Radio frequencies.

I am travelling from Canada to the British GP this year and have been wondering if fans can listen to the teams radio with a scanner or are they scrambled? Having been to many NASCAR races, the scanner we have also allows us to listen to a radio broadcast of the race which is great when things happen out of sight from our seats.

I am travelling from Canada to the British GP this year and have been wondering if fans can listen to the teams radio with a scanner or are they scrambled? Having been to many NASCAR races, the scanner we have also allows us to listen to a radio broadcast of the race which is great when things happen out of sight from our seats.

 

I imagine they are encrypted as each team would not want the others to listen in on their conversations.

I am travelling from Canada to the British GP this year and have been wondering if fans can listen to the teams radio with a scanner or are they scrambled? Having been to many NASCAR races, the scanner we have also allows us to listen to a radio broadcast of the race which is great when things happen out of sight from our seats.

 

Unless the rules have changed again the radios are all unencrypted.

I imagine they are encrypted as each team would not want the others to listen in on their conversations.

 

I don't know the process, but all teams can hear one another's communications. This is mandated by the FIA. That's why currently some teams are still using "code words" over the radio. 

Edited by ARTGP, 16 June 2022 - 17:41.

Unless the rules have changed again the radios are all unencrypted.

 

 

I don't know the process, but all teams can hear one another's communications. This is mandated by the FIA. That's why currently some teams are still using "code words" over the radio. 

 

I didn't know this. Knowing the teams, though, they are probably still encrypting the transmissions - just that they all use the same encryption system and keys (they and the FIA can tune in, but no one else can). This would ensure that broadcasters cannot get hold of any conversations that the FIA do not publish.

I didn't know this. Knowing the teams, though, they are probably still encrypting the transmissions - just that they all use the same encryption system and keys (they and the FIA can tune in, but no one else can). This would ensure that broadcasters cannot get hold of any conversations that the FIA do not publish.

I'm pretty sure the F1 broadcasting team has direct access to all radio messages and are making their own decisions about which messages to play

I didn't know this. Knowing the teams, though, they are probably still encrypting the transmissions - just that they all use the same encryption system and keys (they and the FIA can tune in, but no one else can). This would ensure that broadcasters cannot get hold of any conversations that the FIA do not publish.

 

I know when the rule was introduced it was reported as unencrypted, but this is what the rules say. You could be right and it's not an entirely clear broadcast, but the broadcasters do get it.

8.9.2 Other than authorised connections to the FIA Standard ECU, any voice radio communication system between car and pits must be stand alone and must not transmit or receive other data. All such communications must be open and accessible to both the FIA and broadcasters.

Edited by Clatter, 16 June 2022 - 18:15.

Most of F1 use a TETRA based radio system. I do not know if the transmissions are encrypted but even if they are not only AOR produce scanners that can decode TETRA (it's now a older mode having its standard set around 1995)

The actual transmissions may be encrypted but made 'open' within the race direction network.

Newer radio standards like NXDN and especially DMR are much cheaper to listen into providing they are unencrypted.

I didn't know this. Knowing the teams, though, they are probably still encrypting the transmissions - just that they all use the same encryption system and keys (they and the FIA can tune in, but no one else can). This would ensure that broadcasters cannot get hold of any conversations that the FIA do not publish.

I doubt the FiA has a say in this. 
F1 (Liberty) owns the entertainment side of it. They chose to broadcast, or not broadcast stuff - as the benefits (and the issues) are in their entertainment package