I'm sorry, but that's awesome. I wish I knew of things like this when I was a kid. 10 times better than the old "Ordering 20 pizzas" gag

Damn this is better than me trying to order hot pockets at burger king.

Seriously? Just obscenities?

Hi welcome to Taco Bell, how can I OH MY GOD IT'S CRAWLING UP MY LEG GET IT OFF GET IT OFF AAAAA....*static*

Wouldn't this be a federal issue now?

As hilarious as it may be (which isn't really that hilarious since its been done since the dawn of drive thrus) I don't think its worth having a federal black mark on your record.

Specifically, what laws were broken? If obscenities were not used, would that have been legal?

Seems like an overreaction on the authorities' part. This is a childhood prank. Obscenities, oh no! Things must be slow for the police in Sedalia.

@eightfifteen: probably tampering with radio frequencies or something. Basically probably a law meant to stop much bigger crimes.

@eightfifteen

Once you start taking over radio waves that you don't own, the government gets nitpicky.

I had friends in high school that claimed to have done this (and had enough knowledge and radio equipment to pull it off). Apparently if you key up a 2m radio at 50 watts near a drive through ATM, there is a good chance it will reboot as well.

I would hope that they never drove any customers away, as that would be doing great harm to the franchise owner.

@Spencer Cunningham: Did you hear about the pranksters (jaloponik was involved) that hacked into traffic signs in FL and Texas and wrote silly things like "zombies ahead"? Much more clever use of technology I think (not to mention a broader range of enjoyment).

I live close to Sedalia and when this was reported on the local news, pretty much everyone was in agreement that it was funny. I stand by that assessment.

@downwithmonstercable: Ironically I don't think police in Sedalia are going to be the ones with the final say.

It's probably much funnier when it isn't your business being subjected to it.

@tande04: It is. That is a set of licensed frequencies that they pay a permit for yearly from the FCC. So the brats can face some rather stiff fines.

Corollary. If you find the number written obscurely on an elevator telephone in your dormitory, do not call into it and pretend to be from the elevator company. Even dialed the elevator's number using a standard telephone, the administration will still accuse you of "hacking" into the phone system.

Also do not put the elevator number and address on marketing forms, nor deliver pizza to the elevator.

@Michael Belisle: Speaking from experience?

@Kaiser-Machead:

"(who were caught, by the way)"

"Our franchisee is continuing to cooperate with authorities in their investigation and is hopeful the pranksters will be caught."

So which is it? They were caught or they are hopeful to catch them?

I must agree that this is humorous. I'm not certain that the law makes sense, either. Who gives Taco Bell the right to specific frequencies? Are fast food restaurants' frequencies and signal strengths managed by the FCC like television and radio stations?

This is nothing new, using modified ham radios, people have been this for years. Most newer drive-thru intercom system use spread spectrum RF links on 900MHz ISM and 2.4GHz, and use encryption to prevent unauthorized intrusions such as these.

Many of the older VHF and UHF analog FM systems are still in use and are still prone to such interference. The FCC does require a part 90 business radio service license for the drive-thru systems on the VHF and UHF bands, and thus they are supposed to be allowed protection in cases of harmful interference (including those cases of kids screwing around with ham radios on their licensed channels.)

However you'd be amazed at how many of the drive-thru systems have expired licenses or none at all. So calling Johnny Law in to complain about getting bumped in traffic when you don't have insurance and a valid driver's license yourself is kind of ironic.

Not saying that is the case here, just an observation I've made.

@downwithmonstercable: Obviously, you've never been to Sedalia. On the drive through I blinked twice and missed it completely.

Only good thing to come out of Sedalia was my college roommate, and he turned out to be Schizophrenic...

i agree its funny. However it is illegal to take over any radio wave frequency in use. An example of why this law is in effect is to protect military and emergancy radios for hijacking. Could you picture people making fake reports over the police bands? I think the kids need a shift punishment to make sure they don't do it again.

@FlyersFan: I think its funnier to order Super Stars or Big Mac's at Burger King, insist that they do carry them, then escalate the issue all while maintaining a serious expression.

I see my purpose in life as being fodder for those "Bad Customer" blogs. You know, the ones where retail workers submit their stories of idiots they have to serve? I love reading those almost as much as I love being that idiot customer.

This, however, is completely out of line. Having fun with the staff is one thing, but going out of your way to abuse a company's customers and possibly create a situation where the company would lose customers? Completely uncalled for.

What's worse is they did it to a franchisee! These people have it bad enough with the requirements on where they can buy their food and supplies, competition from other restaurants and even their own company's corporate stores, and the fees they have to pay to said corporate entity, all of which result in higher prices.

