New police radars can 'see' inside homes

Post by throwaway90999 » Tue, Jan 20, 2015, 3:24 AM UTC

gizmo686 wrote: post #14

bjt2n3904 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a few thoughts. Very simplistically... FLIR is a special camera that detects infra-red light. IR is electromagnetic radiation that is emitted from objects with heat. RADAR emits a more "traditional" radio wave, and then detects objects when the radio wave reflects back. Unlike FLIR (which is passive), I would consider RADAR to be active. I would think (rather naively so) that the case against using RADAR without…

One nice thing about the Supreme Court is that every ruling comes with at least one (or two if the ruling is not unanimous) experts explaining the situation. And if any of the remaining Justices disagree, or feel that something was left out, of those two opinions, they can add their own. In this case, the dissent wrote: Unlike an x-ray scan, or other possible "through-the-wall" techniques, the detection of infrared r…

Post by _cudgel » Tue, Jan 20, 2015, 3:32 AM UTC

comrh wrote: post #16

jzwinck wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People use a lot of different construction materials and techniques across the country, but I don't think this "sarking" is common for residences. People don't want to live inside Faraday cages though, for the reason you already mentioned: their mobile phones wouldn't work. Not to mention broadcast television, AM/FM radio, garage door openers, etc.

I've thought about living in one, I only use radio in the car and TV comes in through cables. On the plus side my wifi would be protected from wardriving (or an outside access) as it would never leave the house. Cell service would definitely be a problem though.

Post by pavel_lishin » Tue, Jan 20, 2015, 3:36 AM UTC

jzwinck wrote: post #10

femto wrote: post #5

Does the US use "sarking" [1] (metal foil insulation) in house construction? Most Australian houses are wrapped in a layer of metal foil insulation. Presumably that would offer some attenuation to radar, though the windows must still allow radiation though, as mobile phones typically work inside. Perhaps a house with metal foil based window tinting would offer a reasonably complete Faraday cage? [1] http://www.bradfo…

People use a lot of different construction materials and techniques across the country, but I don't think this "sarking" is common for residences. People don't want to live inside Faraday cages though, for the reason you already mentioned: their mobile phones wouldn't work. Not to mention broadcast television, AM/FM radio, garage door openers, etc.

Post by mikehotel » Tue, Jan 20, 2015, 3:41 AM UTC

comrh wrote: post #16

jzwinck wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People use a lot of different construction materials and techniques across the country, but I don't think this "sarking" is common for residences. People don't want to live inside Faraday cages though, for the reason you already mentioned: their mobile phones wouldn't work. Not to mention broadcast television, AM/FM radio, garage door openers, etc.

I've thought about living in one, I only use radio in the car and TV comes in through cables. On the plus side my wifi would be protected from wardriving (or an outside access) as it would never leave the house. Cell service would definitely be a problem though.

Post by baddox » Tue, Jan 20, 2015, 3:55 AM UTC

andymcsherry wrote: post #9

baddox wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's pretty close. I could see it going the other way just as easily.

I would argue the opposite. The dissenting opinion's rationale doesn't hold up in this case > Heat waves, like aromas that are generated in a kitchen, or in a laboratory or opium den, enter the public domain if and when they leave a building. In the case of thermal imaging, you measure light waves that is already leaving the building. In the case of radar, you are actively sending in light waves to bounce off the ins…