Listening to RNLI on channel 0

[boristhebold]

My question is - is it ilegal to listen on channel 0 the RNLI and coastguard frequency ? I had a radio scanner with me while out today (cant transmit only listen) and came across a major incident unfolding on the cliffs between durlston lighthouse and dancing ledge, two life boats, one helicopter, police, a csi unit and cliff rescue personel on the cliff top. Winchman transferred from helo to lifeboat to cliff edge. Lots of police etc parked up by durlston lighthouse.

Heard reference to 'Tango 4' and a tad later heard exactly what that referred to, not a good outcome. I had yesterday been walking along the exact same path with my girlfriend.

Very sad about the outcome, haven't heard what it was about as yet.

[The Black Pig]

Not illegal to listen


They normally switch to a scrambled Chanel when things get a bit serious

[gpsguru]

There is no problewm with listening on a scanner ....... the wireless telegarphy act (section 5) only prohibits you from transmitting or installing equipment that has the ability to transmit.

A deceased code varies between different services ........... the ambulance service used to use code 'purple'.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by gpsguru

There is no problewm with listening on a scanner ....... the wireless telegarphy act (section 5) only prohibits you from transmitting or installing equipment that has the ability to transmit.

A deceased code varies between different services ........... the ambulance service used to use code 'purple'.

S48 prohibits intercepting messages which were not intended for you, It’s not clear to me if Ch0 on a scanner counts as “interception” but I’m pretty certain that sharing the content here is disclosure. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/36/section/48

We will all have learned on our VHF training that messages you overhear should not be shared publicly... Given the nature of the message in the OP, I wonder why Borris thought it was wise to share the content?

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by The Black Pig

Not illegal to listen


They normally switch to a scrambled Chanel when things get a bit serious

Never heard of a scrambled vhf channel, not even had the option on the rescue craft I’ve crewed - always just used 0

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

Never heard of a scrambled vhf channel, not even had the option on the rescue craft I’ve crewed - always just used 0

Most Icom marine VHFs can be fitted with scramblers. We used to have them fitted to discuss diving activities between our group’s boats, that we wanted to keep ahem “discreet”[emoji6]

[Lee argyle]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Most Icom marine VHFs can be fitted with scramblers. We used to have them fitted to discuss diving activities between our group’s boats, that we wanted to keep ahem “discreet”[emoji6]

I don’t doubt they exist, but like I said it wasn’t an option on the crafts i crewed on, every local south coast rescue resource used 0 as the comms channel and everything to do with the casualty / incident was discussed on it, bet 0 was busy this morning, naughty ferry ran a couple of yachts over in thick fog, lots of lifeboats tasked to Cowes to help.......

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Poly

Given the nature of the message in the OP, I wonder why Borris thought it was wise to share the content?

Yes I'm sure the police are knocking on his door as we speak

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Yes I'm sure the police are knocking on his door as we speak

Nah! They’ll be busy counselling some snowflake who’s been offended on Facebook[emoji849]

[Poly]

Originally Posted by Tim M

Yes I'm sure the police are knocking on his door as we speak

Do we need to believe that a prosecution is likely for us to abide by the law? Do we need to tell us about a fatality and rescue operation to ask whether you are allowed to listen to a channel your radio doesn’t have precisely so that the emergency services can discuss details without the public joining in?

[boristhebold]

Originally Posted by Poly

S48 prohibits intercepting messages which were not intended for you, It’s not clear to me if Ch0 on a scanner counts as “interception” but I’m pretty certain that sharing the content here is disclosure. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/36/section/48

We will all have learned on our VHF training that messages you overhear should not be shared publicly... Given the nature of the message in the OP, I wonder why Borris thought it was wise to share the content?

Be real, ive hardly shared the content, ive shared what I observed and one call sign I heard. Chill

[Poly]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

Be real, ive hardly shared the content, ive shared what I observed and one call sign I heard. Chill

But you had absolutely no reason to share it - it’s like rubber necking a crash on the motorway. Someone’s extreme misfortune has provided you with some social media titivation - but wasn’t going to help you get a better answer to the question of whether it was legal for you to listen to Ch 0 or not.

PS - that isn’t a call sign - it’s at best a “codeword”

[Tim M]

Originally Posted by Poly

But you had absolutely no reason to share it - it’s like rubber necking a crash on the motorway. Someone’s extreme misfortune has provided you with some social media titivation - but wasn’t going to help you get a better answer to the question of whether it was legal for you to listen to Ch 0 or not.

PS - that isn’t a call sign - it’s at best a “codeword”

What total and utter diatribe! Seemed like a legit question to me....

[The Black Pig]

Originally Posted by Tim M

What total and utter diatribe! Seemed like a legit question to me....

A quick search and as presumed “ diatribe” has been used on ribnet previously, points nonetheless

[Tim M]

[boristhebold]

Yipes, wished I had never asked a question now.

Poly please watch what you say, I am not into 'media titivation' and find that very insulting. I don't know whether its the way you write posts but often you can come across as 'having a go' at people for little or no reason.

[xpertski]

Seemed a genuine question to me. Do most posts on here take a turn for the worse if given time [emoji850]

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by boristhebold

Yipes, wished I had never asked a question now.

Poly please watch what you say, I am not into 'media titivation' and find that very insulting. I don't know whether its the way you write posts but often you can come across as 'having a go' at people for little or no reason.

You asked a question, Poly took the time answer and even gave you a reference to back it up.

It’s funny how differently things come across on a forum post sometimes though. Your initial post sounded like you were rather pleased to have overheard about a fatality. I’m sure you weren’t though.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by xpertski

..... Do most posts on here take a turn for the worse if given time [emoji850]

Only when people ask questions & then don’t like the answer. [emoji57]

[MustRib]

Questions of legality aside, I don't pass an accident on the M1 and then reach for a police scanner to satisfy my curiousity.
I live a sheltered life so maybe thats what everyone else is doing and I am odd.