iDen/ISm Secure Comms.... UpDate...

I have been following this thread w/ interest. Two i355s, 2 headsets (earbuds w/ mic), 2 chargers, 2 more batteries, a 12v car charger, and 5 (why 5? dunno but the chap sent 5) NNNTN5539A antennae. I downloaded the Mot. manual & read it, and watched the videos on the previously mentioned HAM RADIO NATION net site. Changing out the antennas was easy but I am still stumped about getting setup into Direct Talk mode. These i355s came w/ SIM cards in & the phones correctly see that there is "no service".
Will try again tomorrow when not so tired. Printed out Bruce's list...... I am excited about this so DW & I can have secure comms here & about!
GB

 

That's GREAT! You are still my idle, er sorry Idol!!
GB

 

Just wondering how the Inductive Coupler worked on the i560. Did it make a difference? Were you able to purchase Wilson amp? If so, what kind of additional range were you able to get?

 

It seems these phones are being used in the Direct Talk mode in Walt Disney World in Florida for communications.

Disney World - Page 2 - The RadioReference.com Forums

 

Got a set of 6 off ebay and after a short wait while they charged over night I got them talking in DT. Thanks for all the info BT!

 

I like these and now have 10 of them but I did recently come across a modest vulnerability. Harris (a significant defense contractor) has two products that allegedly can intercept and track iDen communications.

Secrets of FBI Smartphone Surveillance Tool Revealed in Court Fight | Threat Level | Wired.com

Key paragraph from the Wired article.
"Although a number of companies make stingrays, including Verint, View Systems, Altron, NeoSoft, MMI, Ability, and Meganet, the Harris line of cell site emulators are the only ones that are compatible with CDMA2000-based devices. Others can track GSM/UMTS-based communications, but the Harris emulators can track CDMA2000, GSM and iDEN devices, as well as UMTS. The Harris StingRay and KingFish devices can also support three different communication standards simultaneously, without having to be reconfigured."

Moral of the story, like with all communication devices, use them as if somebody may be listening.

AT

 

@BTPost @Airtime Ok, I ordered two i355, should be here within a week. I'll need some advice to get the most out of the features. I'll get more as I get them figured out.

 

My i355s started coming in. I found this website Nextel i355 Radio Accessories with headsets ranging from listen only, surveillance ear pieces to single/double muff headphones with boom or throat microphones.

 

I just got some i560s - been trying to follow the instructions to get them talking to one another. They will communicate between one another when set to the same ch/code. But the unit to unit doesnt seem to work. I get a service not available error when I try to select the contact and press the PTT button. If I enter the number directly into the keypad it gives me a user not available error. Thinking maybe the sim cards are bad? They didnt come with the phones - I repurposed them out of a couple really trashed i355s.

 

If the GPS is turned off in the phones, is it possible for the GPS function to be remotely turned back on? Also, what kind of solar chargers would you guys reccomend to be able to recharge these phone batteries in the field?

 

Thanks BTPost.

 

If I am not mistaken, there needs to be some kind of software on the phone that could enable someone access to the GPS system. Additionally, without an active connection to the nationwide wireless network, which these phones would not have, there is no inbound signals going to the phone except those in the local digital network, which is, for all intents and purposes hyper secure.