The Stealth P-1210

The Portable card style bug detector

 

The Stealth P-1210 is a card-sized device that belongs to a new generation of personal sweeping equipment. It can be carried in a pocket or wallet and will not attract the attention of other people. When it is necessary, it will easily and quickly help you check for the presence of bugging devices in any given area.

  • Frequency Coverage: 50~3000 MHz
  • Searches for active radio transmitting surveillance devices (RF bugs)
  • Detectis all kinds of active radio signals including digital signals.
  • Discovers the improper use of mobile phones and communication devices for Picking up conversation.
  •  Detects of harmful emissions from GSM-jammers or mini recorder suppressors
  • Detects of harmful emissions from microwave ovens, communication antennas and other electronic appliances
  • 4 working modes: Normal, Sound, Vibro and Sleep
  • “Pulse” indicator for recognizing digital transmitters including GSM and DECT
  • 8 segment bar-graph indicator for precise measuring of the radio field level and location of a bugging device
  • Card style body: Operation driven by micro controller
  • Integrated antenna
  • Calibrated sensitivity for rejection of background fields
  • Power Source: CR2430  lithium battery: “Low battery” indicator

 

USAGE

 

SUSweeping the room

Before starting sweeping, you should carry out some preparation tasks. Firstly, it is necessary to consider the time of the sweep and the situation. Since there are lots of devices that are remotely controlled, it is recommended to carry out a sweep during working hours in real situations when the eavesdropper most wants to listen. It may be necessary to arrange a fictitious meeting. Nobody has to know about the pending search.

Close all drapes in the room. Turn on all the lights and activate any other devices to imitate normal conditions. It is also advisable to turn on a source of sound such as a stereo system or radio. This sound source has two very important functions:

·         Voice activated transmitters will be activated

·         Your actions will be masked

 

1. Leave the room, turn on the Stealth P-1210 and adjust its sensitivity by pressing the ‘ZERO’ button. Before adjusting the sensitivity make sure that there are no working radio transmitters in the close proximity to the unit (1-5 meters) – GSM or radiotelephones, radio transceivers, etc. Otherwise you may set the sensitivity to an excessively low level.

 

2. Choose the operation mode. For covert procedure use the Normal or Vibro mode. The Normal mode is more convenient for locating the RF source. The Vibro mode allows the operator to avoid constantly watching the bargraph when inspecting areas that are difficult to access.  The Sound mode allows the operator to listen to the signal so that he or she can understand more about the source. Note: a loopback effect may appear near an active bugging device in this mode. It is obviously a clear sign of danger for you, but may also allow an eavesdropper to discover your counter survellience operation.

 

3. Enter the room holding the Stealth P-1210 and watch its bargraph or pay attention to the vibrator. Turn the lights and other equipment in the room on and off. Walk around the room while watching the indicatiors or feeling for the Protect’s vibration. The bargraph level, or the frequency of impulses, will increase or decrease when the detector is closer to or farther from a transmitting device.

Probe all objects which may contain a hidden surveillance device. When you get close to an RF bugging device the bargraph of your the Stealth P-1210 will rise (or vibration will appear). The distance of detection may vary depending on the situation. Usually the Protect 1210 will detect an average radio microphone at a distance of 20-60 cm although it is recommended to probe the objects at a proximity of 10 cm. The bargraph can display 10 different levels. The lowest level is shown by the first LED. As the RF level grows, a group of three diodes will scroll up on the bargraph until only the one ‘upper’ LED will remain; in the case where a very high level signal is detected.

You can use the ‘ZERO’ button to decrease the sensitivity gradually when performing the location procedure (finding the source of the RF field). Press this button when the bargraph shows a high level to force the unit to react to a stronger field only. Thus you will find the place with the strongest field.

 

Please note: if you want to continue sweeping after the location of one bugging device, it is necessary to restore the normal sensitivity of the Stealth P-1210 . Press the ‘ZERO’ button after making sure that the detected transmitter does not affect the unit (It is turned off or is at a sufficient distance away). If you want to restore the maximum sensitivity turn off the Protect 1210 and then turn it on again.

