The War On Privacy Hits You in The Pocket Book!

by Full Disclosure

Why does the FBI and other select government agencies pay over $4,000 for a pocket tape recorder? One of the most important elements in an electronic surveillance operation is the tape recorder. Whether hidden in one's pocket or recording information from a wiretap or bug, the tape recorder can be the key to success or failure.

The FBI had a need for a specialized recorder, so they contracted with the U.S. subsidiary of a Swiss company, Nagra Magnetics, Inc. to design a recorder that met their needs. The result being the Nagra JBR subminiature recorder and PS-1 playback system.

When asked whether the unit was named after Jim B. Reames, an FBI employee who helped design the recorder, a Nagra spokeswomen refused to say, but pointed out that the initials were in fact the same.

The design and manufacture of the recorder has been so secret and important to the FBI (and two other unnamed government agencies who are supposedly the sole users of the recorder) that any public availability of information on the recorder would ``make the machine extinct,'' according to an employee of Narga who refused to provide any details on the recorder in a telephone interview.

It is also interesting to note that in the literature obtained by Full Disclosure from the NATIA show, several of the companies made mention of Narga tape recorders, but not the JBR model.

A freelance reporter who contacted Nagra in August, 1990, was informed that someone from the Justice Department had just visited to express the government's desire to keep the public ignorant about the JBR recorder.

Full Disclosure contacted Nagra on September 24, 1990 and was informed that they received a letter from the Government ``last week'' informing them that they couldn't give out any information on the JBR recorder. Nagra refused to disclose what agency sent the letter.

The company spokeswomen, also stated that they are not allowed to advertise the unit anywhere, and if they did they would ``lose all government contracts.'' She further stated that they wanted to advertise it in Law and Order and could not.

Marketing is done by word of mouth and narcotics trade shows, she said. This seemed a little contrary to the first spokesman who said that there were only three customers for the JBR recorder.

Full Disclosure's investigative reporting team, was able to obtain complete specifications on both the recorder and playback unit.

Because of the secrecy around the recorder and its specifications, the unit is sole-sourced from Nagra. Inevitability when a product is available from a single source, there is no price competition.

The following public disclosure of the JBR specifications should serve two purposes:

1) to open a competitive market for this type of recorder, and

2) to give the American public more information on the tools the government uses to spy upon. Thereby increasing the public's ability to participate in political process as it relates to oversight and domestic use of spy technology.

JBR RECORDER

``The recorder is stereophonic, with two totally independent channels. A third central track records a reference signal of 5,461 Hz. This signal is used later on in the playback system as a reference, in order to correct for speed variations.

``The recording speed is 15/16 ips. This speed is stabilized by an optical encoder system. In order to save energy and to reduce radiation as much as possible, no erasing head is provided. For basically the same reasons, and to ensure that the tapes remain genuine, there is also no playback facility provided on the recorder.

``Special Kudelski cassettes are used to provide two hours non stop recording autonomy. A set of three ``N'' size batteries are used allowing ten hours of operation.

``Even though the detectablility is minimal, the bias frequency is of 32KHz and has thus the same radiation as a quartz watch. The recorder weight is less than 200 grams, includes its cassette and batteries, and is really pocket size with cover: 110.2 x 62.6 x 20.8 mm (4.34: x 2.46" x 0.82"). Miniature microphone and remote controls are available with different length cables.

So-called tape recorder detectors normally detect the presence of the ``bias oscillator'' in tape recorders. By using a non-standard and one that is also commonly used by other common devices makes detection by such a means more difficult.

JBR Specifications:

SIZE (L x W x H): 110.2 x 62.6 x 20.8mm, with cover: 4.34" x 2.46" x 0.82"

with cover & plugs: 110.2 x 64.3 x 20.8mm / 4.34" x 2.53" x 0.82"

Weight: Recorder with cover: 143 g, Cassette with 2 hr tape: 22 g, Batteries, 3 pcs: 29 g, Microphones including 4' cable, 2 pcs: 30 g, Remote control, 3' cable:18 g. Total weight: 242 g.

Environment: Operating position: Any, Temperature: 0 C to 40 C (32 F to 104F). Humidity: 20% to 95% non-condensing.

Power Supply: Supply voltage: 2.7 to 5V DC, nominal 4.5 V. ``Batt OK'' indicator threshold: 3.4V. Battery standard type: ASA ''N'', ANSI ``L20'', IEC ``LR1''. Current consumption - start of tape: 40mA typical, - end of tape: 50ma typical.

TAPE: Tape transport: without capstan, constant speed. Tape type: chromium dioxide in special JBR cassette. Tape width: 3.81 mm (0.150"). Tape Thickness (total): 9u (0.35mil) 120 min. 12u (0.48mil) 90 min. Max recording time: 2 hours. Audio tracks: 1.20mm x 2. Control tract (center): 0.40 mm. Track spacing: 0.50 mm. Nominal tape speed: 2.38 cm/s (15/16ips). Tape speed accuracy: better than +/- 2%. Wow and flutter: typ. 2.5% peak-to-peak, NAB (= DIN 45507) weighted. Start time: less than 4 seconds

Inputs: 2 microphone inputs. Maximum input level: 60 mV RMS. Audio indicator threshold: 30 mV RMS input -3 dB on tape. Input impedance: 80 K. Microphone sensitivity: 10 mV/PA (1 Pa=10 ubar). Maximum SPL: 110 dB (0 dB SPL = 20 uPa). Signal to noise ratio, unexpanded: better than 51 dB ASA A weighted. Frequency response: 170 Hz to 4.5 kHz +/- 3dB. Total harmonic distortion: less than 3%. Compression ratio: 2:1 in dB. Compressor operating range: 80 dB

COPYRIGHT (C) 1991 BY FULL DISCLOSURE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.