSX, 5.05.00 for MCS) then you can no longer revive your inhibited radio with RSS. You'd better stick to versions 6.04.10 & 5.04.10 for this reason. I'm assuming it's the same story for the latest Windows versions as well. Always check the readme file!
I checked the readme files which accompanied the latest GTX & LCS RSS, but it did not mention this change. We won't know until someone tries it, I guess.

Todd

HAM-AAF · Post by **HAM-AAF** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 5:59 pm

First you can use a SMART NET/ZONE Decode software to get a valid ¡°individual ID¡±. I think you have already get system ID and talk group number and control frequency

You also can reckon some valid ¡°individual ID¡± which is not often used.

When you program the radio not use SMARTZONE, use SMART NET for one site. And you can set ¡°Auto Affiliation¡± to disable. Then when you open the radio(not push PTT), the system does not know you have in.

Post by **wavetar** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 6:16 pm

All that doesn't matter. If your radio is listening to the control channel (which it has to be, if you're monitoring talkgroups on the system), then you can be inhibited, whether or not you are affiliated or programmed as SmartZone or Smartnet. Wrong connect tone, invalid or valid ID, it doesn't matter. The software can be set to either kill the radio upon affiliation, or a command can be used to kill an ID immediately, whether affiliated or not.

On the other hand, this is normally used to disable a lost or stolen radio, with a known ID. If they don't know what ID you're using, and your radio has never affiliated with the system, the clone find software won't work, it can't find you. The software is used to find 2 identical IDs using the system at once, so not being affiliated would get around that.
So, the long & short of it is, any radio can be inhibited, but monitoring silently makes it very difficult to do so.

Todd

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 8:02 pm

I recently purchased a GTX just for the purpose of monitoring. I've done 2 things to facilitate that purpose: I programmed all (only

freqs for the voice channels on the system, and I scan them if I want to be just plain nosey about everything. I've programmed all the talkgroups I could find into it - about 60. The MOST important thing: I lifted the input lead to the PA brick. I can't think of anything worse than getting caught with a radio - let alone a trunking radio that I had to gen a key for - that can transmit on PS freqs. If you have no need to transmit with your radio, that's the safest possible route to go. Once that's done, just set your individual ID to an existing radio.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Sat Dec 01, 2001 8:59 pm

Watch your step with this guy!!

If you radio is affiliating on their system or even trying to unsuccessfully, you are open to prosecution if someone wants to make an example of you or the FCC gets involved. You want these admins to either be your friend or not know you exist.

Bob W · Post by **Bob W** » Sun Dec 02, 2001 8:01 am

The systems he mentioned previously are in Canada. FCC does not apply, and I've got no idea how Communications Canada operates - remember, they didn't even outlaw scanning cellphones there!

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sun Dec 02, 2001 10:05 pm

Whats the difference between Smartnet and Smartzone?

mike38015 · Post by **mike38015** » Fri Dec 21, 2001 8:35 am

On 2001-12-01 23:24, r0f wrote:
I talked to the telco radio people on friday, advising them that I had my radio programmed to monitor the PS, and I was using RID 700000 - which is not a valid RID. I advised of all the changes I'd made in the RSS menus to ensure I would not be able to TX or access their system, and they didn't seem to care.

The system manager is a real prick. He said "I can't say for sure that we won't kill you"

I told them that if they killed my radio, I'd be taking it to them to have it uninhibited, or I'd take them to small claims court.

You'd have to understand my colorful past relationship with these guys, to understand the whole situation.

Lots of varying opinions on here I'm sure, but as long as I'm going out of my way to make sure I'm not using their system, or able to transmit on their system, I really don't see them having a point.

I've gone out of my way to make them aware that my radio is there, and even given them my RID to ensure they aren't on a wild goose chase to "hunt" it down.

One note of interest.. The system manager I spoke with said that they can't poll 700000 because it's an invalid ID, thus it can't be killed. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Thanks - r0f

I was discussing this vey same issue with an individual from the ACLU, he stated that if they do in fact inhibit your radio and you were not doing anything illeagal i.e. transmitting, odds are they would take the case for you. Public service agency are using scare tactics to prevent something they cannot prevent, that is why they have to do it for the news media and anyone else who asks. Most of the time though it is easier to just do it yourself through the back door. Contact your local ACLU office and inquire, it couldn't hurt.

Post by **/\/\y 2 cents** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 1:49 am

and i'm sure al sharpton will speak for your behalf in court too...c'mon people, those ACLU guys are low paid attorneys out of grad school....i do not even think they can do anything for you if you are in canada...i mean it is the "American" civil liberties union right? they dont have the CCLU or anything up there do they? just a thought...you were better off keeping your trap shut and never letting anybody know you had that thing on the system in the first place...he may be your friend to your face, but not everything is always what it seems, especially when someones job is on the line....protect yourself.

Post by **/\/\y 2 cents** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 1:49 am

and i'm sure al sharpton will speak for your behalf in court too...c'mon people, those ACLU guys are low paid attorneys out of grad school....i do not even think they can do anything for you if you are in canada...i mean it is the "American" civil liberties union right? they dont have the CCLU or anything up there do they? just a thought...you were better off keeping your trap shut and never letting anybody know you had that thing on the system in the first place...he may be your friend to your face, but not everything is always what it seems, especially when someones job is on the line....protect yourself.