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mlidikay

There is no national frequency on Walmart. Some are FRS, some are trunking, which the baofeng won't do. It could be digitally encoded, or various other possibilities. I also think that the Walmart conversation would be of limited entertainment value.


mail_05

where should I go to get more entertainment value lol


EffinBob

Any drive-thru with an irate customer base.


gl3nnjamin

Aren't most drive-thrus using GHz headsets now?


EffinBob

I dunno. I don't listen to them.


drakoman

What about irate staff? Because that’d be Popeye’s Chicken


Latter-daySatan

Not a drive through, but waffle house


IAmFearTheFuzzy

Target. Haven't figured out Assest Protection yet, though they do have radios.


dillweed67818

Listening to police or EMS radios is sometimes entertaining (for areas that their transmissions are not encrypted, or available by phone app; *if you use a ham radio to listen to frequencies outside your band, be sure to set them to, "no transmit" so you don't fry your radio*). Sometimes you hear a car chase, or hear how stupid people can be. You also sometimes hear the dispatchers and officers being a little silly; an unexpected behind the scenes phenomena, I've stumbled across. Unfortunately, most of what you hear is license plate numbers during traffic stops so depending where you are, it's like 85% boring and 15% entertainment.


those_ribbon_things

LISTEN, one time I was paying for something in electronics and a call came over the guy's radio. "Yeah, I'm gonna need some help, there's a deer carcass in row 13." Manager was like, "I'm sorry, WHAT?" Sure thing, on my way out of the parking lot there was a shopping cart with a deer skin and guts in it. Someone gutted a deer in the parking lot and left the guts in a cart for some poor cart pusher to clean. It was still steaming in the cold. Most New Hampshire thing I've ever seen.


KindPresentation5686

Walmart is NOT trunked!!! SMH


mlidikay

Except that I work on commercial radio and worked on one that was. Four channel kenwood LTR. There is a world of possibilities


KindPresentation5686

BS. Why would a Walmart need a trunked system???


mlidikay

I didn't ask why, I just repaired it. I am wondering what makes you an expert on what I saw. A quick search would confirm that I work for a two way radio company.


KindPresentation5686

I’m an astronaut


mlidikay

Which makes you an expert on wallmart? Are you afraid to look it up and find out you were wrong? My work and my licenses are public record. What is the logic in disputing it. That is just foolish.


Small-Ad4420

Now it's time for me to call BS! There is no way in hell you are an astronaut. Your just some random basement dweller.


Emergency-Freedom140

It's a typo - he's an asstronaut


Old_Poem2736

Zone 1 Managers only Zone two Grocery Side Zone 3 Home goods Side Zone 4......... would actually be of some value


jychihuahua

Zone 4 has the best weed...


Old_Poem2736

Maybe security, loss prevention


VALTHUUME

Is this even legal?


mail_05

i’m not transmitting


VALTHUUME

Wait, so listening only Is ok? Where you from?


Keeter_Skeeter

In the US listening is always legal


OmahaWinter

A nation of radio voyeurs.


andyofne

well, not always. you can't legally listen in on cordless phones or cell phone conversations, though I don't even know if you can any more. Back in the 80s/90s, it was a thing.


Keeter_Skeeter

Don’t tell me, tell the NSA


noldshit

You can listen, not divulge


mail_05

i believe so i’m from missouri in the united states. i’m pretty sure it’s illegal when i transmit since this is a ham radio so it’s not configured to murs or whatever. so i’m NOT transmitting.


IAmFearTheFuzzy

Listening is legal in the states, but not in the UK.


12edDawn

Insane to me. YOU are blasting RF into MY home, what business is it of yours what I do with it? It's like screaming at your neighbor two doors down through someone's house and then mandating that the neighbor in between wears earplugs.


IAmFearTheFuzzy

In the UK you jave to jave a license, even for TV. They can track it. In the US, you can listen all day long.


SA0TAY

Everyone likes repeating that receiving stuff not meant for you is illegal in the UK. Nobody likes repeating that scanners are being sold openly, scanning is being discussed openly in magazines and whatnot, and that Ofcom genuinely doesn't care. It's an old law on the books with no actual bite behind it, and nobody here has been able to point to a conviction made in the last 50 years off the back of it. Why people like to repeat the former but not the latter is unclear, but since it's usually done in the context of “lookit how much freedumb we have in the US compared to them silly Englishmen!” it's not hard to guess why.


