ComSonics Sniffer Shadow User manual

User Guide

Introduction
Thank you for purchasing ComSonics’ Sniffer Shadow, the latest
weapon for fighting dreaded home-borne ingress. Shadow’s sleek new
shape provides a tool that is as easy to look at as it is to use. One
button – that’s right, only ONE BUTTON blends with the ergonomic
contours of the front panel making it virtually impossible to misadjust
the instrument. The button says either it’s on or it’s off and, well,
maybe a few other things. Coupled with a Smart Flip-Cover, the button
controls powering functions, the backlight function, operating modes,
and even the loudness of the famous, 28 year-old Sniffer warble.
Of course, we didn’t stop there. An optional accessory software kit
customizes tuned frequency, units-of-measure, squelch, and scrambled
channel level compensation to suit your needs. The kit provides the
workstation application and all other tools necessary to communicate
with and personalize the Shadow to conform with system specific
parameters.
Lastly (but far from least important), the Shadow introduces a brand
new way to isolate real leakage from power line sparkles, like those
emitted by hair driers, vacuum cleaners, blenders, food processors, etc.
We call it the Leakage Validation Function. This feature, along with
your 25 kHz or 50 kHz channel frequency offset from a neighboring
system’s carrier location offers the best available solution for making
sure that the leakage you read is your leakage and only your leakage.

1
General Operation
The Sniffer Shadow has one multifunction button on the front. Press
the button momentarily to power on the unit. The speaker sounds a
single beep. Hold the button for two seconds to power off. The speaker
sounds a double beep.
The Shadow has two modes of operation. The unit is in Measure mode
when the lid is fully open and the display is active. It is in Monitor mode
when the power is on and the lid is closed. In Monitor mode, the
indicator light flashes green at five-second intervals.
Fully opening the lid powers on the Shadow and activates the Measure
mode. Opening the lid illuminates the display backlight for ten seconds.
Press the button momentarily to re-activate the backlight when
needed. Closing the lid activates the Monitor mode.
In Monitor mode, a momentary press of the button mutes the warble
tone alert for five minutes. Opening the lid cancels the mute function.
Battery Care
An internal Lithium Ion rechargeable battery powers the Sniffer
Shadow. Charge the battery for three hours before using the unit for
the first time. Only use the included AC Charger to charge the battery.
Use of other chargers may cause equipment failure, create a safety
hazard, and void the warranty.
The Shadow has one visible multifunction indicator light. The light is
red when the battery is charging and turns green when the battery is
fully charged. If the ambient temperature is out of range (too hot or
too cold), the light flashes in red and the battery will not receive a
charge. This feature prevents premature failure of the battery due to
charging at temperature extremes.
The Shadow will not operate when charging the battery.

2
Monitor Mode
The Monitor mode is active when the Shadow is on and the lid is
closed. In this mode, the indicator light flashes green at five-second
intervals.
In Monitor mode, the speaker emits the Sniffer warble tone indicating
the presence of a RF field exceeding the Monitor mode squelch setting.
The warble tone sounds for one second and repeats every five seconds.
Press the button momentarily to mute the warble tone for five
minutes. Open the lid to cancel the warble tone mute.
The Monitor mode squelch level is factory set to 20 µV/m.*
A chirp tone indicates a low battery warning. The chirp tone increases
as the battery level diminishes. The Shadow automatically powers off
to protect the battery from excessive discharge.
Measure Mode
Fully opening the lid activates the Measure mode. A backlight
illuminates the display for ten seconds on opening the lid. Momentarily
pressing the button reactivates the backlight for ten seconds.
The units-of-measure is factory set to µV/m.*
Leakage level measurements are displayed in large easy to read
numbers. See the Specifications section for the level range of each
units-of-measure setting.
The leakage level indicator, on the left of the display, shows the relative
leakage level.
The Shadow produces an audible warble tone. The warble tone varies
in loudness according to the leakage level measurement.

