GSM Listening Bugs - Mains Powered

Listening devices are an invaluable tool for monitoring a room, especially when you can’t be there. These clever bugs discretely listen into conversations and other activity, while you’re miles away or even in a different country. They act as your ears in the room, picking up audio for you to listen in to live or record for later review.

With mains-powered listening bugs, you can listen for longer. You don’t have to worry about the battery running out, as these devices are powered by mains electricity. What’s more, they are often disguised as common items plugged into electrical sockets – such as extension leads, phone chargers, adapters and plugs. These devices look perfectly ordinary, but they conceal sophisticated listening technology. However, at first glance or even a closer inspection, no one would ever guess.

How GSM listening bugs work

Many mains-powered listening devices use GSM, which is the Global System for Mobile Communication. This is a digital mobile system commonly used for mobile networks, and GSM listening bugs work in much the same way. Many contain a SIM card, which you can dial into in order to listen into a room or space. It’s easy to call the card and instantly find out what’s happening.

Why use a listening device?

There are lots of occasions when a listening bug could come in very handy. For example:

• To protect offices and workspaces for intruders or unwanted activity after hours
• To listen into crucial meetings when you can’t make it
• For safeguarding children when being cared for at your home
• To monitor your home when you’re on holiday or away for the night.

Provided you use the device for its intended and specific purpose and you keep the recordings for your own personal use, listening bugs are perfectly legal in all of these circumstances.

BUYERS GUIDE

Mains-powered listening bugs offer many advantages over battery-powered devices. They are the ones to choose if you have any concerns over battery life or you need to listen for longer. If you’re running a long investigation, you need to monitor premises for an extended period or you simply don’t know when audio activity will take place – a GSM mains-powered listening device is the one to choose. 

GSM listening bugs have many useful features. When researching the device you wish to buy, make sure to check:

• Listening distance - some devices can listen to room environments up to 25 feet away

• Noise – if you choose a cheap or poor quality audio bug, it could give the game away by buzzing, crackling or making other noise

• Functionality – a listening device that actually functions as the item it is disguised as (i.e. a plug adaptor or phone charger) is not only more useful, it is also far less likely to be detected

• Audio recording – as well as letting you dial in to listen live, many listening devices also provide the option to record the audio. You may need another device in order to do this, such as an iPhone/smartphone mobile phone recorder which simply attaches the device to your phone through the jack socket.

• Audio quality – to hear all audio clearly, whether listening live or to a recording, look for a device offering exceptional audio quality with no feedback or static.

The disguise

One of the most important aspects of your new listening device to get right is the disguise. In situations where you need to listen discretely and without anyone guessing there is a bug in the room, your device needs a believable disguise. Listening bugs come in disguises including phone chargers, extension leads and adapters, many of which are fully functional to add an extra layer to the cover story.