Shame on you, teenagers. Shame on you.

@AustinTXProgrammer: If 50 watts coming from a 2m rig is enough to reboot an ATM, then that ATM has some serious problems.

But, how did they catch them? Can you track the signal?

a buddy of mine said he used to leave his radio button tapped on and placed it by the radio so they would get music and no orders could be taken. He lived next door in a apt. complex, and people ordering via the box would keep him up at night. So this was his quick fix.

@Jack Doyle: Yes.

So is this why McDonalds has been testing outsourcing their drivethru ordering? I'm serious, someplaces do.

"Sure, we have to admit that it's kind of funny, but our official position is that you should not use your immense technological skills to modify a radio to broadcast on the Taco Bell drive thru's frequency. Sadly, we did not get this important message out to two teenagers in Sedalia, Mo."

You did get the message out to them on how to do it though: [consumerist.com]

quote: Our franchisee has been speaking with his customers who have been very supportive and understand that he had nothing to do with this,"

I don't get this. Are there that many regulars? I've never been on a first name basis with my Taco Bell franchisee. And they don't have my phone # either.

@Buckaroo_GitEmSteveDave: [Start Indian Customer Service Representative Voice Here] Welcome to McDonalds, my name is Bob, and I am CSR# 47532 in McDonalds Global drive through ordering headquarters. May I take you order?

The death of the McDonalds drive thru is soon approaching.

@stopNgoBeau: I've seen enough blue screens on ATMs to assume that yes, in fact, most ATMs do have some serious problems.

At least actually play a joke if you are playing one. Yelling obscenities is supposed to be funny?

Take a note from real comedians like David Letterman, when he works a fast food drive thru.

It's more fun the low-tech way. One time in college we were at a Sonic and a campus cop parked next to us on our right. He pushed the button and they asked for his order, but before he could say anything I yelled from the passenger side of the car I was in that I wanted 25 cheeseburgers, 25 orders of fries, and one large diet Coke. Then we took off while he was yelling at the box in a panic that that wasn't really his order. Fun times!

@TinkishDelight: As a taxpayer, I'm quietly reassured that, when the Zombapocalypse arrives, our traffic signaling devices are more than up to the challenge. Can we give those kids a grant?

@Michael Belisle: Oh, that brings back memories. In our dorm, we figured out how to get on top of the elevator cars and operate them from the auxiliary controls. The screams when the car stopped in between floors and the doors opened were priceless. Stupid, yes. Safe, no. Good times - absolutely.

@Jack Doyle:Radio spectrum is a valuable property that, in general, cannot be shared. If you want some frequency, you pay for it.

Who gives you the right to specific real estate? Everybody should be able to live in your house. Better for the community and all that.

@JeffIowa: Haha. I had never even heard of it. I though tit sounded like a Korean car model. "The Kia Sedalia" or something.

@Buckaroo_GitEmSteveDave: Burger King did it a lot from what I heard, until they closed all their restaurants. Is that place even around anymore?

@Rachacha: Doubtful. I think it is more likely that they would become drive thru only.

It would have been funnier if they just took the orders like the real employees, calculated a real total, and asked the people to drive up to the payment window.

@downwithmonstercable:

Lots of those little boring towns in MO with nothing for kids to do.

@Pizza_Club:
But did Taco Bell own that airwave?

my kids were in a play in 2006 in a theatre next door to a hardees. unfortunately, the mikes on the stage apparently worked on the same frequency as hardees' drive-thru. so their first performance featured people ordering thickburgers and shakes. i thought it was hilarious.

I volunteered for an after hours security shift one year at a convention center that had a McDonald's next to it. When we were handed our radios, we were warned that there may be cross-talk on certain channels in certain areas of the center from the nearby drive-trough. We were also warned NOT to interfere in their communications.

Apparently, the previous year, some clown used his issued radio to "place" a rather large order. One of the heads of security overheard the order over the radio and gave the guy a choice: pick up and pay for the order and apologize, or he could leave and not come back at all. I don't know if he McD's workers actually got the apology, but from what I heard the entire security detail did get dinner...

@Keavy_Rain: That is very hypocritical.

@Buckaroo_GitEmSteveDave: So rather than run a wire 10 feet to prevent wireless tampering, you are saying they decide to run wires to india?

@jamesdenver: It's probably the people who complained.

@Spencer Cunningham: I fail to see how transmitting obscenities to one side of a duplex transmission on a restricted frequency is "awesome".

Aside from violating FCC regs, it is very immature.