Why the mmWave Range Matters Now

The 5G technology introduced several new frequency bands operating well above the ranges associated with wireless surveillance, so any device transmitting on these frequencies isn't visible to most professional sweep kits.

With a compact, portable design, it detects from 9 to 44 GHz frequency range, covering the full millimeter-wave spectrum where the latest 5G surveillance devices operate. It goes high enough to also detect signals from Starlink satellite connections, which operate between 10.7 and 30 GHz. This matters because covert devices can use satellite internet instead of a phone network to transmit.

At 172 × 19 mm and weighing almost nothing, the iProtect 1240 fits everywhere, since it runs of a single AA alkaline battery for 10 to 20 hours, while the housing is made from duralumin that is lightweight but durable.

5G mmWave Frequency Table

How it works in the field

In practice, iProtect 1240 can detect a smartphone with a 5G-enabled phone using a hidden bug in a meeting room and set it to stream audio or video over an mmWave 5G connection. Or, in some cases, it is enough to have a small, commercially available device (hotspot or access point) planted in a room to intercept conversations or footage over a private 5G mmWave network to a receiver outside the building.