Surveillance Video Scanners

[Gator596]

Does anybody have one of the many handheld units marketed to pick up wireless video cameras? They seem to be the same basic unit but with different names. Some old threads on RR didn't sound like they were much good (especially the Icom R3) at the time but maybe things have changed.
Do they work? Anybody got one and like it?

 

[questnz]

Here it is
AR-STV | OTHER PRODUCTS | AOR U.S.A., INC. Authority On Radio Communications

Chris

 

[Gator596]

Yup - that is the type of unit I am talking about. There are several that are very similar but are marketed under different brand names.
Has anybody out there tried one and want to share their experience with it?

 

[Michael-SATX]

That's a BIG NOPE on the i-Com R3 ... it's 2.4 GHZ spectrum is sad and it does NOT cover the entire range that wireless cameras are using. Hmm, other that I used to watch analog TV before June 12, 09
with mine it's just a paper weight ... OK, back to my beloved and GREat Pro-106 ....

 

[vinzep491]

Would be cool if one covers every available band option that cameras could be on

 

[Gator596]

Ya - I heard the R3 was a bust... too bad because Icom has done some good stuff.
Am still looking for feedback from someone who has one of the other units!

 

[mike_s104]

Here it is
AR-STV | OTHER PRODUCTS | AOR U.S.A., INC. Authority On Radio Communications

Chris

that one's a little pricey.

I was looking for a similar unit a while back. If you look in the FCC database, there are some local law enforcement agencies that have licenses for video links in the 2.4GHz band (examples below). I found a few units that were designed as the receiver part of the setup with selectable channels\freqs but didn't cover all of the available freqs for all the transmitters you can buy.

FCC Callsign WQJL945 Details
FCC Callsign WQAY879 Details

 

[Gator596]

Thanks for the tip about the database Mike. Very interesting!
Did you ever settle on one model - if so, which one? Feel free to pm me if you like.
Thanks again,

 

[mike_s104]

Thanks for the tip about the database Mike. Very interesting!
Did you ever settle on one model - if so, which one? Feel free to pm me if you like.
Thanks again,

No, I didn't buy any. The one I liked was the AOR but I didn't want to pay $900 for it.

 

[poltergeisty]

I've heard connecting the R3 to an external antenna, like a yagi picks up a lot of stuff. I own one but never tried it yet.

 

[iamhere300]

I know it is not handheld, but Walmart sells a cheap backup camera system, wireless. The reciever is always on. As you drive around you would be amazed at the video out there.

 

[Gator596]

Thanks for the tips everyone! A clearer picture is emerging about what's out there. I still wish someone who has one of these units would share their experience with it!

 

[Squelchtone]

Have you seen the unit you mentioned sold under different model names and numbers on ebay?

I work with CCTV for my job and one of our trusted vendors also sells this unit for $469.00 here: Multi-Frequency Video Scanner/Monitor

Here's an example one on ebay that claims it can scan from 900mhz to 2.7Ghz
Bug Detector Wireless Hidden Spy Camera RF Hunter NEW - eBay (item 370483825185 end time Mar-09-11 14:56:57 PST)

poke around some more and you'll see some that only say 900mhz to 2.520 Ghz
PROSCAN Wireless Camera Hunter SECURITY NEW - eBay (item 160314252717 end time Mar-27-11 15:16:09 PDT)

Hope this helps,
Squelchtone

 

[TexScan780D]

Optoelectronics Video Sweeper

Optoelectronics, Inc.

Anyone remembers the Optocom receiver, which this company sold.

 

[mike_s104]

Here's an example one on ebay that claims it can scan from 900mhz to 2.7Ghz
Bug Detector Wireless Hidden Spy Camera RF Hunter NEW - eBay (item 370483825185 end time Mar-09-11 14:56:57 PST)

What is your opinion of this one? They all appear to have the same case/case design. You think maybe someone took one of the 2.52GHz model and tweaked it a little to increase the bandwidth?

