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On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets:An Empirical Study
MIT ^ | 17 Feb 2005 | Ali Rahimi - Others

Posted on 11/10/2005 10:07:00 AM PST by antaresequity

On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets:

An Empirical Study

Ali Rahimi1, Ben Recht 2, Jason Taylor 2, Noah Vawter 2
17 Feb 2005

1: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department, MIT.
2: Media Laboratory, MIT.

Abstract

Among a fringe community of paranoids, aluminum helmets serve as the protective measure of choice against invasive radio signals. We investigate the efficacy of three aluminum helmet designs on a sample group of four individuals. Using a $250,000 network analyser, we find that although on average all helmets attenuate invasive radio frequencies in either directions (either emanating from an outside source, or emanating from the cranium of the subject), certain frequencies are in fact greatly amplified. These amplified frequencies coincide with radio bands reserved for government use according to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Statistical evidence suggests the use of helmets may in fact enhance the government's invasive abilities. We theorize that the government may in fact have started the helmet craze for this reason.

Introduction

It has long been suspected that the government has been using satellites to read and control the minds of certain citizens. The use of aluminum helmets has been a common guerrilla tactic against the government's invasive tactics [1]. Surprisingly, these helmets can in fact help the government spy on citizens by amplifying certain key frequency ranges reserved for government use. In addition, none of the three helmets we analyzed provided significant attenuation to most frequency bands.

We describe our experimental setup, report our results, and conclude with a few design guidelines for constructing more effective helmets.

Experimental Setup

The three helmet types tested
The Classical The Fez
The Centurion

We evaluated the performance of three different helmet designs, commonly referred to as the Classical, the Fez, and the Centurion. These designs are portrayed in Figure 1. The helmets were made of Reynolds aluminium foil. As per best practices, all three designs were constructed with the double layering technique described elsewhere [2].

A radio-frequency test signal sweeping the ranges from 10 Khz to 3 Ghz was generated using an omnidirectional antenna attached to the Agilent 8714ET's signal generator.

The experimental apparatus, including a data recording laptop, a $250,000 network analyser, and antennae.

A network analyser (Agilent 8714ET) and a directional antenna measured and plotted the signals. See Figure 2.

Because of the cost of the equipment (about $250,000), and the limited time for which we had access to these devices, the subjects and experimenters performed a few dry runs before the actual experiment (see Figure 3).

Test subjects during a dry run.

The receiver antenna was placed at various places on the cranium of 4 different subjects: the frontal, occipital and parietal lobes. Once with the helmet off and once with the helmet on. The network analyzer plotted the attenuation betwen the signals in these two settings at different frequencies, from 10Khz to 3 Ghz. Figure 4 shows a typical plot of the attenuation at different frequencies.

A typical attenuation trace form the network analyser

Results

For all helmets, we noticed a 30 db amplification at 2.6 Ghz and a 20 db amplification at 1.2 Ghz, regardless of the position of the antenna on the cranium. In addition, all helmets exhibited a marked 20 db attenuation at around 1.5 Ghz, with no significant attenuation beyond 10 db anywhere else.

Conclusion

The helmets amplify frequency bands that coincide with those allocated to the US government between 1.2 Ghz and 1.4 Ghz. According to the FCC, These bands are supposedly reserved for ''radio location'' (ie, GPS), and other communications with satellites (see, for example, [3]). The 2.6 Ghz band coincides with mobile phone technology. Though not affiliated by government, these bands are at the hands of multinational corporations.

It requires no stretch of the imagination to conclude that the current helmet craze is likely to have been propagated by the Government, possibly with the involvement of the FCC. We hope this report will encourage the paranoid community to develop improved helmet designs to avoid falling prey to these shortcomings.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Andy (Xu) Sun of the MIT Media Lab for helping with the equipment, Professor George Sergiadis for lending us the antennae, and Professor Neil Gershenfeld for allowing us the use of his lab equipment.


