FBI car tracking device

[doug_porsche]

Oh well, I wasn't using my Civil Liberties anyway

Like Glen I am planning to lull them into a false sense of security by boring them to death.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by Superman

I might be doing something wrong. It's possible.

I sincerely hope so. Life is short.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by doug_porsche

Oh well, I wasn't using my Civil Liberties anyway

Like Glen I am planning to lull them into a false sense of security by boring them to death.

Hysterical...

[RWebb]

if you did find a device, the FBI AND the FedEx Co. would be unhappy if you stuck it on a truck

but you COULD send the device FedEx to somewhere with no legal consequences

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by RWebb

if you did find a device, the FBI AND the FedEx Co. would be unhappy if you stuck it on a truck

but you COULD send the device FedEx to somewhere with no legal consequences

I would say that if you found it, you own it. It's not like they stuck it there after asking permission.
Would you leave it there after you found it because you're afraid to mess with it??
Not me, I'd mess with them. Probably get into trouble because of it too, but that's just me.
You can always sell the car with that thing still on it........

[sc_rufctr]

I would remove it and leave it in my garage...

I'm not sure why this is even an issue. You'd think they'd need a warrant to use a tracking device like this.
Judging by the size of the battery it looks like the thing is setup to work for months on end.

[nynor]

mail it somewhere, slowboat, to china.

[RWebb]

whether they need a warrant to use a tracking device like this is exactly what the Supremes will be deciding

[Geronimo '74]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I would remove it and leave it in my garage...

I'm not sure why this is even an issue. You'd think they'd need a warrant to use a tracking device like this.
Judging by the size of the battery it looks like the thing is setup to work for months on end.

You'd think they could make technology like this a bit smaller by now. That thing is huge.
I would say something the size of a small cell phone should be technically feasible...

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

You'd think they could make technology like this a bit smaller by now. That thing is huge.
I would say something the size of a small cell phone should be technically feasible...

Try and have your cell phone constantly transmit a full output. Battery won't last long. I play with this stuff - R/C hobby. Although battery tech is getting better, there are still limitations. Hence the big batt pack.

The hardware I use is smaller than a cell phone.

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

You'd think they could make technology like this a bit smaller by now. That thing is huge.
I would say something the size of a small cell phone should be technically feasible...

Absolutely considering what an iPhone can do. EDIT: Yes you'd still need a SUPER battery. (slodave) ^^^

From the breakdown link in the original story.

FBI Vehicle-Tracking Device: The Teardown | Threat Level | Wired.com

Step 8
The module providing the GPS signal processing on this device is a µ-blox GPS-MS1 that's sort of ancient in the realm of modern electronics.
It was released June 29, 1999!
It features an astonishing 0.125 MB of SRAM and 1 MB of flash memory.

[slodave]

GPS antenna. Ver 4 is even smaller. There are even smaller ones available on the market.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by nynor

mail it somewhere, slowboat, to china.

You mean slow boat back to China.

[sc_rufctr]

I'd send it to Pakistan. That would really get them excited...

[Geronimo '74]

Or just place it under another vehicle. Leave them in the dark.

[Scuba Steve]

The device was found 5 years ago... they're probably loads smaller now.

[PorscheGAL]

If you started taking apart, what do you think it would do then? Would it just signal to them a generic error message?

[sammyg2]

[willtel]

If I found one I would put it inside a "suspicious package" on the FBI's doorstep. That would get plenty of attention and they would feel like morons once they sorted out what it was.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by RWebb

whether they need a warrant to use a tracking device like this is exactly what the Supremes will be deciding

Looks like the 4th Amendment is once again under fire. Apparently, it's okay to once again tap your phone w/o a court order (FISA) like they did under the last administration (beginning 2005), They suspended the practice in 2007. However, in 2009, the Obama administration reinstated it.

This lengthy Wikipedia page explains the status with the govt., AT&T and FISA rules:

NSA warrantless surveillance controversy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Everyone okay with Big Brother?

Sherwood