Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
(OP)
I';m a civil engineer but also a Ham operator, but know nothing about using GPS (our surveyors use it I think). In the past three months the Police here stop in because they are getting a false alarm at our address (three times now). Our single cell phone is not turned on, but uses a local area code, while the offending phone is a nearby area code. I suspect that somehow the various towers receive the same signal from a given distance and the several towers then come up with where the signal circles cross. Could not those crossing areas be far from me also? So any advice for the local cops? Nice guys, but it wastes their time to come in and visit.
RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
Most older alarms are tied to landlines, and thence a physical address. Cellular systems are not so, and they must broadcast an address that is likely a manual entry, and subject to typos and errors.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
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RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
The solution, which took forever to implement, was that the inept company adjusted their default latitude and longitude to be in the middle of a nearby lake.
Just an example of the design fragility of the 911 system.
Such issues can be dangerous, as sometimes the 911 call is about something seemingly requiring an armed response. Done intentionally it's called 'Swatting' and has resulted in serious incidents. So it's not something to be taken lightly.
If it continues, it might call for legal action against your local 911 call center, if such is needed to capture the attention of their management. They're probably the only ones in a position to investigate and correct. They should do so willingly and proactively, or be legally encouraged to do so.
Good luck.
RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
TTFN (ta ta for now)
I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKorP55Aqvg
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies forum1529: Translation Assistance for Engineers Entire Forum list http://www.eng-tips.com/forumlist.cfm
RE: Problem with use of GPS or similar giving Police a wrong fix.
Depending on how modern their call center dispatcher software is, they could possibly flag the phone numbers and address in question that there is a problem with cell phone location errors frequently pointing to your address. I have a scanner for the trunked radio system in our area, and it is quite common for officers enroute on the call to ask dispatch about the call history for that phone number/location.
Many modern call centers have GIS data integrated in so dispatchers confirm and give detailed location data to officers, fire or EMTs while enroute. It's not uncommon for the dispatcher to relay easily visible landmarks, color/type vehicles parked in the vicinity, info obtained from the caller, and passed on to the responders to verify upon approach.
If nothing else works, get public attention on the matter; if there is a local TV station that does "troubleshooter" type reports, call the TV station every time this happens. Public humulation works in many cases where nothing else will.