EMP mines deployed to discourage detecting

[rhino71]

EMP mines deployed to discourage detecting

Ok folks. I have heard rumors(yes, break out the grains of salt, if you wish) about the "powers that be" deploying a new type of EMP mine (electro magnetic pulse), to discourage detecting in protected/historical sites. Supposedly this is all due to the explosion of the hobby. Presumably, these things will fry your detector (and anything else you have electronic on your person) to keep the sites from being disturbed and to discourage detecting.

I have a buddy that I went to school with who is a Forest/Park Ranger that brought this to my attention. They are SUPPOSEDLY being rolled out in highly protected areas and areas that have become problematic or becoming problematic..meaning areas that people are consistently being caught detecting in that they shouldn't be.

Has anybody heard anything about this?? Is this what it has come to? Thoughts? I would hate for my detector(cell phone, gps, etc.) to be fried.

 

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[jason vandiver]

I for 1 am not worried because I know to stay away from such places while detecting !!!

 

[Wyomingmedic]

Exactly!! For me, I have no desire to ride the coat tails of others.

That said, we have a lot of land where we can detect here and most of it is virgin. Also, having the lowest population, we have very few detectorists.

If I lived in a more MD heavy area, I may feel differently.

As a side note, I deal with some EMP hardening of critical infrastructure radio communications. Maybe I will design an EMP proof detector. That said, I SERIOUSLY doubt the FCC would allow such things. What happens when the dude with a pace maker walks over the thing and dies? EMP pulses are generally a shotgun type blast of energy that is difficult to control.

There is also a serious power issue. To create an EMP capable of penetrating any dirt, would take a LOT of energy. This thing would be the size of a large beach ball and require buried electrical service or solar charging.

I seriously think this is a story that may purposely be spread to scare people, but the practicality of it REEKS!!

WM

 

[rhino71]

Interesting...the way it was put to me was it was set off presumably by the transmit coil freq. and yes, charged via solar cell.

 

[CoinFetcher]

tin foil is supposed to be a decent Faraday cage.

Sounds like an wild rumor.

They could just ticket the MDer for 1000 bucks, and make money. Instead, they are going to use a high tech solution I don't believe this, unless the parks publish this.

 

[rhino71]

tin foil is supposed to be a decent Faraday cage.

Sounds like an wild rumor.

They could just ticket the MDer for 1000 bucks, and make money. Instead, they are going to use a high tech solution I don't believe this, unless the parks publish this.

My thoughts exactly...but then I looked up emp's and it's really not that much more high tech than what we swing.

 

[Wyomingmedic]

EMPs themselves are not that high tech.

What is high tech is MAKING the EMPs with a device that also doesn't destroy itself. If they are solar charged, then you also have to protect the solar panel and charging circuitry.

WM

 

[rhino71]

EMPs themselves are not that high tech.

What is high tech is MAKING the EMPs with a device that also doesn't destroy itself. If they are solar charged, then you also have to protect the solar panel and charging circuitry.

WM

But from what I understand, the electronics looks rather simple and if the components are easily replaced....think of it as an electronic "bear trap" that you come back to see if it has been set off and if it has, replace-reset. The EMP coil itself wouldn't be damaged, would it, Wyomingmedic?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

rhino71, it would seem like anyone can accomplish the same thing, by merely seeding a site with nails, or washers, or steel BB's, etc.... Anything like that would mask targets, and make detecting too difficult, thus driving away md'rs. All they'd need to do is just go scatter metal pellets .......... like spreading birdseed across the site.

 

[Wyomingmedic]

But from what I understand, the electronics looks rather simple and if the components are easily replaced....think of it as an electronic "bear trap" that you come back to see if it has been set off and if it has, replace-reset. The EMP coil itself wouldn't be damaged, would it, Wyomingmedic?

They certainly could so it that way. Logistically, it seems very unlikely.

They would have to (after every activation) have a way to know the device has been activated, then go and dig it up in such a fashion so as not to make i tlook disturbed. Then the repair/reset and re-bury.

I would think it would cause more damage to the site than the MDers. And if they move it every time, they would have to drag and install whatever solar charging system with it.

Is it possible? Oh yes. Is it the kind of asinine thing the gov't would waste money on? Absolutely. But in such a politically charged climate with every agency (NPS is included) having to cut millions and millions from their budgets, it isn't a viable option IMO.

Somebody may prove me wrong, but the logistical impracticality seems insurmountable for the very small amount of gain IMO.

WM

 

[rhino71]

rhino71, it would seem like anyone can accomplish the same thing, by merely seeding a site with nails, or washers, or steel BB's, etc.... Anything like that would mask targets, and make detecting too difficult, thus driving away md'rs. All they'd need to do is just go scatter metal pellets .......... like spreading birdseed across the site.

Very true, Tom.

 

[bbells]

Do you know how much money this would cost? It would cost less to have a security person at the site 24 hours a day.

 

[rhino71]

Do you know how much money this would cost? It would cost less to have a security person at the site 24 hours a day.

From what I can gather, an emp device can be made from an old digital camera. So, in answer to your question, Yes I do....not much. Google it.

 

[pong12211]

It's simple stay out of these areas or fry your detector seems pretty cut and dry to me..

 

[Jason in Enid]

Ease back on the conspiracy websites. Employing EMPs against detectorists? Hogwash.

 

[Ism]

Ease back on the conspiracy websites. Employing EMPs against detectorists? Hogwash.

Agreed. However a continuous transmitter(s) to disrupt the detector via RFI is a real possibility.

It wouldn't destroy itself, inexpensive to construct, run on low power, and have the disruptive effect that we've all experienced from one time or another.
A site could easily be seeded with them.

 

[ivan salis]

sadly bb's are dirt cheap and for most relic hunters with non discrimating type machines would shut the down site rather quickly --for those with discrimating machines extra fine bits of can slaw * -- the do it all mixture of both co mingled will nuke a site as far as detecting goes -- as it would ruin the hunt

 

[releventchair]

Yep,seed the site with "trash". Cheap and allows time for detector to get caught.
No proof but it was suggested parts of Gettysburg was seeded.
Whether or not its agreed if such sites should be detected can you blame care takers for wanting to fry poachers detectors.?

 

[gunsil]

Do you think they are watching you through your television too?? How about through your "smart phone"?? Years (30 or so) ago there were rumors about the National Parks Service scattering steel slugs (discs) around CW battlefields to deter illicit MD hunters, never found out if it was true.

 

[Reed Lukens]

You guys are a crack up I love this place If the guv can't make a buck on it, then it's not being done by them. A city security camera is a lot cheaper and they already send you the bill with your smiling picture on it from anywhere in town. They can look at you through your lap top camera if you leave it uncovered but wouldn't bother unless you're already part of some sting they have together on you. First you need to be guilty, then you need to be found. EMP... naw, APM... hmmm. AMPM, coffee time.