PocketHound Cell Phone Detector

PocketHound™ is the industry's most sensitive cell phone detector for it's size. This award-winning*, passive receiver is no larger or heavier than a deck of cards and specifically tuned to the RF signature of common cell phones (both U.S. & international bands) including all 2G, 3G and 4G bands (PCS, CDMA / WCDMA (UMTS), GSM, EGSM). This breadth of band detection allows any security personnel to locate nearby cell phones in either standby mode* or during active voice, text or data RF transmissions making it the perfect tool for enforcing your NO WIRELESS security policy. PocketHound prevents unauthorized mobile phone use by detecting nearby (up to 75 feet indoors line-of-sight) cellular phones all from your pocket. PocketHound's auto threshold feature automatically detects cell phone activity only above the RF noise in your environment. This prevents false triggers and alerts the user to any cell phone activity with bright LED flashing or vibration for completely covert, in-pocket detection. PocketHound™ is designed and manufactured in the U.S.A. and is the perfect device for courtrooms (jurors and court personnel), classrooms (stop cheating students) and boardrooms (prevent corporate espionage) as well as prisons.

*PocketHound is a platinum winner of the 2013 GOVERNMENT SECURITY AWARDS by Security Product News.

*PocketHound was awarded BEST OF WHAT'S NEW 2012 by Popular Science.

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*Standby mode (autonomous registration) varies from base station to base station with phones typically registering between once every few minutes to up to 20 minutes. This time varies greatly based upon carriers, distance from base stations and individual handset manufacturers' standards.

Features

• Small enough to fit into your pocket or the palm of your hand
• Auto threshold sets detection level above ambient RF noise to avoid false triggering
• Perfect for cheating students, corporate espionage, courtroom and prisons too
• Internal, integrated flat antenna
• Superbright LEDs indicate RSSI with user adjustable brightness
• Receiver design boasts a dynamic range of -60 dB with user settable sensitivity
• User selectable up to –50dBm with a resolution of 2dB for detection in a noisy environment (typical of prisons)
• Selectivity rejection of at least 50 dB at 1 MHz from the uplink frequency bands provides high immunity from false triggering caused by base stations, personal communication devices and other sources of interference
• User selectable mobile frequency bands allow the same unit to be used around the world; both USA and European mobile uplink bands are supported
• Internal Li-ION battery runtime of 2 hours
• Weighs only 6 oz.

Does PocketHound identify callers or their phone numbers?

No. PocketHound Cell Detector is a precision RF cellular scanning device that identifies cellphone activity (both standby mode and active modes) and assists in locating them. It is a wireless tool used by security officers and personnel that require a NO WIRELESS security policy.

How far away can I detect cell phones?

Typical range is about 75 feet but this varies depending upon the environment.

Can I detect phones in standby mode?

PocketHound can detect phones in the standby mode but keep in mind when a phone is ON in standby it is not constantly transmitting. Phones register to the local cell tower/base station at different intervals that the tower/carrier determines (could be every so many seconds, minutes, 5 minutes, or we have seen 20 minutes). When a phone registers it is a short pulse less than 1 sec so the BLUE LED will light up quickly and vibrator will not vibrate because the pulse is so short. Easy test is if you take your phone and put it next to PocketHound and shut off your phone completely wait a few minutes then turn the phone on your phone should try to register to the base station and you should see a short flash on the pockethound.

Will PocketHound work in a noisy RF environment?

Yes. PocketHound has an auto threshold feature that scans the local RF noise floor in order to identify cell phone energy just above that level. Auto threshold may also be manually adjusted by the user.

Does PocketHound Cell Detector detect phones that are powered off?

No. A phone that is turned off cannot be detected.

Can PocketHound detect text messaging as well as voice calls?

Yes; as long as the RF transmissions are made over the prescribed frequency band(s) the PocketHound receiver will detect them. However, since text transmissions tend to be short and intermittent (as opposed to voice or conversation which is more continuous), the user would have to pay undivided attention to the PocketHound LCD output to observe text messaging in real-time.

Can PocketHound only detect  cell phones or can it locate them as well ? If so, how?

PocketHound can both detect and help locate cell phones. The internal antenna has some directionality built-in along with a series of visible LED signal strength indicators on top of the PocketHound. This gives the user the ability to hone in on the nearest cell phone activity without having to move closer to that cell phone.

Can PocketHound stimulate a cell phone to transmit RF signals?

No, PocketHound only detects RF signals; to stimulate a cell phone it would have to transmit RF signals, which would violate FCC regulations and guidelines.

Can PocketHound units be networked together?

Currently, the PocketHound is available as a stand-alone, pocket-sized unit only.