LightSpeed binoculars transmit video and audio via Infrared

It's not often that tremendous advancements are made in the realm of binoculars, but these LightSpeed specs are something special. Aimed primarily at military / surveillance uses, this device is able to transmit video and audio via Infrared, theoretically enabling rooftop spies on opposite buildings to communicate. Furthermore, this method of communication is undetectable and untraceable. No mention of just how expensive these are, but suffice it to say, you aren't apt to see these on shelves of Toys R Us and the like.

[Alex L. @ Dec 16th 2008 11:15AM]

"Aimed primarily at military / surveillance uses"

And we all know what the secondary market is...

[mos @ Dec 16th 2008 12:40PM]

I am Chris Hanson. why don't you have a sit?

[ah-palin @ Dec 17th 2008 5:04AM]

If you have interesting neighbors..it helps to have good friends staying opposite

[ipubs bastard child @ Dec 16th 2008 11:15AM]

I hope its a bit better than the IR you get on PDA's..

ALIGN PORTS..... DEVICE NOT FOUND

[kamil @ Dec 16th 2008 4:36PM]

The IR are detectable if you use broadcasting. But if communication is done on direct route from device to device somehow then I think this makes it very difficult to detect. Well but I still have to find out more. You could disturb the communications by 'overloading' the communication by sending a broadcast signal to the device at the specific frequencies that the antanae are made to communicate. But the device and break it then see what is inside and finito. You know how it works then you know how to disturb it.

[J. R. @ Dec 16th 2008 11:20AM]

I'm not sure how they get away with saying "undetectable", since IR is very much detectable; but I bet its a lot easier to hide than RF.

[Alex L. @ Dec 16th 2008 11:23AM]

With so much radio background noise, I'd think that RF would be easier to hide actually.

[Clifton Griffin @ Dec 16th 2008 6:43PM]

Maybe they mean "undetectable by the naked eye", which, in military/surveillance applications, is really worthless.

[Andir3.0 @ Dec 16th 2008 11:56AM]

All the cellphone cameras I've seen can pick up pulses of infrared light of the most common bands. Just point your camera phone at a remote control and start pressing buttons. I don't know of any that allow the user to see RF. ;)

[max kingsbury @ Dec 16th 2008 12:25PM]

Undetectable? No way. If the signal is being transmitted through space, it can be observed by a third party. Same goes for untraceable.

They might be difficult to pinpoint, because they use very tight, focused beams. This would make them more discrete than using RF, as RF waves propagate in all directions.

[Rory @ Dec 16th 2008 1:52PM]

Um, undetecatble?!

Couldn't you detect an IR beam strong enough to be go between buildings with a FLIR or active-infrared camera? Heck, if its anything like a TV remote, you could see it with any camcorder night-shot mode.

[Steve @ Dec 16th 2008 2:39PM]

If it is undetectable...how does the intended receiving party detect the signal to receive?

[GenoMalice @ Dec 16th 2008 6:55PM]

uhhh... you can only detect NEAR infrared signals with a camera... TRUE infrared is actually very difficult to detect and only then with expensive equipment such as terahertz (T-Ray) imaging!

[GenoMalice @ Dec 16th 2008 6:58PM]

Sorry.. Clicked enter and it somehow posted??

consumer-grade IR devices are near IR... It is no way near smart for Sony/Other Companies to start shipping true IR remotes for 15-25 dollars

[fanguad @ Dec 16th 2008 11:21AM]

I sure hope these aren't undetectable - that would kind of defeat the purpose if the other guy can't detect your transmissions. "Exceedingly difficult" would be more correct, but I'm not a spy, so I don't even know if that's true.

OTOH, I have a pair of wireless IR headphone, and I think they're great. LOS only, but I never pick up interference, like you do with RF wireless stuff.

[bandigolo @ Dec 16th 2008 11:26AM]

I think the burning question is whether it has a 3.5mm jack or mini-USB. That seems to be the make or break for Engadget readers these days...

[kinger @ Dec 16th 2008 12:14PM]

optical

[ran @ Dec 16th 2008 12:16PM]

Firewire would do it.

[Clifton Griffin @ Dec 16th 2008 6:45PM]

@ryan - Unless you have a a mac book air.

[mrpysnik @ Dec 16th 2008 12:50PM]

"Undetectable and untraceable?" Point a TV remote control at your iSight and tell me if IR is either of those two things.

[Matias Korhonen @ Dec 16th 2008 1:10PM]

Exactly what I thought. Also IR will shine like a beacon on any standard military night-vision equipment.

[Steve @ Dec 16th 2008 4:21PM]

It is only detectable if it is aimed at your receiver. You are using the optics of the binoculars to transmit and magnify the signal. To intercept the signal you would have to be in between the two people transmitting, and I suppose the big guy standing between you two would tip you off that someone was listening in. You might be able to see reflected IR, but you can't decode it.

If it were RF all you would need is a radio antenna somewhere in the vicinity.

[Philip @ Dec 18th 2008 6:42PM]

Steve is correct.

This technology does not use RF. Instead it is a modified free space optics play, though not using lasers. It can't be detected even from the most advanced detectors because the light can be made to be out of the range of the detectors. It also employs frequency hopping and built in encryption. And, it sends data, so it can be used to send synchronous voice or data between two devices.

[J0k3r @ Dec 16th 2008 10:43PM]

...and in case you were wondering, the side canisters are filled with silly string as an alternative method of establishing a highly secure and super funny string phone connection