How does this work?
To locate a mobile phone,
Does it have to be switched on?
Does it have to be making/receiving a call?
To locate a mobile phone,
Does it have to be switched on?
Does it have to be making/receiving a call?
Mobile phones, their use in GPS tracking
- Thread starter euclid
- Start date
I'm fuzzy on the technology, but here's how mine works. I'm deaf and have a Verizon cellular phone for text only and 9-1-1 emercencies.
It has a GPS device which I have to be careful to keep switched on at all times.
My number is registered with the local sheriff's dispatcher. If ever in need of help, I punch 9-1-1 or the speed dial for the sheriff's office. I can speak, but if unable to, the dispatcher can locate me within three feet and direct help to me.
It worked in one test outside the SO and a test with a deputy after an accident 22 miles in the country where I gave first aid. The dispatcher was able to track my phone via GPS in seconds. In both cases, my phone had to be left open.
In a grass fire last summer, I was helping and got separated from my group. The dispatcher was notified and located me as soon as I opened my phone, even before I answered its vibration.
I hope this bit of info helps.
It has a GPS device which I have to be careful to keep switched on at all times.
My number is registered with the local sheriff's dispatcher. If ever in need of help, I punch 9-1-1 or the speed dial for the sheriff's office. I can speak, but if unable to, the dispatcher can locate me within three feet and direct help to me.
It worked in one test outside the SO and a test with a deputy after an accident 22 miles in the country where I gave first aid. The dispatcher was able to track my phone via GPS in seconds. In both cases, my phone had to be left open.
In a grass fire last summer, I was helping and got separated from my group. The dispatcher was notified and located me as soon as I opened my phone, even before I answered its vibration.
I hope this bit of info helps.
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Hi Chase,
When you say "open" do you mean the line had to be left open or that the phone had to be switched on?
Nice to hear from you again.
When you say "open" do you mean the line had to be left open or that the phone had to be switched on?
Nice to hear from you again.
Hi, Euclid,
Thanks for the warm greeting. Nice to see your words, too.
My sampling (and memory) isn't sufficient to know for sure, but I think my clamshell phone yawned open each time I was located. My phone is always activated, so I need to find out if the "system" works if it's closed--say I go unconscious out in the sticks.
The local SO has been great at accommodating tests.
Thanks for the warm greeting. Nice to see your words, too.
My sampling (and memory) isn't sufficient to know for sure, but I think my clamshell phone yawned open each time I was located. My phone is always activated, so I need to find out if the "system" works if it's closed--say I go unconscious out in the sticks.
The local SO has been great at accommodating tests.
My android phone is only accurate to about a half mile radius. It could never pinpoint me close enough to find me.
AFAIK the phone has to be switched on to be trackable, other than that it doesn't matter. Where it is will make a great difference to how accurately it can be tracked but you can easily tell which mast it is closest to which gives you a reasonable detection.
Depends on what you want to do and who's doing it. Try explaining what you need for your writing.
Depends on what you want to do and who's doing it. Try explaining what you need for your writing.
Okay, here's what's going on:
MC's daughter has been kidnapped.
He identifies and confronts the main baddy who says: "Give me two hours clear start and you'll get your daughter back."
MC says: "How do I know she's still alive?"
Baddy makes a call, hands MC the phone, and his daughter is on the line.
Baddy tells his accomplices: "If you don't hear from me in more than 2 hours, kill the girl."
MC and the police agree to give the baddy two hours.
The baddy sets off, but immediately gets riddled with bullets (It's complicated, okay?)
Anyway, MC retrieves the phone from the dead baddy. He has the number last called, and he knows the phone will be switched on, as the accomplices are waiting for a call from the (dead) baddy.
MC now has 2 hours to find the accomplices and rescue his daughter. He needs GPS positioning to locate the phone.
MC's daughter has been kidnapped.
He identifies and confronts the main baddy who says: "Give me two hours clear start and you'll get your daughter back."
MC says: "How do I know she's still alive?"
Baddy makes a call, hands MC the phone, and his daughter is on the line.
Baddy tells his accomplices: "If you don't hear from me in more than 2 hours, kill the girl."
MC and the police agree to give the baddy two hours.
The baddy sets off, but immediately gets riddled with bullets (It's complicated, okay?)
Anyway, MC retrieves the phone from the dead baddy. He has the number last called, and he knows the phone will be switched on, as the accomplices are waiting for a call from the (dead) baddy.
MC now has 2 hours to find the accomplices and rescue his daughter. He needs GPS positioning to locate the phone.
There are two kinds of GPS systems: Send/receive and receive only. To track my house-mate via cell phone, he would have to activate Google Latitudes or some other external tracking system.
The accomplices phone has to have GPS hardware/software AND GPS must be switched on AND someone set up to track it has to do the tracking via their network. AND that means a subpoena for the info.
The other method "Tower Trace" just lets you know which cell tower a cell phone was in range of as they hand off. It's tedious because there are so many possibilities.
We had a (tragic) case in Ireland a few years ago. A young boy (maybe 10 or 12 years old) went missing. The police found his body in a remote location by tracking his phone. That's all I know, but I'm assuming the boy's phone was switched on.
They caught the perp, btw. He's in jail.
They caught the perp, btw. He's in jail.
The GPS-like technology is an integral part of Qualcomm's CDMA technology. The cellphone's position is guesstimated by triangulation. It's good within 50 feet in open areas, and much less in crowded city areas where the signals bounce around buildings.
There are only two cases where positional information can be known to a 3rd party. 1) the base stations that track the cellphone send GPS data as part of the 9-1-1 call, or 2) the cellphone requests that information through a downloaded custom application and the data is then sent back to a computer on the net through the Internet communication channel.
> He needs GPS positioning to locate the phone
You would need to say that your MC has found a set of applications on the baddy's smartphone. One that is an encrypted Voice-over-IP application and another that gives the position of every phone in the group based on their last VOIP call. I think Skype can do that, btw. At least they have an developer's kit that would make this possible.
-cb
There are only two cases where positional information can be known to a 3rd party. 1) the base stations that track the cellphone send GPS data as part of the 9-1-1 call, or 2) the cellphone requests that information through a downloaded custom application and the data is then sent back to a computer on the net through the Internet communication channel.
> He needs GPS positioning to locate the phone
You would need to say that your MC has found a set of applications on the baddy's smartphone. One that is an encrypted Voice-over-IP application and another that gives the position of every phone in the group based on their last VOIP call. I think Skype can do that, btw. At least they have an developer's kit that would make this possible.
-cb