atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Mobile Phones & Devices Cell phones trackable?

I have heard that a cell phone can be tracked. Is this true? Who has the capability? Is there some type of GPS chip in our phones?

Richard

Yes, Cell phones can be tracked.. It is not a GPS system, although some phones have them, It is the nodes that cell phones work off of. Cell phones are transefered from the wireless towers to a cabled line.. It can be tracked from anywhere. Cell phone companies, Police, Investigators, even your neighbor can get the equipment to do so.

Once a company gets the information of what towers your cell phone is running on (cell phones use 3 towers at a time) then they can triangulate where your cell phone is... Once they get the triangulation they can narrow down. It takes an average of 26 Seconds to trace and track a phone... Including Land Lines...

topher, thanks for the info

Here is the response from my Cingular rep concerning this:
"There is no GPS tracking device in the phones. I do know law enforcement, with a subpoena, can find where a phone is in case of an emergency."

And this is possible on all the current protocals, ie GSM, TDMA, CDMA?

Richard

ALL protocols...

Some companies dont need a subpoena if they have a license.

It depends on the phone, and the carrier.

I know some of the Nextel handsets have GPS built in, as I have used the one I used to carry as a GPS unit. MMotorola V60 (Sprint) has a GPS chip ult in, although there is no way for me to see the output :-(.

here's the FCC factsheet on cellular 911..
https://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/releases/factsheet_requirements_012001.txt

Absolutely trackable. Private investigators pay handsome fees to techs working in the NOCs to perform tracks for them.

Without GPS capability they are lucky to narrow it down to a few square blocks. Typically the signal can be narrowed down to a 60 degree sector from a few towers which still leaves a large search area . In a metro area you can have thousands of users in an area that size. The RF energy is also very capable of bouncing off buildings and such further condusing the search.

Check out what Nextel offers on this subject- https://www.nextel.com/en/services/gps/mobile_locator.shtml

I believe ALL cellphones by law have to be GPS enabled supposedly to be able to locate a 911 call.

-Hal

Not quite... see the factsheet above.

The cellular companies have a choice of using handset based solutions (ie: GPS), or network based solutions.

Hey speaking of cell phones. Does everyone have a phone number assigned as ICE? In case of emergency they will look for this to call the next of kin...ect.

Many people use I.C.E., the truth is, when it is life or death, an ambulance or hospital employee isnt going to stop and figure out how to work your phone. They are going to try to save your life.

Exactly..

While using a I.C.E. contact is fine, I think you are better off putting the same info on a card in your wallet or purse. The EMS people or Law Enforcement will check same for personal info in case of an accident. Plus if no-one is home than what????
We had a recent case of a snowmobiler needing help out on the bay and EMS was able to get there a lot faster becasue our local area had Enhanced 911 and they were able to pinpoint the callers location. Our local Cell provider has been compliant longer that the local 911 system.

E-911 is very popular, but also expensive... Yes, do keep a wallet and/or card with info on it for EMS, FIRE, RESCUE, and POLICE. I.C.E. may be checked every one out of 100 calls that they go on... be realistic. they will glance at a wallet before they learn to work your phone

I can go on forever on this topic, and I will win... I.C.E. was a good idea, but not realistic.

Ok............. let me say something I just learned..... even if your cell phone is off (powered down) it still sends a signal to your local tower.... and then of course you can now find out where the cell phone is. The only way to totaly disable a cell phone is to pull out the battery........

Walter

That is true with some phones walterv, But not all. It all depends on the network, the "cross-talk" that the network uses to communicate with the towers, and etc.