How does cell phone location work? Easily explained
Locating a cell phone can be practical and annoying. How does it work, for example, that your network operator finds your lost or stolen cell phone? And how can you be located by the authorities? You can find explanations for location via a cell phone mast and via GPS in this practical tip.
This is how cell phone location works via a cell phone mast
Authorities, providers or manufacturers can easily locate your cell phone. One possibility is the location via a transmission mast.
- The so-called "radio cell method" works with all devices that have a mobile connection - smartphones from Apple or Samsung, tablets with mobile Internet, surf sticks, even old cell phones from Nokia or Sony Ericsson.
- This method asks which mobile phone mast the smartphone last dialed into.
- Authorities and providers can use the data from several cell towers to limit their point of view to a few hundred meters.
- Location is more accurate in large cities because there are more masts here than in the country.
Mobile phone location via GPS
The second method has only been available since smartphones have become established: location via the Internet and GPS.
- Since most smartphones have a GPS function, the location can now be determined to within a few meters - you do this regularly if you use your smartphone as a navigation device.
Smartphone location via WiFi
Your smartphone can also be located via WiFi. This works, for example, via commercial WiFi hotspots and therefore very well, especially in cities. In many places, you receive several networks that overlap at the same time.
- So your location can be calculated exactly - depending on how well or badly you receive certain networks.
- This also works for other devices, for example laptops, which usually have no GPS or cell phone connection.
With some mobile phone providers, you can also have a movement profile created. This enables you to understand where, for example, your smartphone was located and when.
In our next practical tip, read what you can do if GPS does not work under Android.