MICROSEARCH utilizes the same instruments and equipment as government TSCM teams. Our arsenal includes computer-controlled radio frequency spectrum analysis, nonlinear junction detector (This device locates electronic components in surveillance devices), X-Ray, and thermal imaging. Instruments and equipment are upgraded continuously. Most instruments are less than two years old.
Radio Frequency (RF) Detection
Thorough RF analysis requires a variety of instruments. There is no single piece of equipment available that we would trust to detect the wide variety of signals produced by eavesdropping transmitters.
Our RF detection equipment includes a Research Electronics International (REI) OSCOR Blue, a REI Omni Spectral Correlator (OSCOR 5000), REI ANDRE and CPM 700 Broadband detectors four communications receivers, three carrier current receivers, a digital and burst transmitter detector, and two near field transmitter detectors. Infrared transmitter detection falls under RF detection, and we use an Electrophysics infrared light viewer for that purpose. RF analysis in commercial environments includes looking for rouge wireless access points attached to the company’s LAN or WAN. The Fluke Networks AirCheck WiFi tester is used for that purpose. |
Telephone Tap and Eavesdropping Modification Detection
Telephone system surveys involve several pieces of test equipment.
The TALAN is a completely digital phone analyzer in a small powerful package. Instruments such as a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR), digital oscilloscope, audio amplifiers, fluoroscope (X-Ray), wire tracing equipment, Kaiser 1080H analog phone analyzer, and special telecommunications tools are used to inspect for eavesdropping devices. |
Physical Search and Miscellaneous Equipment
The physical search is augmented by the use of sophisticated instruments and equipment. Our nonlinear junction detectors, for example, are engineered to detect components used in eavesdropping devices. If a device is not operating because the batteries have gone dead, the nonlinear junction detector will detect its components. The use of thermal imaging cameras helps us to see minute temperature variations that might indicate the presence of a surveillance device. If an eavesdropper turned off his transmitter before the investigators entered the building, the heat caused by the power flowing through the device would be visible when using the thermal imaging camera.
The physical search can include the use of a metal detector, densimeter, x-ray, ultraviolet (UV) survey lamp, camera lens detector, and a variety of hand tools. The UV light will reveal things not seen with the naked eye such as where a small transmitter has been hidden inside of a block of wood and then glued to the bottom of a desk or at the back of a book shelf. It can also reveal tiny pin-holes in the surface of a wall for a hidden microphone. X-rays will see the insides of many nonmetal devices such as a telephone body or handset as shown in the pictures below. This one checked out negative - there were no hidden devices inside of it. |