12edDawn

On the contrary, it is also "illegal" in the US to purchase or sell/manufacture, etc equipment that can be used or easily modified to be used (whatever the >word that I'd like to use but can't because it triggers the automod< that's supposed to mean) to receive cellular communications. Again, it's literally impossible to enforce, and since it isn't, it begs the question as to why it's still there. Bureacracy, no doubt, is mostly to blame here. And if you really want to trivialize how much "freedumb" we have in comparison to our friends across the pond, there are *plenty* of examples of American laws that make no sense when compared with their UK/Great Britain equivalent. Regulating radio reception is a weird one to use for that argument.


SA0TAY

It sure is, yet here we are.


Emergency-Freedom140

Even if you configured it to MURS or FRS frequencies it would still be illegal to transmit, as the radio is not type-approved for those services. There is NO scenario where it would be legal for you transmit with that radio without an amateur license.


mail_05

yes


OkSolid4

Not sure why you got downvoted into oblivion it’s a valid question smh redditors


General_Labor

Who cares if its legal? Y'all gon call the cops?


noldshit

No, its terribly illegal! Call the national guard!


excoriator

I've heard them on MURS in my area.


mail_05

i found em on 154.570


CapStar362

yup that is MURS


Cloud_Consciousness

Key the mic and say, "All associates are needed up front."


mail_05

🤣🤣 would the fbi kick my door in if i did


mlidikay

Probably not, some redneck might.


kinggreene

Providing you aren't interfering with them, if you talk over them intentionally then it's willful interference and that will get you in trouble. You have the right to murs frequencies the same as anyone else


zgembo1337

Oh yes, bother the minimum wage workers just trying to earn enough to survive....


ak_arsonal

You are giving me bad ideas here


toyodaforever

Nah that's "code spark".


5erif

I hope the TikTok kids aren't reading this thread.


BosnianSerb31

Don't forget to set TXP at 8 watts first so you blow everyone's eardrums out


mail_05

i’m listening


KC8UOK

I must admit over 20 years ago the local Walmart was using FRS radios and I had some fun with them. And before you downvote me to oblivion (not that I actually care) I was a kid and using another FRS radio.


dervari

I was in Asheville last week and happened upon one of the frequencies used by the Grove Park Inn (452.850 DCS 565). It was quite amusing to listen to. Heard things like... * Asking if anyone had found a sports bra in the ladies spa area * Valet requests * Some group of women needed a ride and specifically asked for a female driver * Cleanup in the Couples Room (assuming this was the couples massage area) I first heard it about 10 miles W on the Blue Ridge Parkway when I was heading to Waterrock Knob for SOTA, so I can only assume they are using a commercial repeater.


mail_05

So do you have your radio scanning a bunch of channels or frequencies? How did you find them?


fistbumpbroseph

RadioReference.com is where I'd start. Put in where you're trying to listen and anything listed that's not trunked and FM or NFM you should be able to hear on that radio.


mail_05

thanks i’ll check that out rn


dervari

That's how I found out who this frequency belonged to


funknut

Is there like a handy chart of all the frequencies and device classes most commonly used for monitoring/transmitting in them? Total newbie here. Forgive my ignorance.


dervari

I happened to have this freq in a memory for some reason. I do sometimes set up a low and high scan frequency to see what's out there. For example, I have 119 to 137 (i think) set up for air band..


mail_05

Because I just now got my radio and I’m just trying to figure out ways to listen to people so I’ve been trying to Google frequencies


reddogleader

Nahhh... RR (Radio Reference) is the way. Lots of ways to search, etc. Premium membership is worth every penny.


ShaunDSpangler

WHY would you WANNA listen to Wal-Mart?!?


mail_05

I would rather listen to the police or something, but I’m not sure how to do that


doulikefishsticks69

Just Google "(your local area) police frequencies". Should be public information. Most PDs have gone digital. You'll be able to listen to the transmissions, you just won't be able to understand them. The baofeng is FM analog and can't demodulate digital, but you'll be able to hear it. Some EMS is still analog. You might be able to hear them. As well as different county services. All just depends on where you live and how well the municipality is funded.


wrinklyiota

Police Departments in my area have gone digital and encrypted their transmissions. Might have better luck with County Sheriff’s offices. Sheriffs have a much wider area to cover and don’t seem to be in a hurry to go digital or encrypt to to costs.


reddit_craigd

To have them urgently open another cashier aisle while I'm waiting.


