More Bench-Tested Circuits: Innovative Designs for Surveillance and Countersurveillance Technicians [Paperback]

Tom Larsen (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1581600070 | ISBN-13: 978-1581600070 | Publication Date: November 1, 1998

Larsen's latest is packed with fun, inexpensive and brilliantly simple designs, each with a detailed schematic. There's an incendiary method of destroying inaccessible taps and bugs, circuits for detecting phone line cuts and usage, designs for undetectable phone taps, ways to use off-the-shelf components to remotely control a bug or phone tap, some low-power-drain circuits for marking hidden caches and much more! For academic study only.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Larsen is a seasoned surveillance and countersurveillance technician and hardcore electronics junkie. Tom Larsen was among the experts Lee Lapin recommended in Book II: How to Get Anything on Anybody.

Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: Paladin Press (November 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581600070
• ISBN-13: 978-1581600070
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,497,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wow how'd that happen, January 22, 2008

By 

Ded I Dic "punishem556" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: More Bench-Tested Circuits: Innovative Designs for Surveillance and Countersurveillance Technicians (Paperback)

The information here is way out of date. 15_+ years. Could not recommend this to anyone.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The companion volume to "Bench-Tested Circuits", October 27, 2003

By 

John A. Faulkner "signalsnatcher" (Sydney, NSW, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: More Bench-Tested Circuits: Innovative Designs for Surveillance and Countersurveillance Technicians (Paperback)

On its own this book is not worth the money, but if it's regarded as the companion to the earlier volume it is just worth the money, especially if it they are both offered together for a reduced price.

As before, the book is a random collection of circuits, most of which are old, well-known (but also reliable) technology.

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.

Some, such as the intrusion alarms, present yet more variations on circuits provided in the first book. Some, such as the subcarrier decoder, should have been in the first book. Some, such as the component analayser used to sweep for hardwire or phone taps are interesting, but a lot of hard work. Others, such as the proximity detector, may not work at all in practice.
The circuit designed to destroy hard-to-get-at bugs is almost guaranteed to kill you. The timers are nasty. If the stories you hear are true, people who want you to design timers are going to use them to commit arson - or worse. Avoid them!

Many circuits make use of specific devices from Radio Shack that are unobtainable outside North America.

Taken all together, a bit of a mixed bag.

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.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A waist of time and money, May 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: More Bench-Tested Circuits: Innovative Designs for Surveillance and Countersurveillance Technicians (Paperback)

I would strongly suggest that the would be purchaser look else wear ! This book contains little of what the title suggests, and of that very little, most of the information is simplistic or out of date.