Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
A STUDY ON WIRELESS CELL PHONE DETECTION SYSTEM
Basheer P. I. & Shajil Ameer V. V.
Lecturer Electronics, S. S. M. Polytechnic College,Tirur, Kerala
Lecturer Electronics, S. S. M. Polytechnic College,Tirur, Kerala
Abstract
Cell phone detection has been on investigation for a long time. There are techniques which have
been formulated or proposed on how cell phones can be detected. Most of them use the features
such as audio system, RF system and common materials of the phones and try to look into how
they can be used as basis to detect mobile phones.A circuit that detects signals of the range
0.9GHz to 3GHz is used to detect a cell phone when in use. When the signal is detected, an LED
blinks to indicate the usage of a cell phone within a radius of 1.5metres, which could be used in
preventing the use of mobile phones in examination halls, confidential rooms etc. It is also
suitable for detecting the use of mobile phone for spying and unauthorized video transmission.
The circuit can detect the incoming and outing calls, text messages, and video transmission even
if the mobile is kept in the silent mode. The moment the gadget detects Radio Frequency (RF)
transmission signal from an activated mobile phone, it starts sounding a beep alarm and the Light
Emitting Diode (LED) blinks. The alarm continues until the signal transmission ceases.
Keyword: Cell Phone, RF, LED, LC Circuit, Printed Circuit Board,Signal Detection, Mobile
Introduction
Cell phones have brought the world closer. Communication has become a lot smoother
with the ease of using cell phone technology. It has made it possible for a person located in a
remote place to communicate with a person across the globe in a fraction of a second.[1]
Despite the advantages enjoyed by these advancements in mobile technology, there
arethreats that have been posed by their usage. Company data mining has been a big threat in
theindustry where employees are able to access sensitive company information and share with
the competitors. This led to the development of cell phone jammers where signal reception
iscompletely blocked when you enter the premises. Despite personal privacy invaded by the
usage of such devices, this could not put to an end the vice since mobile phones could be
connected to the computer and information transferred and sent when the employee is out of the
company premises.[2]
Life support machines are also sensitive to the use of mobile phones. The useof mobile
phones in such a facility leads to adverse repercussions to the life of persons whoselives depend
on the proper functionality of the machines. Other places are airplanes, petrolstations, conference
halls, examination halls, worship centers, etc. where the use of mobilephones can either lead to
failure of sensitive machines or is a nuisance.
The two most popular cellular phone detectors available on the market today are
produced by Berkeley Varitronics Systems and Mobile Security Products. These companies
produce the wolfhound cell phone detector and Cell buster respectively.[3]
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Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
Mobile phone detection system
Mobile-phone system is referred to as “Cellular-Telephone-system” because the
coverage- area is divided into “cells”, each of which has a base-station. The transmitter-power of
the modern 2G antenna in the base-station is 20-100 Watts (Sujith, 2014). For larger or more
sophisticated applications, a single cell phone detector may not be enough. Instead, one should
consider a full cell phone detection system, consisting of a network of multiple cell phone
detector devices located around the area to be protected.Cell busters’ Zone Protector works with
Zone Manager to provide just such a solution. The individual Zone Protectors can be distributed
across the area to be monitored.[4] Zone manager continuously monitors and collects the details
of all activity from one or more Zone Protectors and displays them.The GSM is therefore a
wireless communication device that can transmit messages in different forms in a network using
the free ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) radio frequency band.This led to the invention of
the GSM Detectors to checkmate the un-wanted transfer of information or spying using the GSM
network. The GSM detector can detect the presence of an active GSM handset within a network
to prevent un-wanted information transfer or espionage.[5]
Review of Literature
Curran et al. (2011),[6] Built-in sensors, GPS, USB, and operating systems. Mobile
phones that offer these and more-general computing capabilities are referred to as smart-phones.
Furthermore, the communication technology a cellular-phone uses such as CDMA, GSM, 3G
and 4G is rapidly modernizing(Okebukola, 2014).[7]
These Companies produce the wolfhound cell phone detector and cell buster
respectively. The Berkeley Varitronics systems Wolfhound cell phone detects Personal
Computers (PCs), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Global System for Mobiles (GSM)
and cellular bands using the RF signals. It is also capable to directionally find and locate cellular
phones that are nearby.[8]
This article details the growing problem with cellular phones in correctional facilities and
lays out the constraints used to develop their solution. According to the research, cellular phones
in a correctional facility are used to operate criminal enterprises, threaten witnesses, harass
victims, plan uprisings, and undermine security. Their problem is monitoring, controlling, and
locating cellular phones in a correctional facility [9].