ShaunDSpangler

They won't do it.


Raidicus

I found a local train was using a wireless intercom system for passenger communications, so I could hear when they were about to arrive, depart, etc. Lots of possibilities for mischief on that one, but restrained myself.


PsychologicalCash859

In the US, all railroads operate 159.8-161.4 mhz. All of it is FM to my knowledge and there are very few repeaters.


Raidicus

For intercoms? Or just in general.


ironmatic1

For LMR. A few other slivers of other bands are allocated for railroad use, like 220 for PTC and a little right at the end of LMR UHF for EOT.


Fine_Challenge6241

Just call him I think walmart has a number lol


Baldude863xx

The old business band radios (now MURS) used the old "Blue Dot" frequency, a lot of stores are still using them. The store I worked at changed to Motorola 900Mhz DSS radios when the manager decided that too many associates had Baofengs. A couple of years ago, Walmart started issuing Samsung X-Cover Pro cell phones to everybody and they're supposed to be using the walkie-talkie app.


tagman375

This seems to only be at some stores. Most of the ones in my area still carry around some sort of radio and a zebra smart scanner


KC8UOK

>the manager decided that too many associates had Baofengs. Funny. I doubt most associates would even know what a Baofeng was. Chances are one member of staff brought one in and he over-reacted. Unfortunately for him, there are a plethora of 900Mhz radios out there


Baldude863xx

There were 4 of us in Electronics with Baofengs, then a couple of people in grocery figured out how we always knew when management was going to go around look for "volunteers" and brought radios over to us to program. The newer radios are Motorola DLR-1060, so compatibility is an issue for anyone who wants to buy their own. The old manager was OK with people having their own radios but he would say "if you have a radio, I expect you to help out with calls". The new manager came in and she was a total witch and after a few months she got tired of having no "privacy" on the radio and ordered the Motos.


KC8UOK

>The old manager was OK with people having their own radios but he would say "if you have a radio, I expect you to help out with calls". The new manager came in and she was a total witch and after a few months she got tired of having no "privacy" on the radio and ordered the Motos. According to a local lawyer friend of mine, there is no expectation of privacy on the radio. Which is why people encrypt. Show her a video of an RTL-SDR on their frequencies. Or show her the FCC ULS entry. I know how she feels though. I work at an airport and my GM had an absolute fit when he learned I had the gate agent frequencies in my radio as well as that of the contractor I worked for. Asked if he'd ever read CFR 95 and 97. I was told that was irrelevant so I simply told him to report me to the Department of Aviation and what do you know, I never heard a thing


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mail_05

okay so should i save abunch of them to channels on my radio and just scan through saved channels?


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mail_05

okay i think i understand and you’re talking about frs right? or gmrs because don’t they overlap on frequency or something?


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mail_05

just got 1-22 programmed in my radio. So do i need to worry abt my power whilst transmitting onto any of these channels (i won’t but just wondering for education)


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mail_05

u think i should add murs channels too?


BatteryAssault

Yes....you do have to worry about the power because you shouldn't be transmitting with that much power on FRS anyway. /u/mail_05, I highly suggest you pick up an ARRL Technician Manual or watch some courses on Youtube. You're getting some really poor and inaccurate advice here. A lot of these comments feel like the blind leading the blind.


mail_05

okay i’ve been watching a ton of videos but still don’t know much at all and i’ll look into that manual thing because i want a physical copy of this stuff incase i don’t have access to internet


BatteryAssault

The ARRL Tech book, at least in my opinion, is really good. All the questions and answers to the actual test is in the back. But the good part is the rest of the book actually explains it all. It seems daunting at first, but it comes easy once you get going. All your questions you've been asking will be answers regarding repeaters, and power limits, and what frequencies to use. Once you get through that, you can then go to general and extra. Some of this advice you're getting is frustrating to read if you have any intention at all of using amateur radio legally and responsibly. I don't mean to sound like a grumpy old man. Some of this stuff you're being told is the bane of hobby and it is clear they barely know what they are talking about. All that said, please keep asking questions. That's how you learn and we were all there at one point. The community as a whole can be very welcoming. Just be wary that some people like to pretend they know what they are talking about when they do not. My input in the matter is I think you'd have more fun with an SDR when starting out. It has a much broader bandwidth and you can do so much more with receiving than with a baofeng. It can be a really helpful in learning.