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: aluminum; foil; mit; paranoia; zeronewsvalue
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Bad news for some freepers...
1 posted on 11/10/2005 10:07:01 AM PST by antaresequity
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To: antaresequity
LOL!:^)

Cordially,

2 posted on 11/10/2005 10:08:27 AM PST by Diamond (Qui liberatio scelestus trucido inculpatus.)
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To: Diamond; Dashing Dasher

Pinging the Democratic Underground.....

Ping

Ping

Ping

Ping


3 posted on 11/10/2005 10:09:20 AM PST by StrangerInParadise (This tagline has been reported stolen. If you see it, call BR-549..........)
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To: antaresequity
Bad news for some freepers...
..and most DUmbasses.
4 posted on 11/10/2005 10:10:11 AM PST by mnehring (My Karma ran over your Dogma)
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To: antaresequity

LOLARMAO


5 posted on 11/10/2005 10:10:16 AM PST by sr4402
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To: antaresequity

Shouldn't you be busy programming?


6 posted on 11/10/2005 10:10:17 AM PST by byteback
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To: StrangerInParadise

There's got to be a tinfoil hat ping list somewhere around here.


7 posted on 11/10/2005 10:10:20 AM PST by saganite (The poster formerly known as Arkie 2)
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To: antaresequity

Some body's got waaaaaaaaaaay too much time on their hands.


8 posted on 11/10/2005 10:10:47 AM PST by Godzilla ( How do I set a laser printer to stun?)
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To: antaresequity

what a shame, but I think I'll still wear my centurion-model 'cause it's so fashionable... Is there a "vikinghelmet-style" model available?


9 posted on 11/10/2005 10:11:21 AM PST by Kurt_Hectic (Trust only what you see, not what you hear)
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To: antaresequity

Who said that engineers don't have a sense of humor??


10 posted on 11/10/2005 10:11:57 AM PST by chesley
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To: antaresequity

Geez, don't those idiots know you have to have an aluminum foil chinstrap too for it to work correctly?


11 posted on 11/10/2005 10:12:21 AM PST by schooter
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To: PatrickHenry

Ping. Just Ping.


12 posted on 11/10/2005 10:12:23 AM PST by Junior (From now on, I'll stick to science, and leave the hunting alien mutants to the experts!)
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To: antaresequity

Shiny side out?


13 posted on 11/10/2005 10:12:46 AM PST by null and void (The enemy of my enemy is my tool...)
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To: antaresequity
What about the efficacy of Meat Helmets?


14 posted on 11/10/2005 10:13:38 AM PST by Clemenza (In League with the Freemasons, The Bilderbergers, and the Learned Elders of Zion)
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To: antaresequity

Can we get some experts on aluminum foil helmets from DU to let us know if they have any additional helmet designs that might be tested?


15 posted on 11/10/2005 10:14:13 AM PST by highlander_UW (I don't know what my future holds, but I know Who holds my future)
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To: antaresequity

I've been noticing a lot of people on this forum have been pushing tin foil hat alerts. I wonder if they are government plants.


16 posted on 11/10/2005 10:14:17 AM PST by PositiveCogins
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To: antaresequity

How's that cure for cancer coming? Anybody spending any time on that?? Just wondering.


17 posted on 11/10/2005 10:14:29 AM PST by txroadkill
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To: Jersey Republican Biker Chick; najida; PaulaB; EX52D; teenyelliott; peacebaby; Millee; ...
Aluminum Foil Helmet Ping

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

18 posted on 11/10/2005 10:14:45 AM PST by Dashing Dasher (I'm going to become rich as soon as I invent a device that allows you to smack people over the web!)
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To: antaresequity
Let's see, the hats of made of aluminum . . . there are briefcases made of aluminum as well . . . the aluminum briefcases are made by a company called Haliburton! Vice President Chaney once worked for Haliburton! IT'S ALL BUSH'S FALULT!!!!
19 posted on 11/10/2005 10:15:19 AM PST by Sergio (If a tree fell on a mime in the forest, would he make a sound?)
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To: Dashing Dasher

20 posted on 11/10/2005 10:16:49 AM PST by kingattax
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