Efforts have been put in place in tackling the issue of cheating in examinations, but they
all have theirown- shortcomings, one of which is the mobile-phone-jammer. A mobile-phone-
jammer is an instrument used to prevent cellular-phones from receiving signals from base-
stations. When used, the jammer effectively disables cellular-phones. These devices can be used
in practically any location, but are found primarily in places where a phone call would be
particularly disruptive because silence is expected (Blog-jammer-store, 2009)[10]
A novel mobile-detector-sensing alarming and reporting system developed by Mohan
(2012) had a pivotal role to detect mobile-phones in restricted-areas. Through an antenna, the
device detects the presence of a mobile-phone and a signal is sent to PIC16F877A
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Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
microcontroller which turns ON the buzzer-circuit and sends the message to an LCD-module for
display and as well an SMS is sent to the registered mobile-number via GSM module for
notification.[11]
An intelligent-mobile-phone-detector designed by Mbaocha (2012)[12], was able to
detect the presence of GSM-signals emitted from a mobile-phone within the radius of 1.5 meters.
A device had a capability to detect calls, SMS and video-transmission even though a mobile-
phone is in silent mode. Moreover, a device was able to restrict the detected-mobile-phone from
accessing services through jamming which blocks the desired-frequency. However, the device
was unable to discriminate two-distinct-phones operating in the same-frequency.
Kanwaljeet et al (2014)[13], developed a line-follower-robot designated to detect the use
of mobile-phones in restricted premises. When the robot detects RF-signals transmitted from the
mobile-phone, it stops moving and sounds a beep-alarm and the LED blinks for notification until
when RF-signals transmission stops. However, the robot cannot tell the exact location of the
detected mobile-phone. The robot cannot rotate at any particular-angle which is less than 75
degree. To rotate less than 75 degree angle more sensors and programming would be needed.
Objectives
1. Design a circuit that can detect signals in the range of 0.9GHz to 3GHz within aradius of
one and a half meters.
2. Produce a notification when the signals in the range of 0.9 GHz to 3 GHz are detected
3. Design a circuit to detect signals within a range of one and a half meter.
Research Methodology
The Researchers used an exploratory research technique based on past literature from
respective journals, annual reports, newspapers and magazines. According to the objectives of
the study, the research design is of descriptive in nature. Available secondary data was
extensively used for the study.
Result and Discussion
Cell phone detector is a special type of radio receiver that is used for capturing signals
froma GSM hand set whenever the handset is in active mode or in the process transmitting or
receiving message from another device. The circuit partitioned into four building blocks of a
basic radio receiver, consisting of the RF Circuit, which includes the antenna, the amplifier, the
Switching and the timer. The block diagram of the circuit is shown in Fig 1 below for ease of
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Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
reference.[14]
Fig. 1 block diagram of the cell phone detector
The complete circuit for the cell phone detector is given in figbelow.
Fig. 2 Circuit Diagram of mobile phone detector.
Berkeley Varitronics Systems wolfhound cell phone detector will detect PCS,CDMA,
GSM, and cellular bands using RF signatures. It also has the capability todirectionally find or
locate cellular phones that are nearby. The wolfhound, according to the advertisement, can detect
phones that are in standby mode, actively using voice, or data transmissions.[15]
Fig. 3 Wolfhound Cellphone Detector
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Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
Cellbuster's cellular phone detector provides continuous monitoring for cellular phones and has a
voice alert that tells the user to shut their phone off if detected. The Cellbuster only receives and
doesn't transmit, making it great for areas sensitive to cellular phone usage. It will also detect
phones that are in standby mode.[16]
Fig. 4 Cellbusters Cell Phone Detector
A capacitor is used to detect RF from mobile-phone considering that, a capacitor can store
energy even from an outside source. Here the circuit uses 100 µF disk-capacitors to capture the
RF-signals from the mobile-phone.A capacitor has two electrodes separated by a ‘dielectric’, like
paper, and it can store energy and pass AC-signals. The 100uF capacitor is selected because it is
a low-cost and has large-enough-capacity to accept energy from the mobile-phone-radiation. To
detect the signal, the sensor-part should be like an aerial. There anatural-electromagnetic-field
around the capacitor caused by the 50Hz from electrical-wiring.[17] When the mobilephone
radiates high-energy-pulsations, capacitor oscillates and releases energy in the inputs of IC. This
oscillation is indicated by the flashing of the LED or beeping of the Buzzer.
