4 ms·

I don't have the skills of the person who decoded the signal... however, if you get your ham radio license and start playing with the various digital modes, you

by hugs 4y ago

I don't have the skills of the person who decoded the signal... however, if you get your ham radio license and start playing with the various digital modes, you'll start to recognize the various sounds of different modes. An APRS data packet [1] has a very unique sound. Same with with RTTY [2]. Our brains are really good at pattern matching if they're exposed to a pattern enough times. Obviously, you'd still need a computer to decode those signals, but the "sound" of the signals can give you a very good headstart. [1]: https://youtu.be/XEbjNDEnjMc https://youtu.be/XEbjNDEnjMc [2]: https://youtu.be/wzkAeopX7P0 https://youtu.be/wzkAeopX7P0

Gordonjcp 4y ago
In the TV series "Burn Notice" there are APRS packets used as "walkie talkie sound effects" while they're doing some sort of heist. I've forgotten now which ep it was but I always fancied trying to pick them off the audio and decode them to see if there are any clues in it. SSTV is another distinctive one, and the Aphex Twin track "Bonus High Frequency Sounds" is a pic of Richard James in his studio. Often wondered about the SSTV-like feedback in that Radiohead track, too...
- hbarka 4y ago
  The 90’s movie Sneakers with Robert Redford comes to mind. It’s a heist movie set in the California Bay Area and without revealing spoilers there’s a fantastic whodunnit involving the decoding of audio signals.
- thimkerbell 4y ago
  It's funny, heist movies are basically public relations for thieves.
  - Gordonjcp 4y ago
    "Burn Notice" had an Irish character in it who dropped the accent after a couple of episodes, but her back story was that she was and explosives expert and a "former IRA operative, but not a terrorist". Uh-huh. That did not play particularly well in the UK, to put it mildly. Not sure if it was meant to be public relations for terrorist bombers...
digitalsankhara 4y ago
Indeed some are very recognisable once you start to hear them often. I can recommend [1] if you want to explore more. [1] https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide

by hugs 4y ago

Gordonjcp 4y ago

In the TV series "Burn Notice" there are APRS packets used as "walkie talkie sound effects" while they're doing some sort of heist. I've forgotten now which ep it was but I always fancied trying to pick them off the audio and decode them to see if there are any clues in it. SSTV is another distinctive one, and the Aphex Twin track "Bonus High Frequency Sounds" is a pic of Richard James in his studio. Often wondered about the SSTV-like feedback in that Radiohead track, too...

hbarka 4y ago
The 90’s movie Sneakers with Robert Redford comes to mind. It’s a heist movie set in the California Bay Area and without revealing spoilers there’s a fantastic whodunnit involving the decoding of audio signals.
thimkerbell 4y ago
It's funny, heist movies are basically public relations for thieves.
- Gordonjcp 4y ago
  "Burn Notice" had an Irish character in it who dropped the accent after a couple of episodes, but her back story was that she was and explosives expert and a "former IRA operative, but not a terrorist". Uh-huh. That did not play particularly well in the UK, to put it mildly. Not sure if it was meant to be public relations for terrorist bombers...

digitalsankhara 4y ago

Indeed some are very recognisable once you start to hear them often. I can recommend [1] if you want to explore more. [1] https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Signal_Identification_Guide