Threat Level 2 - Amateur and Consumer Communications Products

Technical Surveillance Threat Levels

Level 2 - Amateur and Consumer Communications Products

Products only qualify for a level two threat level if it is a quasi-consumer product such as a ham radio, aeronautic, or maritime type of product.

These products are available to consumers, but they really have to "hunt around" to buy them. At this point the products typically are involved in some type of hobby or recreational activity.

A user or facility using this kind of equipment will often require some type of authorization, or special licensing in order to operate this type of equipment. This includes commercial radio, mobile radio, and related equipment.

Products with a threat level of 2 include products not normally available to the public, and may or may not include FCC approved devices. The products are typically not sold retail, but are offered into very specialized vertical markets (such as the broadcast or recording industry.

The most popular products are UHF and VHF wireless microphones used (or mis-used) by the broadcast industry. Also popular are industrial wireless video systems, and spread spectrum products clustered around the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

These products include those used by Private Investigators, security people, and related professional with heavy concentration on video based products (operating on consumer frequencies).

The products are quasi-legal (provided no audio path is involved) and are readily available to professionals via mail order or retail channels (such as spy shops).

Poorly trained law enforcement officers will occasionally (out of ignorance) use products such as these for surveillance, often with terminal results.

The equipment is not designed for use as a surveillance device, and will operate on specific consumer band frequencies. Heavy usage of 49 Mhz, 88-108, 143, 171, 470, 900-925 MHz bands.

Generally limited to frequencies below 1 GHz. Limited usage of the 2.4 GHz band, involving mostly Wavecom video transmitters which are very simple to detect.

Equipment used for taping phone lines typically contain parasitic power draw, and are very simple to detect with a simple volt-ohm meter test.

Since the equipment and training required to perform a TSCM inspection at this level is minimal, the cost for this type of service is very low. Firms offering TSCM services this level typically charge between $150 to $750 for an entire sweep (but remember you get what you pay for). This level of TSCM service usually takes between four and six hours, with a legitimate firm charging around $250 per hour.

Wireless Microphones
Intercom Systems
Baby Monitors
Tape Recorders
Recorder Starter Relays
Inexpensive Microphones
Video Cameras
Camcorders
Related electronic devices which are really nothing more than consumer toys and gadgets.
Commonly used by spouses spying on each other

Technical Profile

Frequencies typically between 150 kHz and 2.5 GHz (but most below 1 GHz)
Power levels typically below 50 mW
Narrow Band Spread Spectrum ISM bands may be used (but it is limited)
Wide band spread spectrum, burst or frequency hopping is rarely used
Infrared devices clustered around 900 nm
AM, NFM, WFM Modulation
Little or no usage of encryption or inversion scrambling (typically Barker PN codes, and related well known and easily decoded methods)
Very high harmonic components
Inefficient circuitry, but very low cost

Counter Measures

Digital Multimeter
Handheld/Pocket RF Field Detectors
Near Field Detectors
Feedback Detectors
Requires less then $1500 in TSCM equipment to detect

Credentials

Involves 5 days of TSCM training (typically only 1 or 2 weeks)
Over 50,000 people worldwide working at this level
Over 4,500 private firms in the U.S. offer TSCM at this level
Half of the firms offering service at this level are mostly private investigators
One fourth of the remaining firms are "security" consulting firms
The remaining fourth are con artists, felons, spy shops, and crooks who will say or do anything to separate you from your cash (usually thousands of dollars).
Every major U.S. city has at least 50 firms who operate at this level (but most are not legitimate)

Other Eavesdropping Threat Levels

Level 1 - Common Consumer Products and Toys

Level 3 - Amateur Eavesdropping Products

Level 4 - Restricted Professional Products

Level 5 - Professional "Spy Shop" Products

Level 6 - Professional "Title 3" Products

Level 7 - Signals Intelligence Products

Level 8 - Intelligence Agency Eavesdropping Threats

Level 9 - National Security Eavesdropping Threats

Level X - Hypothetical, Misunderstood, or Delusional Threats