SH> First off, its NOT illegalt to manufacture scanner thats receive 
ellular!
BJ> 
BJ> Yes, it IS.  It's also illegal to sell scanners designed to be able to 
moni
BJ> cellular.  The fact that some radios and TVs can monitor cellular because 
o
BJ> IMAGE freqs does not make those units illegal.
BJ> 
BJ> Law Enforcement does NOT get warrants that would allow them to use 
scanners
BJ> monitor cellular, since they would have NO control over what units they 
hea
BJ>  The warrants are VERY specific as to who they can monitor, and they go 
to 
BJ> source to do it.
Regarding your first comment.. Perhaps their is a discrepance between the
words "test equipment" and "scanner", but irregardless I hate to tell you
but these scanner companies  "DO" undisputedly sell scanners capable of
cellular reception. There is no doubt about that and all you have to do is
either read ICOMS catalog or call ICOM and they will tell you that ceartain 
models are reserved for government useage (those being the full coverage 
models with no blocking). The government is above the law my friend, you
seem to forget that. The law is NOT written for the government to follow,
it only applies to the people (in this specific case). Their exists almost
no law on the books which restricts any piece of electronic equipment which
the government can use.. these restrictions are for ordinary citizens.
Secondly, as for intercepting of cellular, yes they can go to "the source"
with a warrant.. but perhaps you have never heard of a cellular phone 
interception system which is sold widely to law enforcement.  The unit
does NOT randomly monitor any call on a channel, but only targets one
specific user (hopefully under warrant) by tracking the call as it is handed 
off from channel to channel.   Secondly, how do you think the cellula 
companies are allowed to own the equipment they do also.. because it is
deemed "test equipment" and because it is exemp. How do you think every 
company that sells  "spectrum analyzers" which can demodulate cellular
can sell their stuff, because it is exempt under the clause of "test 
equipment" (although its questionable as to whether you would call a spectrum 
analyzer a "scanning receiver".
--- GEcho 1.00
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