 

[Squelchtone]

Optoelectronics Video Sweeper

Optoelectronics, Inc.

Anyone remembers the Optocom receiver, which this company sold.

Looks like the same exact made in china unit I posted, but Opto put their name on it and charges $599.00

Everyone's selling this, even online cctv giant SuperCircuits.com $474.00
Handheld Video Scanner

We just need to find the source and buy it wholesale from Hong Kong for $250 or whatever they others are buying it for =)

btw, mike_s104: Most wireless cameras are going to be using one of these 4 channels, so the video scanner units doing up to 2.540 should suffice.
channel 1 = 2.414GHz
channel 2 = 2.432GHz
channel 3 = 2.450GHz
channel 4 = 2.468GHz

some others include:
channel 5 = 2.486Ghz
channel 6 = 2.504Ghz
channel 7 = 2.522Ghz
channel 8 = 2.540Ghz

Squelchtone

 

[Chrome69]

for what its worth i talked to a friend that works at SuperCircuits and he told me they work ok but you have to be very close to grab the signal, he explained you can't sit on the street in your car and pick up someones wireless security cameras unless its on a Yagi outdoor antenna. Most would be low power and transmit 100ft at best so you would have to be close to the camera to grab it. I was going to grab theirs but when he told me that i backed away.. I foot note, if you do invest in one, i believe SC has a 30 day money back guarantee

 

[mike_s104]

Looks like the same exact made in china unit I posted, but Opto put their name on it and charges $599.00

Everyone's selling this, even online cctv giant SuperCircuits.com $474.00
Handheld Video Scanner

We just need to find the source and buy it wholesale from Hong Kong for $250 or whatever they others are buying it for =)

btw, mike_s104: Most wireless cameras are going to be using one of these 4 channels, so the video scanner units doing up to 2.540 should suffice.
channel 1 = 2.414GHz
channel 2 = 2.432GHz
channel 3 = 2.450GHz
channel 4 = 2.468GHz

some others include:
channel 5 = 2.486Ghz
channel 6 = 2.504Ghz
channel 7 = 2.522Ghz
channel 8 = 2.540Ghz

Squelchtone

Thanks. If I were to get one, I would make sure it covered all I could because of what I posted about what I found in the FCC database.

 

[mike_s104]

Found this one on eBay

Hidden Wireless Mini SPY Camera Hunter Video Scanner - eBay (item 110632980140 end time Mar-08-11 00:33:38 PST)

 

[Squelchtone]

for what its worth i talked to a friend that works at SuperCircuits and he told me they work ok but you have to be very close to grab the signal, he explained you can't sit on the street in your car and pick up someones wireless security cameras unless its on a Yagi outdoor antenna. Most would be low power and transmit 100ft at best so you would have to be close to the camera to grab it. I was going to grab theirs but when he told me that i backed away.. I foot note, if you do invest in one, i believe SC has a 30 day money back guarantee

I have to disagree (specifically about the need for a Yagi antenna) from field work I have done. If you've ever heard of WarDriving for Wifi computer signal, well.. there's also Video War Driving. I'll even show you the unit I used, it was all parts from SuperCircuits. You wont be able to sit at home and see all the security and baby cams in your neighborhood, but if you are driving down the street at 20-35 mph you'll see them come up on the monitor as you pass people's houses or businesses. Antenna I was using was built into the receiver, didnt even use an external antenna, receiver was on front seat next to me, so I can only imagine even better results if I had an omnidirectional mag mount on the roof.

Here's what I used:

https://www.supercircuits.com/Wireless-Security/Wireless-Video-Links/MVL10
to change channels (1 thru 4) I had to manually press the switch on the of the unit, there was no 'scan' function.

for monitor I used a 7 inch LCD
https://www.supercircuits.com/Security-Monitors/Portable-Monitors/MON7TFT

Everything was mounted in a Pelican case, including the cigarette lighter plug and Y splitter to power receiver and lcd monitor.

That unit is still kicking around here somewhere, I'll try to take a pic

Squelchtone