Longer range wireless hardware as a means of countering tracking

Ulysses_ · 09-23-2020, 06:21 AM

Had a brainwave. Instead of a taking a fully functional smartphone with you wherever you go and helping the powers-that-be track you in extreme detail with accelerometers etc, remove the smartphone's antenna and take it together with a walkie talkie that acts as a modem to another walkie talkie left at home, whereby the latter is connected to a linux or openbsd computer with remote desktop software running so you view all your desktop apps on the smartphone. Does hardware like this already exist?

michaelk · 09-23-2020, 08:19 AM

If it was possible...

With any existing walkie-talkie the speed would be very slow due to the channel spacing which is narrow because it is designed for voice only. Depending on your geophysical location you would need the home antenna at least 30 ft above the ground. That might get you 5 miles.

There is hardware for embedded systems but trying to integrate into an existing phone not very practical.

sgosnell · 09-23-2020, 08:41 AM

If you're that paranoid about being tracked, get a flip phone. You can remove the battery easily, and only insert it if you want to make a call. A smartphone isn't necessary for making phone calls.

Ulysses_ · 09-23-2020, 11:50 AM

A GSM phone is still a tracking device, just less accurate, and less complete if you only power it up when needed. Could do voice calls from the linux computer using the remote desktop software. Are there any higher data transfer rate alternatives to walkie talkies that civilians are allowed to use? Hardware that amplifies regular wifi and runs off a battery?

Ulysses_ · 09-23-2020, 12:21 PM

Or something that is powered from the USB port of the smartphone?

sgosnell · 09-23-2020, 02:18 PM

No to all.

jefro · 09-23-2020, 02:50 PM

It can be done depending on your country. Not exactly as you say but basically like that.

Data is just data. You can move it over many media's.

I'd think the exercise would be more expensive than it's worth.

michaelk · 09-23-2020, 03:33 PM

I agree... I have only played with long range serial data links which top speeds are 115,200 or maybe 256,000 bps and not something that can run off a battery. There are unlicensed devices but are limited in power. In free space a few miles but not something you want to use for browsing the internet. The devices work at line of sight and as I posted earlier your going to need the antenna height and the home link on the order of 30 feet.

Here you go.
https://www.silvernet.com/products/MAX-1000/

teckk · 09-23-2020, 04:23 PM

I've never tried one. How about a faraday bag. Only pull the phone out when you need it. Anyone ever used one?

jefro · 09-23-2020, 04:42 PM

A farady cage/bag if properly built should prevent the associated bandwidth from entering or escaping. Testing lab's use larger scale but the same idea. Once you remove it then it could transmit if it is a phone. Removing the phone antenna may not do much in some cases. It could still work.

I'd think that a small laptop would be easier to use in this task since it doesn't have any gsm/lte and maybe not gps.

sgosnell · 09-23-2020, 05:39 PM

Or a tablet without a SIM card, wifi only. One could theoretically use wifi calling from a location that had wifi. A tablet would probably be easier to carry. Run a VPN on the tablet and it should be reasonably resistant to tracking.

scasey · 09-23-2020, 06:11 PM

AFAIK all wireless/mobile phones are trackable. I had to give up my Motorola StarTac because it wasn't. In the US, at least, the wireless telcos are required to be able to report phone locations to PSAPs.

jefro · 09-23-2020, 07:35 PM

I have Engenious outdoor extenders that can really really reach out in line of sight. The outdoor gizmos are made for businesses and have some advanced site to site privacy.

Ulysses_ · 09-24-2020, 03:42 AM

Any comments on the remote desktop option? The idea being, anything malicious in the smartphone collecting private information with GPS and accelerometers etc and put there by the manufacturer cannot access the internet as the smartphone can only see the remote desktop display of the openbsd/linux box where the browser and other applications run (the smartphone's GSM/3G/4G antenna is removed).

Ulysses_ · 09-24-2020, 03:56 AM

Probably this is the largest acceptable size and weight including battery:

https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.0...xgHaMW&pid=Api