EXCALIBUR PRIVATE INVESTIGATION
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June 16th, 2023

6/16/2023

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"Spying in the Digital Age: Covert Cameras and Their Role in Modern Private Investigation"

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Private investigators are often hired due to their knowledge of conducting investigations and what technologies to use in those investigations. The professional private investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation use a variety of technologies in our investigations. Covert cameras are one such technology that we use, we have over 30+ years of experience, in all types of investigations. The following are 6 examples of the type of covert cameras our professional private investigators use:

Button Camera: A button camera is typically a small camera lens embedded in clothing with the lens pointing through the hole typically filled with a button. It can be discreetly attached to clothing, allowing our investigators to capture video footage while appearing inconspicuous. Button cameras are commonly used for close-range surveillance, such as in meetings or interviews.

Pen Camera: A pen camera is a writing instrument that incorporates a hidden camera. It functions as a regular pen while also recording video or capturing images as well as audio. EXCALIBUR'S private investigator use pen cameras to discreetly document conversations or activities during covert operations.

Clock Camera: A clock camera is a hidden camera concealed within a functioning clock. It appears as an ordinary timepiece but captures video footage and audio without arousing suspicion. Clock cameras are often used in home or office settings for continuous surveillance.

Smoke Detector Camera: A smoke detector camera is a covert camera disguised as a smoke detector. It blends seamlessly into the environment, making it an ideal choice for long-term surveillance in homes, offices, or public places. EXCALIBUR'S investigators can monitor activities without drawing attention to the fact that a camera is recording.

Car Key Fob Camera: A car key fob camera is designed to resemble a standard car key remote. It contains a hidden camera that can record video, audio and take pictures. This type of covert camera is often used by our investigators to capture video/audio inside restaurants, nightclubs or other establishments. EXCALIBUR Private Investigation has used these type cameras for several years and experience really comes in handy as there are definitely best practices to use to capture optimal video evidence. 

Teddy Bear Camera: A teddy bear camera is a hidden camera concealed within a stuffed toy. It is commonly used in cases involving child custody or nanny surveillance. The teddy bear blends into the child's environment, enabling our investigators to monitor interactions and gather evidence. EXCALIBUR Private Investigation manufactures our own based on our client's surroundings and what form factor blends in the best in the environment our investigators are working in. 

It's important to note that the use of covert cameras must comply with local laws and regulations regarding privacy and surveillance. The professional private investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation are well-versed in these legal requirements and ensure that their surveillance activities are conducted within the boundaries of the law.

Do you have a matter where you need video evidence but don't have the experience in how to use a covert camera? Have you hired another private investigation firm who hasn't been able to produce for you? It happens more often then you'd think as many of our clients have tried one of the many investigation firms in Colorado that have sprung up since licensing was discontinued by the state of Colorado, only to come to us after they've spent thousands of dollars with no results. Call us today at 352.509.8900, 719.208.4088, 505.208.6400 or 803.806.7800 fill out our Contact Form, or send a message via our Chat Box on the right side and one of our professional private investigators will get in touch with you as soon as possible, usually within an hour. 

At your service.

Lee Walters
President - Lead Investigator


EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
About the author. R. Lee Walters is a retired FBI Agent with over 24 years of federal law enforcement experience. He has worked in the private investigation industry for 13+ years. Click here to learn more.
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June 12th, 2023

6/12/2023

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The Invisible Shield: How Faraday Bags Empower Private Investigators to Safeguard Evidence

Faraday Bags used by Colorado Private Investigators
The investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation are often called on to gather and take into custody a variety of electronic evidence during an investigation. Knowing how to handle such evidence is crucial and the use of a Faraday bag is a must. Read on to learn how our professional private investigators handle electronic evidence.

A Faraday bag, also known as a Faraday cage or Faraday shield, is a specialized device designed to block electromagnetic fields. It is named after the renowned scientist Michael Faraday, who discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. A Faraday bag provides protection against electromagnetic interference (EMI), which can be caused by various sources such as cell phones, RFID scanners, GPS trackers, and other electronic devices.

The primary purpose of a Faraday bag is to shield sensitive electronic devices from external electromagnetic signals. These signals can potentially interfere with the operation of the devices or compromise their security. Faraday bags are commonly used in a variety of contexts, including law enforcement, cybersecurity, personal privacy, and information security.

The design of a Faraday bag is based on the principles of electromagnetism. It consists of a conductive material, typically a metal mesh or foil, that forms a continuous barrier around the contents of the bag. This conductive layer acts as a shield, preventing electromagnetic waves from passing through and reaching the devices inside. When a device is placed inside a Faraday bag and the bag is sealed, it effectively creates a "closed box" where electromagnetic signals cannot penetrate.

