By far the most used devices are cheap transmitters put in by amatures with a range of less than 50 yards. most of these were modified in an attempt to get more range. The most commod attempt at modification was to try to increase the voltage, this is like trying to push a marble thru a straw, it can be done but sooner or later something has to give. most of this wan either Radio Shack or Ramsey equipment.
The professional way to increase output is to attach a linear amp to the antenna out and tweek the antenna. Most people do not know the antenna has a major impact on the transmission range as well as clearity.
I recently saw the "Mother" of all transmitters. I suspect it is Westinghouse or Harris manufactured.
It was a "body type" transmitter @ 413. MHZ, factory made with etched antenna, and shielded. It operated on 3 volt hearing aid batteries. This baby will fit in a pen and tested loud and clear at over 300 meters. The last time I saw anything even close to this was in Langly Va.
The band was so narrow on this that it was missed by a Avcom Spectrum Analyzer. OSCOR found it the first time three rooms away from its location. (I'm still hoping someone will leave me an OSCOR in their will.)
You didn't ask but I will volunteer that most "Tagmen" will attempt to locate their LP, receiver, close to the transmitter while keeping it accessable. I have found quite a few that transmit to a receiver antenna located about 20 to 30 feet from the transmitter then the antenna coax is run to a recorder some place in the building. "Uncle Sugar" usually has their LP on the street or next door to the transmitter. They try to "control" the transmitter/recorder location.
There are exceptions, Gotti tag and operation Tic Talk (Miami)tag, both these were tagged by contract help under government control.
Advice to TSCM operatives. ID the transmitter before you tell your client of its existance or location. The government gets a mite touchy if you mess with their tags!!!
I can asssure you that all good TSCM ops will destroy any transmitter they find. its the right thing to do.
K.C.
sds@sierranv.net
Personally, I will never destroy a device (except by accident when doing an evaluation--and that hasn't happened yet).
Out of curiousity (and it will not be published), I'd like response from those of you involved in TSCM work indicating how long you've been in the business and how many transmitters, etc., you've found (and where). E-mail me at dbugman@dbugman.com.
If you prefer, I would bet that the readership would like to know as well, but that is for you to decide.
I have reservations about a couple of other items, but I'd best keep quiet.
Tim
I'd like input and/or comments from the reader. Responses will be posted anonymously, if requested.
From: trace@onramp.net
Subject: Wireless Transmitters
Hi Tim,
Good to see the board back up and running. I've actually had some good
results with the Radio Shack 170MHz wireless mics. If you take them out
of the cigarette pack sized case you have two pc boards that can be
placed inside target objects, and if you boost B+ to around 12volts you
actually get a low cost transmitter with a useful range for may hotel
type applications.
Trace Carpenter Investigations
2926 Maple Ave., Ste. 200 -------- Ignorance of the law is no excuse;
Dallas, Texas 75201 -------- Ignorance of the law makers apparently is..
214.828.4520
214.740-0112 Facsimile
I've asked permission of Spyking to let me post your post onto my site for additional comments, but haven't received permission back yet.
Also, when I find something, it belongs to the client until they tell me otherwise. If they decide to keep it, they receipt for it and a notation is made in the report to the effect they retained possession of the device. I have done the job I was hired to do and can't dictate to them what they should do. On the other hand, I do styrongly recommend that anything found be turned over to the police and a report made.
More later; My grandson just woke up and is hungry.
Tim
From: "Probe Inc - Spy Tech Agency"
Tim wrote:
Another consideration to keep in mind is the act of participating in the
destruction of evidence used to commit a felony. Even a client release
won't protect you on that one if the client's attorney advises them to turn
on you later.
As for the "TSCM'rs" who keep "finding" devices, they are a blemish on our
profession but fortunately disappear after a short time, falling to
attrition by poor performance and "discount" rates that can't support the
equipment or ongoing education they require for a specialized trade
reserved for those with skill and knowledge.
sta@spytechagency.com
8519-8521 West Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069 USA
Having been on both sides (former LEO tech)and for the last 20 years
involved in TSCM, I can tell you that MOST firms in the NYC metropolitan
area do NOT notify authorities when a device is found...
It has been my practice to notify the client when a device is physically
found and tell them to call their attorney for guidance... I also inform
them of the law (in NYS) and tell them I must by law report the device...