Fig. 5 Breadboard-assembly of the mobile-phone-detector
Conclusion
The design and analysis of the cell phone detector has been carried out and presented.
The design approach was based on the principle of radio frequency receiver specified for GSM
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Research Directions ISSN: 2321-5488
Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
frequencies. Within the given specification, the performance objective which is basically to
detect an active cell phone at a distance range of about 1 to 2m has been successfully achieved.
Intercepted signal GSM cell phone caused the buzzer to sound and at the same time makes the
LED blinks. This happens only if the cell phone is on active mode, thus the design objective has
been achieved. Therefore, the pocket-sized mobile transmission detector or sniffer can sense the
presence of an activated mobile phone from a distance of one and-a-half meters. So it can be
used to prevent use of mobile phones in examinationhalls, confidential rooms. It is also useful
for detecting the use of mobile phone for spying and unauthorized video transmission.
References
1. Lawal, W.; Akinrinmade, A. and Ijarotimi, O. (2013). “Effects of Unrestricted Mobile
Phone Usage in Selected Public Places in Nigeria: A Case Study of Akure”, International
Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2(5).
2. Masri, A. (2015).”Using Mobile Phone For Assessing University Students In English
Literature In Jordan”, European Scientific Journal, October edition vol. 8, No.24, 2015.
3. Sujith, M.; Bibin, J.; Anoop, P. and Dileep, J. (2014). “Mobile Sniffer and Jammer”,
International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology, 3(1).
4. Berkeley Varitronics Systems, Inc. (2016, March) Wolfhound-PRO Cell Phone Detector.
[Online]. https://www.bvsystems.com/products/
5. Deshpande Tamvi and Jadhav Nakul, "Active Cell phone detection and Display using
Atmega-8 Microcontroller," IMPACT: International Journal of Research in Engineering
& Technology (IMPACT: IJRET), vol. 3, no. 8, pp. 21-24, August 2015.
6. Curran, K.; Middleton, G. and Doherty, C. (2011). “Cheating in Exams with
Technology”, International Journal of Cyber Ethics in Education, 1(2), 54-62, April-June
2011.
7. Okebukola, P. (2014). “Contemporary Use of Mobile Devices for Cheating During
Examinations”.
8. Nicholas W. Scott, M.S. (2011): “Study of cellular phone detection technology”
Dissertations Student Research in Computer Electronics &Engineering.University of
Nebraska- Lincoln; Pgs 7 - 12
9. “Detecting and Locating Cell Phones in Correctional Facilities”, EVI Technology, LLC.
June 2007. Accessed February, 2010. Website
http://iiw.itt.com/files/cellHound_wpCellPhonesInPrison.pdf
10. Blog- jammer-store [Online] Available: www. Blog.jammer-store.com/2009/11/how-
mobile-jammers work, (June 10, 2016).
11. Mohan, D. (2012). “Novel Mobile Detector Sensing Alarming and Reporting System”,
ARPN Journal of Science and Technology, VOL. 2, NO. 1, January 2012.
12. Mbaocha, C. (2012). “Design and Implementation of Intelligent Mobile Phone Detector”,
Academic Research International, Vol. 3, No. 1, July 2012.
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Volume – VII – Issue VIII February 2017
13. Kanwaljeet, S.; Mandeep, S. and Gupta, N. (2014).”Design and Implementation of Cell-
Phone Detection based Line follower Robot”, International Journal of Electronics and
Computer Science Engineering, Volume1, Number 3.
14. Nicholas W. Scott, "Study of Cellular Phone Detection Techniques," University of
Nebraska, Lincoln, MSc Thesis 2011.
15. Kai-Hung Liang, Kuo-Han Kao and Szu-Chi Tien (2013): “Precision positioning with
shape-memory-alloy actuators”; Volume 3, Number 4, Pgs.265 - 271, 2013.
16. Wolfhound Cellphone Detector”, Berkeley Varitronics Systems. 2010.Accessed March,
2009. Website http://www.bysystems.com
17. “Cell Phone Detection Techniques”, U.S. Department of Energy. October 2007.
Accessed January, 2010. Website http://inspire.ornl.gov
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