By US law, ALL cellphones must have GPS locatability. This went into effect
at the beginning of this year I believe. This doesn't mean full GPS
functionality, just that the carrier is able to locate any and every phone
within something like a 30 yard accuracy.

It is intended as a safety feature for just such emergencies but of course,
it has the add ability for dark forces to very efficiently spy on all users.
There is apparently a rather simple application that will allow a covert
operator to turn on phones and eavesdrop if desired.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sudhir Desai <sudhir.desai@gmail.com>
Date: Dec 7, 2006 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: OT-stranded in the wilderness with a westy what would you do ?
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

I think some cellphones have GPS abilities.
I know in India, a few of the nokia units would tell you location and
proximity to cellphone tower info.

Sudhir

~info from howstuffworks.com ~
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps-phone.htm

On 12/7/06, TC <trclark@shaw.ca> wrote:
> I have been following that story of the SF family that got stranded in the
> Oregon coast mountains
> my son asked what we would do if our 2 wd westy got stuck/broke down in
some
> remote winter area
>
> besides that fact we prolly have 2 weeks of food , propane, dual bats etc
&
> some Garmin 2 way radios
> we would prolly just hole up & camp out :)
>
> The interesting aspect was that the attempt to make a cell phone call and
> the cdr records allowed
> the searchers to grid search a cell phone tower coverage grid this allowed
> them to be located
> if everyone has stayed put the story would have a happy ending ...
>
> I was curious the Garmin rino 530 i always have in the van is GPS enabled
&
> allows other Garmin
> 2 ways to track to each other bu the coverage is only 2 miles in bad
terrain
> Yet I can usually get a GPS fix as long as there is not much tree cover
just
> about any remote locations..
>
> Are there any inexpensive devices that would send a gps fix to
international
> emergency satalite
> the allow searches to home in on sone lost / stranded in the westy
> wilderness ?
>

--
mordo
1990 Carat