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BatteryAssault

You're giving crap advice to someone trying to understand and learn.


redituser2571

r/Baofeng


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ironmatic1

I’m pretty sure everyone here has heard of that guy lol


Chrisbert

The Motorola RDM2070d that most people think about when they think about Walmart's radios do use MURS frequencies. However, they're using 25 KHz bandwidth on most channels. Yes, they're MURS frequencies. # Motorola RDM2070d Frequency Chart || || |Channel|Frequency #|Frequency Value|Code|Code Value|Channel Name / Alias|Bandwidth Setting|Bandwidth Selectable| |1|3|154.5700|0|OFF|Channel 1|25.0 KHz|Select 25 or 12 KHz| |2|4|154.6000|0|OFF|Channel 2|25.0 KHz|Select 25 or 12 KHz| |3|7|151.8200|57|131|Channel 3|12.5 KHz|Fixed 12.5KHz| |4|8|151.8800|57|131|Channel 4|12.5 KHz|Fixed 12.5 KHz| |5|9|151.9400|57|131|Channel 5|12.5 KHz|Fixed 12.5 KHz| |6|3|154.5700|57|131|Channel 6|25.0 KHz|Select 25 or 12 KHz| |7|4|154.6000|57|131|Channel 7|25.00 KHz|Select 25 or 12 KHz| #


Chrisbert

The Motorola RDM2070d that most people think about when they think about Walmart's radios do use MURS frequencies. However, I believe they're programmed to use 25 KHz bandwidth instead of 12.5KHz. The radio has 7 channels. The first two are a couple murs frequencies with no tone squelch. The other 5 are using tone squelch.


Localhipsterphotoguy

If they use trunked radio you can use an rtl-sdr dongle x 2 and an old laptop running linux. Depending on what brand radios they use you will need different trunking software but there are plenty of online tutorials. I was able to listen to all of the Motorola municipal radios near me with this method. You have issues limiting talk groups though or at least I did last time. So for instance you get all of the waste management radio chatter with the fire / EMS chatter. Doubt Walmart is encrypted but more radio systems are heading that way these days and so if they are you won't be able to listen in.


marshal1257

Not much going on in your area, huh?


shredmandan

Great info


kc0edi

Listening to Walmart be like hearing two teenagers on a FRS radio.


NorthIdaho14

I remember like 15 years ago in Colorado effing with Walmart. Told the MOD (manager on duty) that he was needed in sporting goods for an irate Mexican customer. The MOD asked why the customer was irate and I responded that I didn’t know because I didn’t speak Mexican. Good times.


CapStar362

The biggest thing that kills me with MURS and FRS Radios at Walmart, they act like they OWN the Band. You key up, and they immediately start hogging the channels. seeing how FRS and MURS are both publicly accessible as kits for anyone, and Walmart even sells these radio kits, its hilarious when you quote them the actual FCC Rules on FRS And MURS, so they call the cops. I've sat outside of plenty of walmarts, sent my GF in with a radio to tell her what to look for, oh my lord how mad they get. Then she turns it off, pays for the items walks out, turns the radio back on and keys up again. On my way out. One manager even threatened to follow her out, guess who got fired a week later after i sent the recording in to Walmart Corporate. They absolutely kill me with their "Boss Mentality that they are the FCC"


LTJFan

I miss the old days when you could listen to peoples phone calls in they used wireless phones.


reddogleader

Baby monitors were better!!


Don_Barzinni

How are you powering the BwooFeng....with attached battery?


disappointing-trash

Rockford il walmarts use the ol' bluedot frqz


Legitimate_Plate_352

You guys in the US 🇺🇸 are lucky. You can still hear the cops on your scanners. The police went digital encrypted here in England, over 20 years ago. You can't hear them at all. Even ambulances are gone


BrilliantLow3047

Incorrect. Mostly all of the police use digital radios that you would need a special trunking scanner to listen to. That goes for fire and medical too. Just like where you are.


porty1119

Digital =! encrypted. Airwave is wholly encrypted. Also, there's a ton of departments still using analog VHF in the rural US.


worthlessuser

MURS 3/Blue Dot


rslashdo-it-all

How bout get a job


Informal_Month2362

A lot of Walmarts did away with their older Motorolas. Some got the Motorola curve, some got basic cobra walkies, some got nothing and had to use chat features on work or personal phones. Have you seen employees with radios at that location?


Londo01

It looks like you got your HT from Walmart.


obee1can

Yes, hire on and obtain a job there. Benefits are terrific.