One of the main applications of Faraday bags is in the field of digital forensics. Law enforcement agencies, private investigators and cybersecurity professionals use Faraday bags to securely store and transport electronic devices that may contain valuable evidence or sensitive data. By placing devices such as smartphones, laptops, or tablets inside a Faraday bag, investigators can ensure that the devices remain isolated from external signals, preventing remote access, data theft, or tampering. This is particularly crucial during investigations involving confiscated devices or digital evidence.

In addition to private investigators, Faraday bags have gained popularity among individuals concerned about their privacy and data security. With the proliferation of wireless technologies and the increasing reliance on electronic devices, it has become easier for malicious actors to track, monitor, or hack into personal devices. Faraday bags offer a practical solution for protecting sensitive information, such as credit card data, personal identification numbers (PINs), or location data, from being intercepted or exploited.

Faraday bags also play a role in mitigating the risks associated with electromagnetic pulse (EMP) events. EMPs can be caused by natural phenomena, such as solar flares, or by human-made devices, like nuclear weapons. These powerful bursts of electromagnetic energy can potentially damage or disrupt electronic systems, including communication networks, power grids, and electronic devices. By storing critical electronic equipment in Faraday bags, organizations can minimize the risk of EMP-induced damage and ensure the availability of essential services during and after such events.

It's worth noting that while Faraday bags provide an effective shield against external electromagnetic signals, they also block outgoing signals. This means that devices placed inside a Faraday bag will not be able to send or receive wireless communications, including calls, messages, or internet connectivity. As a result, Faraday bags are typically used for temporary isolation or secure storage purposes and not for continuous device usage.

In conclusion, a Faraday bag is a specialized enclosure designed to block electromagnetic fields and protect electronic devices from external interference or unauthorized access. It offers a practical solution for safeguarding sensitive data, ensuring privacy, and mitigating the risks associated with electromagnetic events. As technology continues to advance and our reliance on electronic devices grows, the importance of Faraday bags in maintaining information security and personal privacy is likely to increase.

If you're working with a private investigator who can't tell you what a Faraday bag is, and does, you need to find a new investigator. The professional private investigators of EXCALIBUR Private Investigation regularly use Faraday bags so that evidence can't be remotely erased or destroyed. If you think your case has technology that needs to be preserved. call us today, fill out our contact form or contact us via the Chat Box to speak to one of our investigators. Don't let a lack of experience, we have over 30+ years, cause your case to be lost due to technological evidence that should have been preserved.

Lee Walters
President - Lead Investigator

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
About the author. R. Lee Walters is a retired FBI Agent with over 24 years of federal law enforcement experience. He has worked in the private investigation industry for 13+ years. Click here to learn more.
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May 04th, 2022

5/4/2022

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EQUIPMENT REVIEW: ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam

Private Investigator Dash Cam Test
As promised here's our review on the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam that we mentioned in our last posting. This one is a little different than the last test camera as it offers a lot more options with only one difference than the Z-Edge Dash Cam. The Rove R2-4K doesn't have the back view camera while the Z-Edge does. As we mentioned in our last review, for our needs, mainly surveillance, we don't have a great need for the rear camera view so it's not a dealbreaker by any means. Listed on Amazon for $119.99 with 21,146 ratings and a 4.5 star overall average, this system seems to have a lot of fans out there and we've become one of them.

The Rove R2-4K dash cam system has a lot of features that we think make this one a winner:

4K ULTRA HD RECORDING – The Rove R2-4k dash camera can record videos up to a resolution of 2160p. This is much higher than any other camera we looked at online and it shows it the video we captured. It has night vision capabilities that we tested and found the video to be clear and definitely of the quality we could use as evidence. One slight drawback we noticed is when we were directly behind a car at a stop light, our headlights washed out the license plate which made it impossible for the camera to record that information.

BUILT-IN WiFi – The camera system is compatible with the ROVE App which you can use to view and manage dash cam recordings instantly on your iOS and/or Android devices. Using the app, you can download your recorded 4k videos directly to your smart phone and then easily share those with other surveillance units or an attorney wanting regular updates. One issue we noted with the WiFi is that you have to turn it on, via the back of the camera menu button, every time you power the camera up. It would be nice if WiFi On was the default setting on this as we will always use the app which requires the WiFi to be in the On position. 

