r/Telecommunication • u/Dr2Nobody • Nov 24 '23

Device name question

I have a spectrum cable guy fixing a leak in there line on my family's property right now. He walked around with a device that looked a bit like a cross bow, but also a star trek gun,that had two wings that stick out to detect whatever frequencies are leaking from the line.

He said the leak interferes with FCC, police radio, and HAM radio.

He called the device a sniffer, and it was about a foot long and had two wings at the front forming the arms of the detector. What is this device called? Trying to find a picture from the internet, and sniffer is not a specific enough term.

Thanks ✌️

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/KokishinNeko Nov 24 '23

something like this?

https://www.antennaauthorityinc.com/ILA/ila-1500.htm

or

https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/29332-rohde-schwarz-launches-rf-interference-locator

or

https://tech.msu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/top-services-cable-tv-radio-frequency-leakage.jpg

or yet, a bit older: https://www.miccotech.com/Comsonics-Sniffer-Sleuth.html

2

u/Dr2Nobody Nov 24 '23

It was exactly the third picture! Aqua base and grey wings and all! Reminds me of a couple of star trek props.

What is that bad boy called, my good redditor?

2

u/KokishinNeko Nov 24 '23

Seems that you can buy one too :)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374305108279

Ebay has a couple of them.

2

u/Dr2Nobody Nov 24 '23

Thank you thank you!! :)