3
When the backlight is on, press the button to adjust the loudness.
Each press of the button increases the loudness up a step to the
maximum level and then back to the minimum level. Loudness is
adjustable only when the backlight is on.
The Measure mode squelch level is factory set to 20 µV/m.*
The Shadow includes a Leakage Validation function to determine if the
received signal is leakage or noise. If the display shows the word
‘Noise’, the Shadow is reading a broad spectrum interference and not
a television channel leak. This function is factory set to ON.*
A battery graphic indicates the battery charge level. The Shadow
automatically powers off when the charge is low to protect the battery
from excessive discharge.
* Function is field adjustable by using the optional Configuration
Software Kit. See Configuration Software Kit section for selections.
101213-001
101226-001
101247-001
101240-001
Accessories
Sniffer Shadow (includes Holster,
AC Charger, and User Guide) AC
Charger 100-240VAC Vehicle
Charger 12VDC Holster
Configuration Software Kit
101241-001

4
Configuration Software Kit (option 101241-001)
The Sniffer Shadow is factory configured to the settings indicated
through out this guide. To re-configure a Sniffer Shadow in the field,
an optional Configuration Software Kit is available. The kit consists of a
program disk, interface cable, and reference guide. It requires a PC
with MS Windows 95 or later and an available serial port or adapter.
Configurable Functions:
•Tuned Channel Selection: (single frequency in MHz) 120.0000,
120.0060, 120.2500, 121.2375, 121.2500, 121.2625, 123.2500,
126.0063, 126.2500, 127.2375, 127.2500, 127.2625, 128.0000,
128.2500, 131.2500, 132.0066, 133.2375, 133.2500, 133.2625*,
136.0000, 136.2500, 138.0069, 138.2500, 139.2375, 139.2500,
139.2625, 139.3000, 140.2500, 144.0000, 144.0072, 144.2500,
145.2375, 145.2500, 145.2625, 147.2500
•Units-of-Measure Selection:
µV/m*, dBµV/m, or dBµV
•Monitor Mode Squelch Level Selection Range:
15 to 400 µV/m, 20 µV/m*
24 to 52 dBµV/m
15 to 43 dBµV
•Measure Mode Squelch Level Selection Range:
10 to 400 µV/m, 20 µV/m*
20 6 to 52 dBµV/m
11 to 43 dBµV
•Level Offset Compensation: (for scrambled channel)
0.0* to +6.0 dB in 0.5 dB steps
•Leakage / Noise Validation Function: On* or Off
•Loudness: 25%, 50%*, 75%, or 100% of maximum
*Factory Default Setting

5
Specifications
*Channel Tuning Single Frequency (See Configuration
Software Kit section for list of
available frequencies)
Usable Level Range
and
*Units of Measure
5 to 1999 µV/m
14 to 66.0 dBµV/m
5 to 57.0 dBµV
Level Accuracy ± 10% over operating temperature
Pre-detection BW
7.5 kHz
Battery Rechargeable Lithium Ion, internal
Recharge Time: 3 Hours Runtime:
Monitor Mode only: > 45 Hours
Measure Mode only: > 3 Hours
Combined Runtime: > 16 Hoursi
Size ≈ 5.25” x 2.5” x 1.6”
Weight < 7 oz
Operating
temperature
0°F to 120°F
(-18°C to 49°C)
Storage temperature -4°F to 140°F
(-20°C to 60°C)
* Selectable through Configuration Software Kit
(option 101241-001)
i Combined runtime based upon 80% Monitor Mode,
20% Measure Mode, and 50% Audio Loudness setting.

Warranty
ComSonics, Inc. warrants this product free of material and workmanship defects for a
period of one year. The warranty starts from the original date of shipment.
Remedies provided under Warranty are exclusive and in lieu of all other warranties
expressed or implied. The liability to ComSonics is limited to product repair or replacement
at the discretion of ComSonics. ComSonics shall not be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages.
The warranty does not cover the following:
•Parts or components not supplied by ComSonics, or modified parts and components.
•Any product or part failure that results from accident, abuse, misuse, neglect, or
unauthorized repairs or modifications by individuals other than ComSonics
personnel.
•Failures caused by use of this product in extreme climates or moisture conditions.
•Sniffer Shadow Battery Pack.
Technical Support
ComSonics maintains a Technical Support Service for customer convenience. Contact a
Technical Support Representative by telephone at 1-800-336-9681 or 1-540-434-5965;
Fax at 1-540-432-9794; or Email at [email protected].
Return Information
Safely package products returned for repair, calibration, etc. Please enclose information on
the reason for return. Ship the product prepaid.
All material in this manual is the property of ComSonics, Inc. and protected under the
United States copyright law. No material shall be reproduced or used in any form or by any
means (graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or
information storage and retrieval systems) without the written permission of:
ComSonics, Inc.
1350 Port Republic Road
Post Office Box 1106
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801 USA
Phone: [phone] USA Toll Free: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.comsonics.com
Sniffer is a registered trademark of ComSonics, Inc.
Sniffer Shadow and Leakage Validation are trademarks of ComSonics, Inc.
 2001 - 2012 ComSonics, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Document No. 101238-001 Rev. B1
8/02/16