Customer Reviews

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

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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The information here is way out of date. 15_+ years.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

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.

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.

If your looking for a book on wiretaps and surveillance transmitters....this is NOT the one. The book contains many common sense circuits and claims many uses for "covert" operation. The book also gives many partial plans, requiring that you buy the first book to complete a project. My advice: Save your money and get The Basement Buggers Bible. Now that is one quality book on the subject.

My buddy and me used some of the plans from this book and his first Bench Tested Circuits book and we were able to fool some high priced CM folks who came in a big white van loaded with lots of Counter Measures equipment. We were on the road at the time and all we had was a [electronics store]and a Hardware Store in the whole dirt water town, what a dive. We even recorded some of the chatter for the client of the hot-shot CM team. Client was very pleased! The circuits are pretty simple, yet hard to detect. They work as good as many of the more complicated circuits that we have used in the past.

Good companion to read with the the first book.....simple but effective circuts........

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.

After my associates and I implemented some of the circuits in his first Bench Tested Book, we tried some of these circuits and they worked great! Some of these circuits are truly diabolical! We especially liked the phone taps that cannot be detected and the remote shut off bug circuit.