From: Mike Godwin <mnemonic@eff.org>
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 93 22:10:18 PST
To: karn@qualcomm.com (Phil Karn)
Subject: Re: LAW: Wireless interception
In-Reply-To: <9311150557.AA04875@servo>
Message-ID: <199311150608.AA00124@eff.org>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Phil Karn writes:
 
> Mike is correct that early models of cordless phones could often be
> picked up on broadcast radios. Their base stations transmitted just
> above the AM broadcast band (in the 1.7 Mhz region). Since then, all
> new cordless phones operate on the 46 and 49 Mhz bands, which
> generally require a scanner to receive.
> 
> However, cell phones still operate in what used to be UHF TV channels
> 70-83, and it is still possible in some cases to intercept cell phone
> calls on a UHF TV set. So much for *that* theory. :-)

Actually, all this shows is that the drafters of ECPA didn't anticipate
that TV watchers would use their TVs to overhear cellular conversations.


--Mike