DASH CAM WITH GPS – The built-in GPS accurately records your driving location and speed and you can view your driving route and tracker on google maps when you download the video to a desktop, which is what we normally do, and are connected to the internet. ROVE provides a downloadable GPS video player that allows the viewer to watch the captured video and follow along with the map that resides next to the viewing screen. GPS coordinates and a date/time stamp, a must when using this for private investigation surveillance, are imprinted on the video. This, and the ROVE logo, are settings in the camera you can turn on or off, depending on your needs. We enabled the GPS coordinates and date/time stamp, but took a pass on the logo.

FEATURES WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY INCLUDED – The Rove R2-4K camera has f1.8 apertures, parking mode, motion detection, 150° A+ wide angle lens, G-sensor, loop cycle recording (1 minute to 10 minutes loops which is programmable), emergency video lock, time-lapse video, slow-mo video, and supports up to 512GB class 10 - U3 speed micro SD card. We tested ours with a 256GB class 10 SD card and it worked flawlessly.

100% USA-CHICAGO BASED CUSTOMER-CENTRIC COMPANY & CUSTOMER CARE – This dash camera is backed by full 1-YEAR WARRANTY and support is available via text or email. The first night we had this we were having an issue getting the Google maps to display and texted off a question to support. We heard back within 20 minutes and it was after 8:30 p.m. here in Colorado. We also tested support by sending an email the next day regarding a firmware update and received our answer within 10 minutes of sending the email. Very fast support that we don't normally see. 

Based on our usage of this camera the day after we received it, it's one we plan on keeping and will order more as needed. Set up straight from the box is very easy and there's an excellent user manual included that addresses any issue you can thank of. We'll be giving this one 4.5 stars on Amazon and would upgrade that to 5 stars if the WiFi setting was defaulted to always On upon power up. Maybe the company will read this and make that a change in their next firmware upgrade.

Lee Walters

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Serving all of Colorado, New Mexico and South Carolina

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR Private Investigation. This video captured only to show the capabilities of the ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam system.
Dash Cam photo by EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR Private Investigation. This photo captured only to show the capabilities of the ROVE R2-4K Dash Cam system.

​About the author. R. Lee Walters is a retired FBI Agent with over 24 years of federal law enforcement experience. He has worked in the private investigation industry for 13+ years. Click 
here to learn more.
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April 28th, 2022

4/28/2022

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EQUIPMENT REVIEW: Z-EDGE DASH CAM

Private Investigator Dash Cam
Two things everyone wants to know at a dinner party once they find out you're a professional private investigator. One, what kind of cases do we work, with most assuming we're following cheating spouses. Yes, that's part of what we do but a small part. And, two, what kind of equipment do we use? Without giving away all our trade secrets, I'd like to review one piece of equipment today we recently considered adding to our arsenal to replace some outdated equipment we have been using. The Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam with front and rear cameras, night vision, parking mode, and loop recording. 

When we first started looking for new dash cams for our surveillance vehicles, we looked at several private investigator equipment sites and, as we often do, ended up right back on Amazon. With a listed price of $99.99 we were a little bit skeptical as to how good this camera could be. With over 1,159 reviews and an overall 4.5 star rating, as well as a free return policy, we figured we'd take a chance and if it was a piece of crap just send it back. We've had the first trial camera for a week and have used it on two cases so far with some success.

With full HD, 1080p @30FPS resolution, the video we've captured is of the quality that we could use it as evidence. License plates and people are clearly picked up and identifiable which is crucial in the investigation business. Not only does this camera take continuous video, but say you're sitting at a light behind a target and just want to capture the license plate in a photo that you can then quickly attach to an email to other surveillance units or the office so the plate can be run if you're in the middle of a mobile operation and can't run it yourself. This is easily accomplished by pushing a button on the back of the camera which takes the photo and then goes right back to capturing video. Another benefit of this system is the smartphone app you can download from the Apple or Google app stores. It allows you to connect to the camera via WiFi and monitor what the camera is capturing. We tend to camouflage the placement of our dash cams so they appear like they are part of the rearview mirror and when doing so the back of the camera viewfinder is covered up. By connecting to the smartphone app we can see exactly what the camera is picking up, as well as capture still photos from the app with a press of the button accessible on the app. 

Set up out of the box is very simple and straightforward and the Z-Edge Dash Cam comes with an easily understandable instruction manual. We were up and running within 10 minutes of receiving it from Amazon. 

