On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets:An Empirical Study

MIT ^ | 17 Feb 2005 | Ali Rahimi - Others

[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.

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.

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.

[antaresequity]

Bad news for some freepers...

[Diamond]

LOL!:^)

Cordially,

[StrangerInParadise]

Pinging the Democratic Underground.....

Ping

Ping

Ping

Ping

[mnehring]

Bad news for some freepers...
..and most DUmbasses.

[sr4402]

LOLARMAO

[byteback]

Shouldn't you be busy programming?

[saganite]

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

[Godzilla]

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

[Kurt_Hectic]

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?

[chesley]

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

[schooter]

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

[Junior]

Ping. Just Ping.

[null and void]

Shiny side out?

[Clemenza]

What about the efficacy of Meat Helmets?

[highlander_UW]

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?

[PositiveCogins]

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.

[txroadkill]

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

[Dashing Dasher]

Aluminum Foil Helmet Ping

[Sergio]

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!!!!

[kingattax]

[antaresequity]

I am multi tasking

I am trading: Long S&P, Short Oil

I am programming: TCP/IP asynch socket connections to the IQFeed market data feed.

I am also, smoking, drinking coffee and chatting with a broker in VA via IRC

[Millee]

Now that's just gross. (Although it would be fun to wear at a PETA protest.)

[telebob]

I knew it...

[NormsRevenge]

Finally, a definitive study from a reputable organization.

There, take that, skeptics.

Proud member since 1971 of the industrial-sized Tin foil roll of the month club.

[nomorelurker]

That's the problem with their test. It's TIN foil not aluminum.

[saganite]

Draws flies, stinks after a few hours in the sun, dogs follow you hopefully, Archie Bunker calls your cell, etc.

[day10]

[Clemenza]

ROFLOL

[Dashing Dasher]

[Rebelbase]

The study is flawed because several important styles were not tested:

Space helmut

Viking Kitty

Classic with sinus coverage

The Admiral

The Unicorn

[Professional Engineer]

Zotmaster ping

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Hey, r-q-tek86, so this it what engineers do all day!

[day10]

Hey! I love that flick!

[Dashing Dasher]

Good flick - no worries.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Hey, if nothing else, they make a damned fine accessory.

[PatrickHenry]

Tinfoil Ping List

[VadeRetro]

We theorize that the government may in fact have started the helmet craze for this reason.

No, you can't scare me!
I'm stickin' with my tinfoil...

[bert]

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

Perhaps they were gainfully employed with a grant funded by you!! It is MIT ya know.

[John O]

Real engineering here. Think your DH could automate the tests for them?

[Pyro7480]

[andyandval]

I am also, smoking, drinking coffee and chatting with a broker in VA via IRC

You forgot FReeping!

[Darksheare]

NOT my fault.
Honest.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

LOL!

[Aracelis]

Looks like the inside of RA's secret lab...

[RadioAstronomer]

Nawwww... I have far more equipment than that. LOL!

[Aracelis]

I have far more equipment than that. LOL!

*cough*choke*sputter*

I am now cleaning hot tea from my keyboard. Thanks a lot! :)

[sionnsar]

Geezer Geek ping.

This is a very low-volume ping list (typically days to weeks between pings).
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this list.

[NicknamedBob]

I'll take the Aluminum, in the form of Aluminum OxyNitride, for the visor of the helmet.

[andie74]

Oh, you bet he could automate the tests...and could even post the results in RealTime.

A

[tet68]

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.

Bauxite shares, it's all Bush's fault.

Figure it out, Bauxite+Halliburton+Cheney=Bush.

Simple once you go to a copper helmet, it's all clear then.