Scanners in Germany (Wittmund)

[Iwan Bogels]

Hi guys,

I'm very new to this game of scanners, and I have just bought my first scanner 3 months ago (Uniden 3500 XLT). Until now I have only used the scanner at Gilze, Eindhoven, Volkel, GLV5 and Schiphol, but I'm considering to go to Wittmund soon.

As I was trying to find info on scanner use in Germany, I could not find what I wanted in here in the forum. And Google didn't exactly prove helpfull either. So my question is: Is it allowed to use the scanner in Wittmund to listnen to mil frequencies ?

Next to that I am looking for a pointer on where to find an up-to-date list on Wittmund frequencies. Can anybody help me on my way ?

Thanks,
Iwan

[Henk Voortwijs]

Next to that I am looking for a pointer on where to find an up-to-date list on Wittmund frequencies. Can anybody help me on my way ?

Maybe this is what you are looking for: http://www.milscan.nl/Europe/Germany/Germany.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Iwan Bogels]

Wow Henk,

That's what I call a usefull pointer !!! Thanks !!!!

Does this extensive listing also answer my first question, about listening to scanners in Germany ? I would suspect that it is OK, looking at all the frequencies....

Thanks again for your imput.

Cheers,
Iwan

[EHAM]

Hi Iwan,

It's not advised to use scanners in Germany. But you may take a chance and listen to it low-profile in your car and get lucky no cops come and search your car for scanners.
Furthermore I can recommend to buy yourself the Scramble Airfield Guide Book. Besides the airfield guides you have the frequencies with you too. And, needless to say I hope, always check the NOTAMs, not only for opening hours, but also for (temporary) frequency changes.

Hope this helps.

[Spine24]

P5097/09 - AD ETNT ASR U/S. RADAR SVC OUT OF BREMEN C/S WITTMUND RADAR ON FREQ
340.600MHZ AND 124.075MHZ. 27 AUG 13:57 2009 UNTIL 27 NOV 21:59 2009 ESTIMATED.
CREATED: 27 AUG 14:04 2009

P3787/09 - AD ETNT. RADAR FREQ. 248.050MHZ, 344.000MHZ, 385.400MHZ, 123.300MHZ
AND 258.700MHZ NOT AVAILABLE. 30 JUN 12:50 2009 UNTIL 30 SEP 23:59 2009 ESTIMATED.
CREATED: 30 JUN 12:51 2009

[Gerard]

Iwan,
for frequencies look at page 6 of this 8 page PDF-file: http://www.mil-aip.de/pams/aip/ad/ET_AD_2_ETNT_1_en.pdf

Regarding the use of scanners here in Deutschland, I can say that officially you are allowed to possess a scanner, but you are not allowed to use it.
In practise this means that if the Polizei comes and check you out, either your scanner better has no batteries in it, or no frequencies stored at all.

Enjoy your scanner

Gruesse,
Gerard

[Stefan]

Regarding the use of scanners here in Deutschland, I can say that officially you are allowed to possess a scanner, but you are not allowed to use it.
In practise this means that if the Polizei comes and check you out, either your scanner better has no batteries in it, or no frequencies stored at all.

AFAIK these 2 articles apply for this:

http://dejure.org/gesetze/TKG/148.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://dejure.org/gesetze/TKG/89.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There has been a lot of talk on this in the past, but I can not find the correct references on the internet right now. It is good to bring the subject back in the open though!

Regards,
Stefan

[Gerard]

AFAIK these 2 articles apply for this:

http://dejure.org/gesetze/TKG/148.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://dejure.org/gesetze/TKG/89.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Correct. In short in english:

up to 2 years in prison or a fine for passing on info from radio-messages not intended to be received by the person involved. It even mentions that it is irrelevant if the message was received on purpose or unintentional.

It seems that my statement above (no batteries/no frequencies stored) is a safe, but overdone, option.

This law basically says that reception is okay, but keep the info for yourself.
Now I am confused

Regards,
Gerard

[Gerard]

Now I am confused

Okay, I should have done this before writing my story above.........
I called a friend who is a legal advisor here in Germany!

Here is the legal interpretation:
Reception of radio-messages -other than messages meant for the general public- is only allowed by a specific group of people (sorry, we spotters are not among this group).

If any of these messages is received anyway (which is illegal, even if received unintentionally), it is not allowed to pass on this information to a third party.

Sorry for the confusion, but I hope it is clear now.

Regards,
Gerard

[Spine24]

Laws are made to be broken!
Been at Hopsten and Wittmund many times with my scanner.
Only one time at Hopsten the police came by and asked me what I was doing with the scanner.
After I explaned, they became interested and asked me what they were hearing, so I gave them some short lessons about air traffic comms.
This was well appreciated by them and they thanked me for that.
Just when they were about to leave, they sayed the following with a big smile:
"It's forbidden in Germany, so put the scanner away".

[dutchboys]

Laws are made to be broken!
Been at Hopsten and Wittmund many times with my scanner.
Only one time at Hopsten the police came by and asked me what I was doing with the scanner.
After I explaned, they became interested and asked me what they were hearing, so I gave them some short lessons about air traffic comms.
This was well appreciated by them and they thanked me for that.
Just when they were about to leave, they sayed the following with a big smile:
"It's forbidden in Germany, so put the scanner away".

Perhaps you've just been lucky, I've heard and read about spotters at ramstein who had been less more lucky and scanners had been taken by the cops. I've had such an experience too at ETAR, but that was just a few days after 9-11-2001...

To Iwan, just watch out what you're doing. Better leave your scanner at home, but that's just my opinion.

[airman]

check je pm-ik heb daar wat naartoe gestuurd gr-rene.