Detect the presence of short-range UWB signals

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the detection of Ultra Wideband (UWB) signals, particularly in the context of whether normal spycam detectors can identify these signals when they penetrate through walls. The conversation touches on technical aspects of UWB technology, detection capabilities, and potential applications.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that UWB RADAR systems operate between 3GHz to 10GHz, making them difficult to detect compared to conventional RADAR systems.
  • It is claimed that normal spycam detectors can detect some UWB signals, but they are limited to a frequency range of 1.2GHz to 5.8GHz, which does not cover the entire UWB spectrum.
  • Participants mention that the presence of other signals, such as Wi-Fi, mobile phones, and microwave ovens, can complicate detection efforts due to reflections from various scatterers.
  • There is a suggestion that proximity to a transmitter is necessary for detection, with a need to be within a meter or two to effectively identify the source of the UWB signals.
  • One participant discusses the potential for individuals with an electrical engineering background to assemble concealed monitoring systems using readily available technology, raising concerns about privacy and intrusion.
  • Another participant highlights the complexity of UWB radar systems, which must track multiple moving objects and their ranges and directions, especially through different wall materials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the capabilities of spycam detectors regarding UWB signals. While there is some agreement that these detectors have limitations, the extent of their effectiveness and the implications of UWB technology remain contested.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved questions regarding the specific conditions under which UWB signals can be detected and the implications of using various detection technologies. The discussion also reflects a range of assumptions about the capabilities of existing devices and the technical challenges involved in UWB detection.

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Ultra Wideband (UWB) RADAR systems discharge signals over a broad range of frequencies which is between 3GHz to 10GHz as compared to the conventional RADAR systems and remain extremely difficult to detect.

an excerpt from page 2 of https://eudl.eu/pdf/10.4108/eai.7-9...systems utilize,received at the receiver side.

Will the normal spycam detector be able to detect the presence of UWB signals penetrating through the common wall?
 
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raymond0517 said:
Will the normal spycam detector be able to detect the presence of UWB signals penetrating through the common wall?
YES, to some of the UWB signals, and NO, to what the signals are being used for.

Spycam cannot detect all of the band from 3GHz to 10GHz.
Spycam detects only from 1.2GHz to 5.8GHz.

There is so much Wi-Fi about, that you will detect signals reflected off all sorts of scatterers, wherever you look. You will also detect mobile phones and microwave ovens operating in your vicinity.

You would need to be within a metre or two of a transmitter to detect and move in on it. If it was on the other side of a property wall, you would not know what it was being used for, unless you gained access to that space, and found the rack of computers, radio equipment, and antennas, needed to implement UWB radar.
 
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Baluncore said:
YES, to some of the UWB signals, and NO, to what the signals are being used for.

Spycam cannot detect all of the band from 3GHz to 10GHz.
Spycam detects only from 1.2GHz to 5.8GHz.

There is so much Wi-Fi about, that you will detect signals reflected off all sorts of scatterers, wherever you look. You will also detect mobile phones and microwave ovens operating in your vicinity.

You would need to be within a metre or two of a transmitter to detect and move in on it. If it was on the other side of a property wall, you would not know what it was being used for, unless you gained access to that space, and found the rack of computers, radio equipment, and antennas, needed to implement UWB radar.
Thank you Baluncore for the answer.

https://novelda.com/ultra-low-power-sensor
with many high-tech boards easily available, a person with an EEE background can easily assemble a few Arduino-embedded systems concealed under some fixtures on the ceiling (e.g. clock, decorative..), monitoring the movement of the occupant living above it becomes very difficult to prove the intrusion.
 
raymond0517 said:
with many high-tech boards easily available, ...
Movement detectors, based on microwave reflection, are trivial, and cost less than $5.
A UWB movement detector, that detects only range, is also simple.

UWB radar is very complex because it must track range and direction to several moving objects, through walls made of different materials.

It takes four people to monitor the activity of one person. It is usually not worth the effort, since it is more efficient to eliminate the threat from the situation.