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How Does Cell Phone Tracing Work?
Tracking System
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In order to track cell phones, there are two necessities--a GPS (Global Positioning System) and the satellites. A GPS can provide real-time and historical navigation data. It makes use of the GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) network. The GPS system receives signals from the satellites, which it uses to track down the location of the cell phone.
Tracking Process
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To track a cell phone, it has to be "On." There is no need to perform any activity, such as phone usage, emailing or text messaging, for it to be traceable. The way the GPS tracking system works is through a triangulation process, by finding the cell phone's position on a given plane with two known visual landmarks. The closest GPS satellites calculate the location of the cell phone through microwave signals via the GNSS network. To track a cell phone, the GPS satellites map the location of the cell phone as it receives the signals from three or more GPS satellites. When the signals are strong, it is easier to track down the accurate location of the cell phone; however, when the signals are weak, it is difficult to locate its position accurately.
Other Ways to Trace Cell Phones
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Other than the GPS tracking to trace cell phones, there are ways to perform cell phone tracing by using other methods.
By installing a modem on a cell phone and by programming it as a mobile phone using its own number, it can send SMS or text messages. Then, by making a call to the modem's phone number with the cell phone, it can answer with a text message containing the coordinates or location of the cell phone. Some cell phone service providers or some tracing companies can install the modem. A cell phone user may also install the modem, provided he or she is techno-savvy enough to do so.
Another way to obtain position information is by programming the modem with the mobile phone number to automatically send via text messaging or SMS its position with the defined intervals, such as every 15 minutes, every 30 minutes or every hour.
Another way is to install maps and software on the cell phone that can translate the SMS or text messages to a more readable format to convert the positions coordinates into map locations. There is software that a user can install that is programmed for maps and position information, or the service provider technical support can provide assistance as well.
One can also get a subscription to service providers to locate the present and historical or past positions on the map. In this case, the modem sends the position information in different intervals to a server hosted by the tracking service provider. One needs Internet access to view this either on a computer or on a mobile phone with Internet capability.
There are also online cell phone tracing providers that trace the history or current locations of the cell phone, as well as provide information on who owns the cell phone, the owner's address, household members, possible relatives, phone carrier, line type, previous addresses, approximate age, associated phone numbers and more without using GPS or Wi-Fi network to track locations. This method traces the location of the cell phone by using a reverse directory.
Purpose of Cell Phone Tracing
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Cell phone tracing is helpful in times of emergencies, for example, when a person is in dire need of help. Most rescue government centers, fire and police departments can use cell phone tracing to find locations of people in need of immediate assistance. This is very valuable in life-threatening situations wherein an individual may not be cohesive enough to describe his or her location--or example, in a case of a car accident.
Some individuals make use of cell phone tracing to know the location of the cell phone as well as the person in possession of the cell phone. Some parents may find this feature handy to know the whereabouts of their children in case they are running late and they cannot get in touch with them. It can give them the added peace of mind.
Law enforcement officers can also take advantage of phone tracing in their investigative work to find locations of criminals whose cell phone numbers they are tracing.
In addition, a person who is suspecting a spouse or partner of being unfaithful may find phone tracing a useful tool to help prove or disprove infidelity.
This feature also helps in tracing lost or stolen cell phones.
eHow Article: How Does Cell Phone Tracing Work?
