BVS to Unleash Latest in Line of Contraband Cell Phone Detectors
Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc. (BVS), which provides wireless solutions and products to the domestic and international wireless telecommunications and security markets, is planning to unveil its PRO-series handheld cell phone detector (called the Wolfhound-PRO) at the American Correctional Association Winter Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Wolfhound-PRO is the third in a line of BVS' award-winning cell phone detection products and the most sensitive.
The Wolfhound-PRO alerts security and correctional professionals to nearby cell phone activity with a bright OLED screen and integrated vibration notification. The device runs on an internal Li-ION rechargeable power system for up to 4-plus hours, enabling security personnel to continuously scan for all cellular voice, text or data transmissions. The intuitive one-button, illuminated trackball is simple to operate.
Wolfhound-PRO can also be used in countries with a mixed set of frequencies, where U.S. and EU frequencies are used in different geographic locations. Coupled with the Wolfhound-PRO is a multi-band direction-finding (DF) antenna that makes the unit the ideal tool for pinpointing the targeted cell phone.
Wolfhound-PRO technical specifications and features include:
- Receiver design boasts a dynamic range of -60 dB with user settable sensitivity;
- Default sensitivity is set at –80dBm; user selectable up to –50dBm with a resolution of 2dB for detection in a noisy environment;
- 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;
- Integrated logging capability with built-in nonvolatile memory and real-time clock allows the user to record and time-stamp the beginning and the end of each detected cell phone transmission;
- A standard USB port for internal storage is provided to download the records to a PC for further analysis; and
- The user-selectable mobile frequency bands allow the same unit to be used around the world; both U.S. and European mobile uplink bands are supported.
The original Wolfhound was released in December of 2009 followed by the Wolfhound-LITE in June of last year. Combined, the devices are in use in hundreds of correctional facilities in both U.S. and international locations.
The Wolfhound-PRO is designed to detect and locate contraband cell phones without using jamming technology that can interfere with authorized communication channels or 911 emergency calls. In fact, jamming is a violation of FCC rules, and the CTIA, a leading wireless industry association, is on record as opposing jamming. Other solutions may require an entire network infrastructure of wireless sensors hard-wired throughout a facility that can be expensive and difficult to deploy. And canines can cost up to $10,000 each to train and maintain.
"General-purpose cell phone detectors on the market today that typically originate from Asia do not work well as they are wideband and do not filter out unwanted signals. The Wolfhound-PRO, on the other hand, has sharp filters for the U.S./European cell phone bands and thus filters out the interfering signals. The high-speed, patent-pending receiver has a unique 'detection' algorithm that allows for quick detection and location of contraband cell phones," said Scott Schober, BVS president and CEO. "Correctional institutions, federal facilities, courts, financial institutions and any organization looking to enforce a no cell phone policy will come to depend on the Wolfhound-PRO.'"