Update: It’s been admitted it was a hoax, but that’s not reflected everywhere yet. If you saw it elsewhere, now you know for sure.
There’s a bit of a flurry going on about a DTV converter box that supposedly has a camera and microphone hidden inside it. The usual conspiracy theories have come up, which probably should come up if a camera is found in something like this — but a hot truth injection should quiet things down. Like if, for instance, the camera isn’t a camera and the mic isn’t a mic.
Here’s the video:
First, let’s give a hand to the cameraman. Nice and blurry. No stills. He doesn’t attempt to investigate the “camera” at all, so aside from its resemblance to spy cameras (round piece of plastic) we’ve got nothing to go on. Secondly, the “microphone” looks like a capacitor. It is, after all, a PCB in there. Third, even if we grant that there is a camera, what is it connected to? Where is the signal going? How is it powered? Remember, this box is connected to rabbit ears, which last I checked weren’t capable of transmitting a live video stream.
A forum member found a picture of the PCB on another forum, and here it is:
There is a capacitor where the microphone is, and the PCB layout doesn’t seem to allow for a spy camera to be installed there.
Now let’s be clear: if someone had legit photos and video of this sort of thing, we’d be jumping on it and demanding answers. But this looks like a confused consumer mistaking components for spy gear.
He’s already admitted it was made as a joke, he used a broken cell phone and a hot glue gun, he never thought it would take off like it has.
son of a
I am going to call my congressman right away, and demand answers to this outrage! ;o)
Stupid hoax.
Now, is it true that in most new cell phones the microphone remains active when the phone is turned off? and why?
I did a simple experiment with my Motorola phone: turned it off and connected the mic terminals to an oscilloscope and recorder… Voila!, the mic was still working and I could see the oscilloscope sound tracings plus I was able to record my own voice….*with the phone TURNED OFF*
What is the meaning of this? Anyone?
You have way too much time on your hands….
/me facepalms…
Microphones generally require no power to generate a signal. They are piezoelectric, or inductive (magnet and coil), and will make a signal even if you take the battery out.
Electric guitars work the same way, although some now have active pickups.
You have an oscilloscope and don’t know this?
“You have an oscilloscope and don’t know this?”
haha. I was going to say the same thing.
“There is a capacitor where the microphone is”
That’s a transistor.
Frankly I’m disappointed. I wanted to see the footage from those cameras for 1 reason: WHO THE HECK is still using rabbit ears?
Aliens…That’s who.
Are we going to provide martians with digi conv boxes? We’ve been sending them our crappy analog TV for 30+ years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7544915.stm
“WHO THE HECK is still using rabbit ears?”
Rabbits?
Yo! Rabbit ears, over here. In an outer-urban setting, they work really well for DTV and make a good supplement to the satellite TV. Collectively, it ends up costing about half of what equivalent cable would.
Incidentally, you can transmit a signal out of rabbit ears, but good luck getting it to work well.
I believe it, I was just rec 2 shows and watching some highhlights when my box shut down and was forced into update only to restart with the DVR completely REFORMATTED!
Zack Schwartz
Charlotte, NC
So if ‘they’ are using a hidden camera…
1) Find out where the signal is going.
2) Stick a mirror in front of the TV/Camera during the latest episode of American Idol.
3) Sue whoever receives the signal for a DMCA violation.
4) ???
5) Profit!
Yes and thanks for adding to the HYPE. gah.
I wanted to ask the Tinfoil crowd: if there is a camera and mic, where’s the TRANSMITTER? Kinda pointless if the data can’t get back to the black helicopters, huh?
This guy lost all credibility when he called the IR receiver an “RF sensor”.
One sorry sapling on the Prison Planet forum actually protects extensive invasions of personal privacy by installing band aids on his web cam! WTF to ten-power!
That is not a transistor!
That is a sub-space wave field generator!!!
And the camera? No, it is not a camera. That is a holo-matter infusive replicating holo-chamber!!
I will stay here, safe and sound inside this Jeffery Tube until Picard and data come to rescue me.
this is really just a disinfo setup to put peoples minds at ease, and make the concept seem ridiculous, when in fact the REAL setup is in your cable box, disguised, sending signals back to Homeland Sekurity
you can never be TOO certain ;-)
I gingerly drape my testicles over my webcam to protect my privacy. It’s not particularly comfortable, but it does leave both hands free.
You fucking net nerds will believe any conspiracy theory. Tards.
i like to ask some questions