A few items to note that may be an issue to some users and one issue which was a dealbreaker to us as professional investigators. The dash cam takes video in 5 minute increments and saves them to an onboard SD card. We sprung for the 256GB card which, purportedly, will hold up to 40 hours of video. We don't see the 5 minute videos as an issue as we easily stitched them together in the video software program we use. Video can be recorded with, or without, audio and a date/time stamp can be saved to the video as well which is a must for evidentiary purposes. Just be sure to set the camera to display the date/time stamp instead of the Z-Edge logo which is the default. We noticed that the setting reverted back to the logo display after the first use, but seems to have stayed on the date/time stamp mode since. The camera does start recording the minute you plug in to your vehicle's power supply. This can be a little annoying, but we just delete those video files or don't plug in until we're actually ready to start recording. One major issue that we discovered, which caused our review to go from 5 stars to 3 stars, as well as prompted our return of the camera, is the lack of a working map on the app. Reading the reviews in the app store this has been an issue for quite some time, yet the company hasn't fixed it. For our purposes a recorded map is crucial for evidentiary purposes. If you don't have a need for a recorded map, this dash cam system works fine in all other aspects of operation. 

The camera, as delivered, comes with the front camera with mounting suction cup, which works extremely well and allows for a stable recording, the rear view camera, a 12 ft. charging cable, a 26 ft. cable to connect to the rear camera, a 4 ft. data cable, a dual charger so you can plug the USB cable into your cigarette lighter power port, cable clips, and a cable tool so that you can hide the cables if you're mounting the system permanently. We don't have a need to use this every day so we passed on hiding the cable, and we haven't found a need to use the rear camera on surveillances so far.

I can recommend the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam for every day use, but until the map issue is fixed with their app, I can't recommend it for use by a professional investigator and, for that reason, can only give this one a 3-star review on Amazon. Please leave a comment if you have any questions and we'll respond asap.

Lee Walters
President
EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
​Serving Colorado, New Mexico and South Carolina

P.S. We'll be reviewing the Rove R2-4K Dash Cam Built in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder with UHD 2160P, 2.4" LCD, 150° Wide Angle, WDR, Night Vision next week once we have it in hand. It's a front camera system only, but for our purposes that's all we really need for surveillance.

EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.
Dash Cam photo from EXCALIBUR Private Investigation
Single Image captured by the Z-Edge
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation. This photo captured only to show the capabilities of the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam.
Mobile video captured by the Z-Edge
All automobiles or other captured images were in the public domain and were not subject of any investigation being conducted by EXCALIBUR - Private Investigation. This video captured only to show the capabilities of the Z-Edge WiFi Dash Cam.

​About the author. R. Lee Walters is a retired FBI Agent with over 24 years of federal law enforcement experience. He has worked in the private investigation industry for 13+ years. Click 
here to learn more.
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February 15th, 2022

2/15/2022

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EQUIPMENT REVIEW: SECURITY CAMERAS

Security Cameras used by EXCALIBUR Private Investigators
As this is the first product we've recommended on any of our blog posts, we just want to point out that any product, such as the Reolink system pictured above, that we write about is a product we have used for some period of time and can honestly recommend. In the case of the Reolink security camera systems, we've used them in our office and home for almost 2 years now and have nothing but great things to say about these security camera systems. They are just packed with so many features. What features you ask? Well these to name a few:

SMOOTH 4K ULTRA HD resolution with real-time 25fps recording. 

ALL-NIGHT COLOR NIGHT VISION which features 4pcs spotlights that provide full-color all night long which is unheard of for a security camera at this price point.

SMART HUMAN/VEHICLE DETECTION that can be set to alert you via email, text, FTP or siren.

TWO-WAY TALK where you can talk from wherever you are through any of the cameras set up in the system. See someone lurking around your garage or back door, you can now yell at them or tell them the police are on the way directly through the camera.

DEDICATED APP where you can log in and view your cameras while also listening to crystal clear sound. We eavesdrop on our office on occasion, don't tell staff, and it's interesting to listen to the interaction between staff and customers.

2-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY: Reolink provides a two-year warranty and lifetime technical support for their customers and we've found that customer support is excellent.

Having used security cameras for many years, some good and some not so good, I'm truly impressed with how reliable these cameras are. In the two years we've had the two systems in place, we've yet to have any downtime due to system malfunction. In today's society I truly believe that a camera system is a must for any business or residence. Not only do they act as a deterrent, but they can also capture evidence that can be used to help solve crime. Criminals are still not the brightest bulbs in the box, that's why they're criminals, and often forget about the potential of a security camera catching them in the act. The Reolink systems, they offer numerous models, do a great job of doing what they're supposed to do and we can't recommend them enough for that extra peace of mind they provide.


EXCALIBUR Private Investigation is a participant in the Amazon Services, LLC Associates Program and may earn a small commission on products sold through links in this article.

About the author. R. Lee Walters is a retired FBI Agent with over 24 years of federal law enforcement experience. He has worked in the private investigation industry for 13+ years. Click here to learn more.
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