October 28th, 2010 | 
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Product Description
If you’re hungry for updated, practical electronic circuits, this is a beggar’s banquet. Not only do these ingenious circuits – some never published – really work, but they’re simple, inexpensive and fun. Includes clear explanations and schematics plus real-life applications…. More >>
Bench-Tested Circuits For Surveillance And Countersurveillance Technicians
FIX PC ERRORS
PC Integrity Scanner
Know What Happens on YOUR PC
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A good read, great circuits to build and test….good technical book to refer to…..
Rating: 5 / 5
As an electronics technician in the security field, I found Mr. Larsen’s circuits well described and very clever! They are sophisticated yet simple for the average tech (like me) to build. Some of the circuits are unusual and I have not been able to find them elsewhere!
Rating: 5 / 5
My buddy and me used some of the circuits from this book and his second Bench Tested Circuits book and were able to fool a high priced Counter Measures team with a big van loaded with CM equipment. We were in some god forsaken town that only had a Radio Shack and a Hardware store. The circuits are simple but work just as well as the more high priced circuits that we have seen. Many of this guy’s simple techniques are almost impossible to detect. Our client was very happy when he listened to the chatter from the CM people.
Rating: 5 / 5
A friend of mine and I were very impressed with his simple Subcarrier Converter for transmitters and his SCA decoder using a very common, mid-price range communications receiver. We have never seen such an unusual and highly effective technique for preventing the casual listener from over-hearing covert intercepts. Some of the other books like Basement Buggers Bible (though really great and with much more detailed plans), for some reason, did not have some of these more sophisticated modulation schemes. His simple Carrier Current By-pass technique really worked well on a recent case. We found the Capacitors that he recomended for the By-pass at a Ham Fest (they were a little hard to find though)…
Rating: 5 / 5
As the title suggests, this book is a collection of circuits. The circuits are all well-designed and functional although they do seem chosen at random. The technology is old (very old, I have seen versions of these from the 1940s) but it does work – mostly. This book is probably pitched at the self-taught private detective who is not too fussy about the local eavesdropping laws. This is definitely not what your country’s internal securty force is using!
Despite the title there is nothing in this book that you could not find in any good text on electronics design or acoustic engineering; indeed that’s what the professionals would be using. But for students who are bright but directionless “design a bug for the principal’s office” is always a better motivator than “read chapter six and attempt the odd-numbered questions”. For security professionals it defines the lower end of the threat spectrum – not what government agencies are using.
Circuit schematics are provided along with a theoretical description and some practical tips.
The book presents the circuits in six sections:
In the section on surveillance, the circuits include a simple subcarrier generator for an FM bug, a hookswitch bypass for older style (non-electronic) phones and some very old (but useful) techniques for hardwire and telephone taps. Some voice activation circuits and high gain amplifiers are also mentioned.
The section on remote control offers some very simple but useful techniques turning common consumer electronics into remote controlled devices.
The section of infra-red flashers provides variations on the same circuit – a blinking IRED which can be tracked at night with an infrared scope or a video camera.
The section on counter surveillance provides some well-known techniques for tracing radio bugs, phone taps and hardwire taps.
The section on receiver enhancements provides some simple techniques to receive subcarrier or carrier current transmissions on an HF communications receiver.
There is a section mostly dealing with circuits that record unauthorised entries or phone use.
Most circuits are old, but well-proven technology. A few would be dangerous enough in North America with their 110 volt mains, but they are guaranteed lethal in the remainder of the world where 220, 230 or 240 volts is more common, or where 415 volt three-phase systems are in use.
The Parts Source section is only of use to readers in North America
A word of caution here. Most governments have made illegal the construction, possession, distribution (by sale or otherwise), use or use of material obtained from eavesdropping devices except in special circumstances so you are advised to check your local laws if you want to do more than read this book.
On the other hand, successful prosecutions are rare and similar devices are openly advertised for sale. Detection of these devices is difficult. Any competent hobbyist could produce this equipment from readily available components or by disassembly of consumer items.
But before you go into business consider this advice. Whether your clients are cops, spies or gangsters, they are eavesdroppers and conspirators – they are inherently untrustworthy. They don’t regard you as an electronic genius – you’re just the hired help, some geek who is useful but expendable. Look after number one! The smartest player is often the one who does not join the game.
Rating: 3 / 5