Does any one know what frequencies i could pick up listening devices ? (bugs)
Listening devices
- Thread starter gmacka
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If you want to listen to anyone who bugs people for a living (ASIO, NSWP STIB etc), you're wasting your time. They use digital frequency hopping transmitters, often with dwell times as low as 3µs, or burst mode transmitters.
If you want to find those ones you buy kits for at Jaycar, try the FM broadcast band.
If you want to find those ones you buy kits for at Jaycar, try the FM broadcast band.
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thanks for your knowledge on bugs .
however some scanners are marketed with bug detection as a feature.do you know how they are programed to do this ?
however some scanners are marketed with bug detection as a feature.do you know how they are programed to do this ?
SkipSanders
Silent Key
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The programing is called 'Marketing Hype'. 
However, the first post might be a little bit over the top. Serious, governmental spies will indeed be using any and all sorts of oddball ways to avoid being noticed. Frequency hopping, as he said, or putting the transmitter inside an active TV channel, narrowband, with the audio on a subcarrier, going microwave, any number of tricky things.
That said, probably less than 10% of 'bugs' actually use any sort of significantly sophisticated method, since most bugs are planted by Joe and Jane citizen, bought at the local 'spy store' (for extremely overpriced stuff), and is usually actually quite monitorable, with effort.
Cheapest will be the FM Broadcast band very low power bugs. Hard to hear more than 100 feet away, but I've heard one occasionally. Most often heard around apartment houses or hotels. Next up, the 'spy store' variety, which will be all over VHF, mostly, try 30-54 MHz, 150-220 MHz, 440-512 MHz. This will include some police bugs, they usually still use simple narrow fm bugs in VHF Hi or UHF. Again, these have low range, so you're probably too close for safety if you hear one! Keep out of sight, DON'T go looking to see what's going on! I've heard one of these from a mile away, but it takes luck and good conditions for that to happen. It also helps if you know what hotel the local Narcotics Task Force has a permanent bug installed in a room of. :twisted:
The scanner 'detectors' are just 'Close Call' or 'Signal Capture' or whatever the scanner manufacturer feels like calling 'wide band detection of VERY local strong signals'. For a bug, you're talking less than 100 feet at best, probably more like 10 feet, for these to catch it.
Above applies to USA, but adjusted for local FM band, etc, should be pretty universal.
However, the first post might be a little bit over the top. Serious, governmental spies will indeed be using any and all sorts of oddball ways to avoid being noticed. Frequency hopping, as he said, or putting the transmitter inside an active TV channel, narrowband, with the audio on a subcarrier, going microwave, any number of tricky things.
That said, probably less than 10% of 'bugs' actually use any sort of significantly sophisticated method, since most bugs are planted by Joe and Jane citizen, bought at the local 'spy store' (for extremely overpriced stuff), and is usually actually quite monitorable, with effort.
Cheapest will be the FM Broadcast band very low power bugs. Hard to hear more than 100 feet away, but I've heard one occasionally. Most often heard around apartment houses or hotels. Next up, the 'spy store' variety, which will be all over VHF, mostly, try 30-54 MHz, 150-220 MHz, 440-512 MHz. This will include some police bugs, they usually still use simple narrow fm bugs in VHF Hi or UHF. Again, these have low range, so you're probably too close for safety if you hear one! Keep out of sight, DON'T go looking to see what's going on! I've heard one of these from a mile away, but it takes luck and good conditions for that to happen. It also helps if you know what hotel the local Narcotics Task Force has a permanent bug installed in a room of. :twisted:
The scanner 'detectors' are just 'Close Call' or 'Signal Capture' or whatever the scanner manufacturer feels like calling 'wide band detection of VERY local strong signals'. For a bug, you're talking less than 100 feet at best, probably more like 10 feet, for these to catch it.
Above applies to USA, but adjusted for local FM band, etc, should be pretty universal.
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thankyou for interesting reply to my question
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Don't count on everything being hidden or "super special frequency hopping".
Think, Fed Range.
Think, Fed Range.
No such thing as fed range here.
In any case, all I'll say is post 9/11, there's been lots of money to go around, and a lot of that has been spent on very fancy LPI surveillance equipment, at least by two of the three main agencies into such things in the OP's area.
In any case, as previous posters have mentioned, there will still probably be a lot of spy shop crap floating around.
In any case, all I'll say is post 9/11, there's been lots of money to go around, and a lot of that has been spent on very fancy LPI surveillance equipment, at least by two of the three main agencies into such things in the OP's area.
In any case, as previous posters have mentioned, there will still probably be a lot of spy shop crap floating around.
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Thats it. If you intend to hunt for listening devices aimed at you, and you suspect they are from a government agency in Australia, you won't pick them up.
If on the other hand you suspect you are being bugged by a private induvidual or business, then you may have some luck. Most companies, unless they have huge budgt to spend on such gear will get the forementioned bugs from the spy shop, or some other shop that sells this sort of stuff, or fomr ebay, as its cheap as chips there. In which case you may even be able to pick it up with a simple FM broadcast receiver. Even the car stereo will do..
If on the other hand you suspect you are being bugged by a private induvidual or business, then you may have some luck. Most companies, unless they have huge budgt to spend on such gear will get the forementioned bugs from the spy shop, or some other shop that sells this sort of stuff, or fomr ebay, as its cheap as chips there. In which case you may even be able to pick it up with a simple FM broadcast receiver. Even the car stereo will do..
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