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Several Armed robberies - in Southern California - cause Homeland Security alert. Suspects take only money and TWO-WAY portables from various Radio Shack stores. The suspect enters the store and asks about GPS and cellphones as well as the Two-ways. Only one suspect enters the store. He remains in the stores for up to 30 minutes or more and has taken calls on a cellphone or two-way - possibly from a look out. In one robbey, an earphone was seen used by the robber. Just cash and two-way radios taken. Stores robbed just after opening. KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN.

Just a quick question about GPS. I'm thinking the answer is no, but can those be tracked like cell phones. I understand that they are 2 very different things and cell phone tracking only gets you a "certain" area, but heck, the GPS sends and receives so why not?

If it is true, I wonder why those "homing beacons" are needed?

Probrably answered my own question :idea:

Thanks

GPS receivers (strictly speaking) do not "transmit" intentional RF to be used for anything. GPS receivers are however capable of supplying data to other devices to provide a geographic location. GPS receivers do however emit spurious emissions that have been used in the TSCM industry to detect the presence of GPS devices with limited practical use.

There are indeed more sophisticated means of "detecting" the location of a cellular telephone when the unit is turned on that do not rely on GPS systems.

It is likely that any "tracking" of cellular telephones that you may have seen or heard about does not rely on "traditional" GPS tracking, but upon other technologies and exploits. :wink:
Rix