this could have been a cell transmitter (like a cell phone). a digital phone is very difficult to 'sweep' for, and the powersupply could be a parallel string of small batteries providing several days of xmit power. more battery conversation could be had using a voice operated microphone. as for location identification, perhaps this configuration could use the same cell phone triangulation techniques introduced a few years ago for 911 help (not gps based.) just speculation of course. phillip
-----Original Message----- From: owner-cypherpunks@Algebra.COM [mailto:owner-cypherpunks@Algebra.COM]On Behalf Of Declan McCullagh Sent: Friday, April 13, 2001 8:48 PM To: Bill Stewart Cc: Sunder; cypherpunks@einstein.ssz.com Subject: Re: GPS bugs (was: Jim Bell Trial: Third Day (fwd))
Right. There was some discussion of "military uses this device" during direct exam, but the prosecutor was tech-clueless and so was the witness, beyond standard drudge insert-device-here skills, so I wouldn't rely on them. See my Wired article, easily ref'd at cluebot.com, for exact quotes.
My sole exchange of words with Jeff Gordon during the entire trial came during this time. I asked him whether it was military grade and he backed away, channeling bubonic plague vibes, and said he couldn't -- probably meant wouldn't -- answer the question. Fled for the safety of the prosecution's counsel table, where he is an honorary lawyer, you see.
-Declan
On Fri, Apr 13, 2001 at 03:50:38PM -0700, Bill Stewart wrote:
Doesn't matter - they're not trying to locate Bell within 100 feet to target him with nuclear weapons, just keep general track of where he's going and be able to demonstrate where his car was at least to the across-the-state-line level of accuracy.