THE REPORTER’S EDGE MONITORING SYSTEM

How it works: 

 
 

In our Communications Interception Center, we have no less than ten radio receivers that can scan the bands from short-wave to microwave. 


We have the capability of monitoring up to 6,000 frequencies including, police, fire, medical (paramedics and ambulances) civil, government, military, business, personal (CB, FRS& GMRS) international short-wave stations, Ham, weather (spotters and NOAA alerts) aviation, public transportation and practically any radio signal in range of my antenna farm.


EazyStream: Listening to our monitoring post from your living room.


Two of our receivers stream live to the Internet, making it possible to hear what the Reporter’s Edge is monitoring from anywhere there’s a stable Internet connection.


This can come in quite handy especially during breaking news when monitoring public safety communications can make the difference between getting the story right.


Once you or your news media company subscribes, all it takes is installing a small program on any Windows compatible computer, be it in the newsroom, on a home computer (for reporters and photographers on call who don’t own a scanner) or even a portable laptop.


Then you just type in a IP/DNS address I assign and instantly you can listen live to high-fidelity streaming scanner audio!


You can even user the “mini view” to float a window on your desktop showing exactly what agency you are monitoring!


The program we use for you to monitor over the Internet is ARC-EAZY  STREAM CLIENT.


Bulletin: EazyStream Client is now through beta testing and the new version is available!


FREE DOWNLOAD HERE.


It’s a quick download and install. Once installed, restart your computer. Activate the software and make sure your audio is turned up.


Then just type in the “Server IP/DNS” box the address I provide to subscribers only, which will be sent to you via e-mail.


However, for non-subscribers you can still test-drive the software and listen in on other published scanners across the  United States by using the drop-down menu to the right of the Server IP/DNS entry box.


Just scroll down and find a locale that interests you such as: “P:MASSACHUSETTS ..” and then click on the CONNECT button on the lower left side of the box. Once connected the “Status” bar will go GREEN and pulsate with received scanner audio. It may take a few seconds for it to connect so give it a little time.


On some streaming scanners it will display the name of the  agency communicating in the “TEXT” window.


If the status bar remains RED, then the scanner or server is down. You can disconnect at any time, try and reconnect or surf for another published streaming scanner.


More scanners are coming online everyday so it will soon be possible to monitor the events in many major cities soon!


The Reporter’s Edge is a paid-subscriber service and will not show up in the Server IP/DNS entry box.


Clicking on MiniView displays a floating display on your desktop that looks like this:


The communications interception center:

Frequently Asked Questions:


Q: How much does it cost to subscribe?


A: Fees vary by services ordered. Go to the WHAT IT COSTS  page for a full listing.


Q: Will it work on a Mac?


A: It will on a Mac running Windows such as through Parallels or Boot Camp.


Q: What does my PC need to run EazyStream?


A: OS: Windows XP/XP Pro but not Vista, built in sound card and a good Internet connection preferably DSL, but it will run adequately on a 56K dial-up connection.


Q: What all do you monitor?


A: Police, fire, military, ambulance/paramedics, all local public safety agencies, aircraft, military, emergency crews. If you have a special monitoring need (such as during a breaking news event such as a plane crash or train derailment, etc) I can tailor program the streaming scanners to monitor only the frequencies concerning that event. This only requires a phone call!


Q: What don’t you monitor?


A: I will not monitor anything considered a private conversation between to individuals, such as cell phone, cordless phones or scrambled communications not intended for the public.


Open point-to-point radio communications are fair game though, especially when those communicating know their conversation can be intercepted and have no expectation of privacy.


Q: What’s this about radio communications going digital?


A: There is a push by the Department of Homeland Security for all public safety communications to become APCO25 Compliant, in other words “digital.” 


This is NOT a form of scrambling but like digital television a new and more efficient form of communications. Although the local Amarillo area public safety agencies have not yet gone digital, some have the capability (such as the Texas DPS )   and the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission is also pushing for APCO 25 radio links between all Texas Panhandle municipalities. All they lack is the funding, which Homeland Security says they will help provide in the near future.


When the switch to digital happens,  The Reporter’s Edge Monitoring Service is already digital APCO25 ready.


