Berkeley Varitronics Systems, Inc.'s (BVS) Pro series handheld cell phone detector called the Wolfhound-PRO is the third in a line of BVS’ advanced, award winning cell phone detection products and the most advanced in terms of sensitivity and features.
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+ hours enabling security personnel to continuously scan for all cellular voice, text or data transmissions. The intuitive one-button illuminated trackball allows for simple operation.
Wolfhound-PRO can also be used in countries with a mixed set of frequencies, where US and EU frequencies are used in different geographic locations. Coupled with the Wolfhound-PRO is a multi-band DF (Direction Finding) Antenna that makes the unit the ideal tool for pin pointing the targeted cell phone.
WolfHound-PRO Technical Specifications and Features
- 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 (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
- 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
- The user selectable mobile frequency bands allow the same unit to be used around the world; both USA and European mobile uplink bands are supported
The WolfHound-PRO is the latest device in a family of cell phone detection products from BVS. Combined, the devices are in use in hundreds of correctional facilities in both US and international locations.
With an estimated 5 billion mobile phones around the globe it is no wonder they are showing up everywhere and often times used for conducting criminal activity. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the use of contraband cell phones by inmates has risen as the U.S. prison population continues to expand.
For example, California correctional officers seized approximately 6,000 cell phones in the State's prisons and camps through July of last year. Maryland and other states have also seen a rise in the number of confiscated cell phones in their state prisons. In the past three years Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has recovered over 3,600 cell phones; and In Mississippi nearly 2,000 contraband phones were confiscated during the first half of 2010. Both Florida and New Jersey have passed laws making possession of contraband cell phones a felony rather than just a misdemeanor and Maryland is considering the same type of legislation.
In order to address this growing problem, 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.