Here's where the fun starts...
The NYPD has approximately 30,000 PO's. Of that number only about
a dozen are directly involved in installing surveillance technology
pursuant to a court order... I, at one time, was one of those dozen...
The average cop on the beat would not know a "bug" if it bit him or her on
the rear end... This is normal... and I'm sure it is the same worldwide...
When making the notification of the crime (eavesdropping device) all hell
breaks loose... The sector car that shows up to take the initial report
must notify the sgt. on patrol. Who in turn notifies the Lt at the
stationhouse desk... Who in turn notifies the Duty Captain... Who will
normally visit the site and make a determination as to what unit will be
called to remove the device... normally it is a tech detective from the
TARU or OCCB unit...
Then the TSCM tech can expect a few hours of explaining why he was called
in, who is the client, what does he know about the client,
what equipment he used to find the device, how he found the device, etc.
Who, what, where, when, how and why stuff...
Then the investigating detective will "call around", depending on the type
of device found, to other agencies (LE or Gov)to see if it's their device...
NYPD NORMALLY keeps jurusdiction in these cases... It has been my
experience in the past that the FBI normally declines to get involved in
these cases and let's the locals handle the investigation...
I have personally handled two cases where the FBI DID get involved because
of the victim... One was the director of a NY state agency (we found a bug
in his office, it later turned out to be court ordered)and the other was
one of the largest brokerage houses on Wall Street (14 listening devices in
the arbitrage area... the find NEVER hit the papers).
I have in the past worked with local LE in assisting the client to feed
mis-information to the "found" device in the hope it will provide a clue as
to the perp. We have also setup video surveillance of some devices such as
line activated tape recorders in basements of apartment or office buildings
and caught perps when they came back to change the tapes...
Once and a while we'll get the go ahead to disable a device after setting
up a video surveillance in the hope the perp will return
like those dopes did in Watergate... Every once and a while you get lucky...
Most times the case detective will have the device removed and vouchered...
end of case... rarely if ever is telephone security notified...
SpyKing
P.S. While doing a TSCM search on Wall Street one day, myself and an
associate tuned into a clear audio signal... we heard office chatter
(financial stuff)and thought at first we had a hit... after closer
examination we discovered the listening device two floors below in the
offices of another firm...
If you believe the US Attorney's office statistics that the busted "Spy
Shops" sold over 4,400 illegal listening devices you will realize that the
problem is VERY real and those devices are out
there right now listening to someone...
This is a good thread we've got going... I hope it continues...
Subject: Re: TSCM questions on bug types
From: Manatau
Subject: Re: TSCM questions on bug types
K.C. wrote to Augie:
In over twenty years I have found over 2000 listening devices ranging
form hard wired tape recorders to RF transmitters.
etc., etc.
K. C. wrote:
I can assure you that all good TSCM ops will destroy any transmitter they
find. its the right thing to do.
Au contraire, monsieur. The job of the TSCMer is to find the problem. It is
the responsibility of the client to decide what to do with it. There are
to many operatives out there that keep "finding" a transmitter or
microphone or recording device over and over, telling the client they will
do an evaluation on it and dispose of for them. If they don't want it, I
will take it, but only after they have stated that is what they want.
Jei wrote:
K.C., I'll have to stand in Tim's corner with this one. As he stated our
function is to locate and evaluate and recommend. The client, be it an
individual, corporate or government retains the right to proceed with the
information and analysis we give them, in whatever manner they see fit.
You certainly can't expect the client to pay a premium for us to go in
"soft" so the "listeners" don't detect our presence, only to destroy or
disable the devices. In addition to that, by removing the devices you
eliminate any options for the client to run a dis-information campaign or a
sting to nail the perpetrators.
http://www.spytechagency.com
t: 310-657-6333
f: 310-657-8714
+++Moderator's Note+++
I have to jump in on this one... Here in NY State it is against the law to
divulge a court ordered listening device. It is ALSO against the law NOT to
notify the authorities if an illegal one is found...
fj
The Codex Surveillance & Privacy News - http://www.thecodex.com
Moderator of "The Surveillance List"... http://www.thecodex.com/list.html
The Nets FIRST & ONLY list dedicated to Surveillance Technology...
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