How to Make a Bug Detector?

You may already know what is an RF detector, and thinking of making your own, because you may think, some people may plant a spy gadget to monitor and track your communication. You need a bug detector to check for spy devices and ensure the safety of your home or workplace. Buying a new one is expensive. That is why you need to learn how to make a bug detector. This tutorial provides you with what you need and a step-by-step procedure for making your detector. There are two methods to choose from.

Before you proceed, you may want to see the guide here for the best bug detector in the market.

ANEAR Anti Spy Detector & Camera Finder RF Signal Detector

Method One

Materials and tools you need on a working table 

  • BNC connector
  • Brass Tube
  • Epoxy
  • Cotton swab
  • 41-AWG enameled copper wire
  • Solder
  • Screws
  • Toothpick
  • Wire strippers
  • Glue

Step One: Stripping to expose wire ends

pliers and wireUse a wire stripper to remove the end of the 41- AWG enameled copper wire. The end of this 41-AWG enameled copper wire contains a bit of insulation. It would be best if you stripped the enameled wire to expose the ends. You should do this process carefully to avoid cutting through the wire. An alternative to this process is to burn the wire end in small fame to burn off the enamel. When burning the wire, be careful not to overheat it. Otherwise, it will be reducing its conductivity. 

Step Two:  Making a  coil

You will need a toothpick at this stage. Use 41-AWG and make a 19 turn coil around the toothpick. Use the one end of copper wire to make the rounds.

Step three: apply glue on the coil

glue the wireApply permanent glue on one coil end. You need to ensure that the glue sticks permanently. Take the other end of the wire and run it in a brass tube of 0.09 diameter. Use the wire stripper to strip another 0.5-inch wire starting from the tube end. 

 

Step Four: Connecting  the 41-AWG copper to the BNC connector

Connect the 41-AWG copper to the BNC connector. Your tripped wire will have two exposed wires, right? Solder one wire to a positive (+) of the BNC connector and the other to the negative (-) contact of the BNC connector. (1)

Step five: Attaching the BNC connector to the tube

BNC connectorUse the epoxy to attach the BNC connector to the tube. Apply glue on the cotton swap and rub it on the outer side of the wire coiled around the toothpick.

 

Step Six: Placing The Toothpick into The Brass Tube

Place the toothpick into the brass tube, then push the glued wire to attach their sides to the brass tube and let it dry.

Step seven: screwing the BNC connector on to the female BNC connector

screwing the BNCTake the BNC connector and screw it on to the female BNC connector of the RF voltmeter and then turn it on.

 

Step eight: Testing your detector

Test to find out if it works. Move the brass tube around. If the number displayed on the Radio Frequency voltmeter increases, the detector spotted another bug or an electronic device. 

Method 2

The second method is more advanced than the previous one. You need capacitors, transistors, and resistors. It works better than the previous method though you may need some advanced knowledge to finish the task. If you are not well versed in electronics and do it yourself projects, you can find someone to help you make the connection on the pegboard.

What you need

 

Inductors
  • 10 uH inductor (L2)
  • One normal inductor (L1)
Capacitors
  • 0.22 uF ceramic disc capacitor (C6-C9) – 4 
  • 47 uF capacitor (C1) – 1 
  • A pegboard
Resistors
  • 32 ohms resistor (R9) -1 
  • 220K ohms resistor (R7) – 1 
  • 1M ohms resistors (R3, R2) –1
  • 3.3 ohms resistors (R5, R4)  -2 
  • 47K ohms resistor (R8) -1 
  • 2.2 ohms resistor (R6) -1 
  • Bipolar n-p-n transistor for Q1-Q3
  • Batteries
  • Hot glue gun and the glue
  • Buzzer
  • LED and diode
  • Slide switch
  • A bipolar RF transistor for Q4
  • Coin cell battery holder          

Step One: Setting the components

Have all the components on the work table and begin by soldering the capacitors. Keep the board in the schematic representation to make the work easy. Someone will have already worked on the schematic drawing.

Step Two: Check the polarity of the capacitor

capacitorEnsure you check the polarity of the capacitor before working on it. The negative polarity has a silvery stripe on it. Identify this negative polarity and have it on the negative side. Straighten its leads to ensure it fits the board.

 

Step Three: Inserting the capacitor

Insert capacitors in their necessary places. Bend sides of the leads to ensure they are in place to make soldering easy. It makes the setup simpler and will help you in back-tracking the design. You can now start soldering the lids.

Step Four: Fixing resistors

resistorIt is time to fix resistors. What should you do? There will be marks in different colors on the resistors with values printed on them for understanding. Place inductors and resistors on the pegboard and bend them well to ensure they fit correctly in their position. Flip them over and solder their leads. Ensure you arrange everything in the schematic representation for good results. 

Step Five: Fixing transistors

Once you have the resistor in place, fix the transistors. Follow the same orientation in the schematic orientation and ensure that it does not appear clumsy. Ensure the flat surface faces left on the board and bend the lead to fit nicely on the board. To make the soldering process easy, bend them on the other side of the board.

Step Six: Fixing diode and LED

diodeBefore you start fixing the diode and LED, you should understand the tools’ anode and cathode. If you don’t know, don’t worry, it is so easy! Cathodes have a shorter lead and white line on the diode. The cathode should go to the bottom for the LED while to the top for the diode. Also, remember to bend the leads for easy and efficient soldering. (2)

 

Step Seven: Fixing the switches

It is time to focus on the switches. Fix them on the board and spread their leads more than others. It will allow them to fit in the right position and makes it easy to fix the buzzer. Solder their leads like you did for the others before.

Step Eight: Making turns in the coil

copper coil wireGet a copper wire and take turns in the coil. You can do it by bending the copper wire on an object with a diameter of 3mm. The turns should be tight. Glue the turns using a hot glue gun. Stripe the end to expose the wires while ensuring that you don’t overdo it.

 

Step Nine: Placing the battery

You will need to bend two 10mm wires separately to create 2 U-shaped wires. Place them in the Pad 1 area while still following the schematic orientation of the board. Then, place the battery clip in its respective position. Allow for the soldering to happen then you will be in a position to place the battery. An antenna is not as complicated as you may think. A wire 100mm in length can make the antenna.

Step Ten: Soldering the traces

 

solderingThis is a critical step in this process, as any mistake will affect the whole setup. Bridge traces that are supposed to be bridged correctly. You can use any excess lead in this step. You can use a piece of wire to ensure the traces are suitable. This step requires your undivided attention.

 

Step Eleven: Final Setup

Place the complete setup inside the Altoids tin. You should isolate the bottom of the tin to ensure the board does not get short. Create holes that are sizeable enough to allow the user to view the switch and the LED. Finally, use the hot glue gun to keep the PCB tightly secured to the tin.

Here’s another learning guide to the DIY bug detector!

References

(1) BNC connector – https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/bnc-connector
(2) Cathodes – https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-define-anode-and-cathode-606452

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About John Fox

ebbb364ee14268bd3b77496cab3d1d78?s=90&d=mm&r=gCertifications: Certified Alarm Technician (CAT)
Education: Denver Security Academy
Lives In: Denver Colorado

John Fox has worked as a security consultant in Denver for over 20 years.
With Safe Now, he's taken those two decades of experience and decided to share it to help people online make the right security decisions for their businesses and families.

John writes security tips and guides, product recommendations, and prevention guides.

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