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In a previous study, the determination of suitable RF detectors for detection of wireless spy devices was conducted via the measurement of two key parameters; operating bandwidth and power level threshold. However, this study was limited to RF detectors with maximum operating frequency of up to 3 GHz (based on provided specifications). This paper is aimed at extending this study to RF detectors with specified maximum operating frequency of at least 6 GHz, which is considered as sufficient to cover standard wireless communications frequencies. Four RF detectors were considered for the study; Lanmda (model LM-DC 2), Skynet (model XB-68), Mini Gadgets (model CD-RFLD) and Comenzi (model RFS-DT1). Each of the evaluated RF detectors has a variable power level threshold. It was found that the Lanmda RF detector has the largest operating bandwidth (14 MHz - 4.85 GHz), followed by the Comenzi (9 MHz - 3.82 GHz) and Mini Gadgets (156 MHz - 3.44 GHz) RF detectors, while the Skynet RF detector has the smallest operating bandwidth (0.3 MHz - 2.91 GHz). It was observed that the evaluated RF detectors have varying power level threshold performances over frequency. The Comenzi RF detector generally has the lowest power level threshold performance over the tested frequencies. However, the Comenzi RF detector's significantly low power level thresholds could render it susceptible to false alarms, and make it difficult to hone in on possible targets. The Lanmda RF detector's power level thresholds make it suitable for the user to sweep the suspected area using its lowest power level threshold, and then, hone in on the target using higher power level thresholds. Furthermore, its larger operating bandwidth allows it to detect a wider range of signal frequencies. It should be noted that while this operating bandwidth is sufficient to cover most commonly used wireless communications frequencies, it is unsuitable for detection of the increasingly popular 5 and 5. 8 GHz communications frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2010 to February 2011, the Instrumentation & Electronics Technology Division (BTIE) conducted a series of tests to measure the operating bandwidth and power level threshold of two RF detectors; HomeSafe (model 790) and Ghost (model CT-AS0039). It was determined that the Ghost RF detector's Channel A has the largest operating bandwidth (0.3 MHz to 4.84 GHz), followed by its Channel B (0.4 MHz to 4.35 GHz), while the HomeSafe RF detector has the smallest operating bandwidth (91 MHz to 3.88 GHz). The HomeSafe RF detector has the lowest power level thresholds for the frequency range of approximately 0.7 to 2.9 GHz, while the Ghost RF detector's Channel A has the lowest power thresholds for the remaining tested frequencies. The Ghost RF detector's Channel A also generally has the most stable power level thresholds over the frequencies. Based on the results obtained, the Ghost RF detector is more suitable for detection of wireless spy devices as it can allow for the detection of a wider range of signal frequencies. In addition, its two power level threshold channels, Channel A with lower power level threshold for detection of low power level signals, and Channel B with higher power level threshold to avoid false alarms, allows the user to sweep the suspected area using Channel A, and then, hone in on the target using Channel B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]