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LoJack 'T' Hunt

Created by Paul Signorelli, W0RW on 2021-10-10

 

LoJack "T" Hunt

 

One day during my spectrum search around the shack for noise sources,

I came across a big data burst on the LoJack frequency (173.075 MHz).

It was swamping my HT receiver.

 

I have a “sipping chocolate tin” (See Picture) that I use as a shield for really strong signals to prevent receiver overloading. My FT-411 and Baofeng UV-5R are both poorly shielded so I put the UV-5R into the can and attached a 60 dB variable attenuator and went outside hunting.

 

 

I didn't use my beam because it is now tuned to 146 MHz.

 

The UV-5R doesn't have an S meter, so I just opened the squelch and had lots of hiss noise to
detect the signal. The LoJack is a data burst (1-2 seconds every 65 seconds).


You have probably seen the police cars with the 4 - 17-inch whips on the roof. They do T Hunts automatically with doppler direction finding equipment to find stolen cars. I don't have one of those.


Well, I walked up and down the block switching from 30 to 40dB attenuation and the LoJack signal was really strong. There was only one old car around it is a spare car parked next door.

I was looking for the Corvette.


I was able to click in 55dB attenuation and it was still strong at the car. I went over to the passenger’s side rear window and got 60 dB and could still hear it. Then I saw the antenna. 2 little black vertical black stripes on the window, It is a FORD.


The police probably get a lot of these false signals. The distance from my shack to the car was 50 feet, Real DX 'T Hunting'. I was the one with the lowest mileage.


The owner didn't even know what 'LoJack' was. I told him to take it to the dealer and reset it.
It is like 'Probable Cause' for any Police T Hunter to stop you, (Felony Stop with pistols).

 

Just another great T Hunt in the log.

 

Please don’t do this type of T hunting because the car might be stolen and be in the care of the Hi Jackers. They have been known to have weapons. Someone with a walkie talkie and a beam walking around the car might just look like a Police Officer.

 

Paul   w0rw

 

 

WR8Y2021-12-01
Re: LoJack 'T' Hunt
I've been a 'two way tech' since 1982 and I can't remember the last time I saw a LEO with LoJack detection capability in the car.

I thought it died in the 2000-2010 time frame.
Reply to a comment by : KT4WO on 2021-10-10

Is 'LoJack' still "a thing" ??? thought that died in the 90's ?
KI7LFD2021-11-12
LoJack 'T' Hunt
It's a was a Chevy !!! Fords don't do that kind of stuff >
W4KVW2021-10-20
Re: LoJack 'T' Hunt
YES it's very much a thing Today.

Clayton
W4KVW
Reply to a comment by : KT4WO on 2021-10-10

Is 'LoJack' still "a thing" ??? thought that died in the 90's ?
W5DFD2021-10-10
Re: LoJack 'T' Hunt
Yes it is. Still comes as a "1 year freebie" in 2021...
Reply to a comment by : KT4WO on 2021-10-10

Is 'LoJack' still "a thing" ??? thought that died in the 90's ?
KC6RWI2021-10-10
LoJack 'T' Hunt
I would be curious about the time frame of this as well.
I had a similar situation like this.
I had my base scanner on and I was picking up a conversation and lots of rustling of clothes. I took my hand held and headed out to find that the bug was in income tax store three blocks away. Removing the antenna confirmed it, still a weak signal.
I zipped my jacket and moved on, I wasn't about to cause a scene in a possible police investigation.
The frequency was easy to remember 168. MHz
KT4WO2021-10-10
LoJack 'T' Hunt
Is 'LoJack' still "a thing" ??? thought that died in the
90's ?