Q: So when they go digital what can I expect to hear on our newsroom scanners?


A: The buzzing sound of digital communications, unintelligible noise.


Q: So can’t I just buy new digital ready scanners for my newsroom?


A: Yes, but they are expensive, require an expert to program. You don’t just punch in frequencies and press scan. Special “trunking parameters”  must be set, ID codes and “Talk Groups” must be identified (because everyone from the sanitation to school busses will be using the same set of frequencies) and frequency shifting data control channels must be allowed for and locked out.


Q: How come sometimes I hear overlapping audio such as police and fire on the same feed but the display only shows one agency? 


A: Because the audio you are hearing is streaming from TWO scanners. Only one is a computer-controlled receiver capable of displaying agency information.


Q: Then why use two scanners on the same feed?


A: So while one scanner may be locked up on a busy frequency the other will be free to scan the bands with important dispatch channels set to priority. This way you won’t miss an important call when the other scanner may be tied up with routine traffic.


Q: I notice sometimes I can’t get the feed. Why is that?


A: From time to time  the scanners are updated with new frequency information or have been taken off line for standard maintenance.


Sometimes the feed will be down because of an Internet outage or technical problem. When this happens, just try logging in again in a few minutes.     


SPECIAL MONITORING REQUESTS: 


During breaking news events, all it takes is a phone call or an e-mail to request specialized monitoring services.


By special request we can monitor:

  1. Bullet Shortwave Broadcasters

  2. Bullet Broadcast AM/FM of local outlying towns

  3. Bullet Broadcast TV

  4. Bullet Press radio links

  5. Bullet Severe Weather spotters/chasers

  6. Bullet Low-powered police communications, such as on scene SWAT teams.

  7. Bullet VHF/UHF Military Aviation communications

  8. Bullet Military SATCOM communications

  9. Bullet Military HF communications

  10. Bullet Government Communications (unencrypted) such as ICE, DEA, FBI.

  11. Bullet Ham radio disaster communications

  12. Bullet NowCasting: (for storm spotting teams) via cellphone.

  13. Bullet Frequency searches

  14. Bullet Railroad

  15. Bullet Business/Industrial Emergencies (such as during valero Plant fire)

  16. Bullet Aircraft emergencies (Civil Air Patrol searches)

  17. Bullet CB radio

  18. Bullet GMRS/FRS

  19. Bullet Private Security firms

  20. Bullet Educational Institutions (campus security)

  21. Bullet DEM/AES (emergency services(

  22. Bullet Medical (ambulances, Lifeflights, Med pagers, etc.

  23. Bullet Fire & Rescue

  24. Bullet NASA communications/ International Space Station



We also provide the following services for news media subscribers.


  1. Bullet Daily  incident reports posted every morning. During the night we record emergency dispatch frequencies and review them every morning and post the previous early morning incidents you may have missed.


Each incident is listed by  the corresponding public safety agency that issued the radio dispatch. You’ll need a password to access this page which will be sent to you via e-mail once you are subscribed.


TRY IT FOR FREE FOR A MONTH!

sign up here


  1. Bullet Continuous “Tivo-like” constant-streaming digital scanner audio recording. All streamed communications are constantly recorded to a hard drive recorder  over a thirty-minute time span. Miss that address on an important police call? Just phone us and I can review the scanner audio stream for the previous twenty minutes to insure you get your photographers on scene.


  1. BulletDaytime newsroom notification of breaking news events.


  1. BulletNew: Twitter Breaking Newsfeed to your cell phone.


  1. BulletSpecial communications interception consultation.


  1. Bullet On scene monitoring services.


  1. BulletFrequency searches for other cities and municipalities.


  1. BulletInternet information searches for reporters.


  1. Bullet Reliable “Inside” source information for investigative reporters.


  1. BulletCodes: radio brevity codes used by local public safety organizations including the new Ambulance “Determinate” list.


  1. BulletLive Streaming Scanner Links. A great way of keeping tabs on breaking news across the world. More streaming scanner audio links are popping up every day and will be added to the list. Just click on the links and follow the instructions to listen in.


THE REPORTER’S EDGE MONITORING SERVICE