 

The bargraph may often show an increased level near wires or metal objects. This may not be a bug, but rather the metal acting as an antenna extension. A similar situation may appear in the apertures of windows due to radio waves coming from the outside. In these situations you can decrease the sensitivity by pressing the ‘ZERO’ button.

 

4. After you have found the exact location of a high field, try the Sound mode if secrecy is not critical. A Loopback effect will clearly confirm the danger. Not depending on the presence of a loopback, start a physical search. Visually inspect and probe each object in the highlighted area.  Disassemble, if necessary, lamps, desktop items, telephones, AC outlets, phone outlets. Inspect all power and phone lines carefully. Open books, wardrobes, etc. Remember, that a physical search is a fundamental operation during the sweep.

If you find a bugging device, do not stop! You should continue the search more carefully as eavesdroppers often install more than one device. They may install a so called ‘foolish bug’ which may be easily detected and some other well hidden devices that may have remote control and non-standard modulation.

 

5. In the modern environment mobile phones are very often used as bugging devices. Therefore if the unit’s “Pulse” indicator starts to light, suspend the search and wait for a while. It could be a signal from a working telephone in a neighboring flat or office. Use the Sound mode to listen to the signal. The GSM signal will have typical ‘buzzing’ sound.

 

Checking telephone lines

Telephone bugs may be installed anywhere a phone line lays. It may be within the phone set, the phone outlet, connecting box or cable. Most telephone bugs activate only when the receiver is off-the-hook. Therefore the sweeping of phone lines should be carried out only when the receiver is in this state.

Start checking from the phone set. Place the Stealth P-1210 near the set and lift the receiver. Watch for an increase of the RF level (or starting of the vibration). (Please note: It is pointless to test wireless (radio) telephones, for they act exactly like a bugging device themselves due to to the use of radio waves. Only a physical inspection of these items is sufficient to know if they are bugged.

     Move the detector along the phone line while keeping it off-the-hook. Check all the outlets and communication boxes. If possible ask a second person to lift the receiver and then hang it up repeatedly. If you see that the RF level changes when the line is activated and deactivated, this is a sign of a bug’s presence. Try to locate the place where the RF level is highest and then perform a physical search.

 

Working in the Sleep mode

In this mode the Stealth P-1210 wakes up every 3 seconds and checks the current RF environment. If there is an increased level the unit will indicate this with an alarm sound. The detector will stay active until the high level disappears.

 

Testing people

There are many types of body-carried transmitters. They may broadcast conversations and (or) video signals.

Adjust the sensitivity to the current background level using the ‘ZERO’ button. While carrying the Stealth P-1210 , approach the person. If the level grows, it means that the person is carrying a transmitting device. If you have changed the location re-adjust the sensitivity by pressing the ‘ZERO’ button again at some distance from the person.

 

Another way to test people is to place the Stealth P-1210 on the desktop. In the Normal mode it will be necessary to watch the bargraph carefully when the person approaches the table and sits down. You can also use the Sleep mode. If the person is carrying an RF transmitter the Stealth P-1210 210 will detect it and produce an alarm.

 

GSM and DECT detection

Improper use of a mobile telephone can be discovered with the help of the Stealth P-1210 . In this case the “Pulse” indicator will be on while the bargraph fluctuates rapidly.

 

Other applications

If you cannot inspect a whole room, for example, in a restaurant or someone else’s office, the Stealth P-1210 can be used for checking the closest objects to you. In a restaurant it may be necessary to check the items on a table or the table itself, since they can contain a bugging device. The card-style design suits this opertion perfectly.

 

Detection distance

The detection range of the Stealth P-1210 depends on two major factors:

·         The output power of the bug

·         The surrounding RF environment, such as radio/TV and communication devices

The level on the display of the Stealth P-1210 will increase as you approach an RF source (or vibration will start). Either a surveillance transmitter or a safe signal (background noise) can cause it to increase. Successful location of a hidden bugging device is accomplished by finding the area which produces the highest level on the bargraph of the Protect 1210. Normally, an active bugging device will be detected at a distance of 20-60 cm and

Specification

Frequency response

50 – 3000 MHz

Power supply

CR2430

Average current consumption

8.5-16 mA

(from 0.36 мА in Sleep)

Continuous operation

18-32 hours

(50-90 hours in Sleep)

Dimentions

55х85х7 mm