What are GPS Jammers and How to Combat Them? Expert Guide

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In today’s world, being tracked both online and offline is becoming increasingly prevalent, offering numerous advantages for businesses through GPS tracking. However, not everyone is comfortable sharing their location, leading to the emergence of GPS jammers. Discover the inner workings of these devices and how Geotab counters such threats, ensuring your tracking needs are met with security and reliability.

How does a GPS jammer work?

A GPS jammer is a compact, self-contained transmitter device designed to conceal one’s location. By emitting radio signals at the same frequency as a GPS device, it creates interference, rendering the GPS unable to determine its position. These jammers are characterized by their relatively low power consumption and quick startup time, making them highly convenient for use only when necessary. Various types of affordable gps jammers are easily accessible for purchase online, despite their illegal status. These include physical shields, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth jammers, remote control jammers, spy camera jammers, and drone jammers, among others. Each type offers a specific function, catering to a wide range of needs and applications.

How does a GPS signal jammer operate?

To understand how a jammer functions, it’s helpful to know how the global positioning system (GPS) works. A GPS tracker receives microwave signals from an array of satellite transmitters orbiting the Earth. Once the tracker receives signals from four or more satellites, it determines its position through a series of time calculations and trilateration. The receiver relies on these precise and specific satellite signals to determine where it is in the world. The gps tracking device then transmits this position and velocity information to a monitoring location, usually sent over the cellular network. However, a GPS jammer can interfere with this process. The user plugs the jammer into the automotive auxiliary power outlet and places the unit close to the installed GPS tracker. When active, the GPS jammer generates an interference signal over a 5 to 10-meter radius to disrupt the reception of the GPS satellite signal, effectively blocking the tracker’s ability to determine its location. While satellite malfunction or solar flares can temporarily disrupt the transmission of GPS signals, a GPS jammer provides a more localized and controlled interference.

A gps jammer effectively blocks GPS signals by emitting radio signals or signal noise at the same frequency. This interference overrides or distorts the satellite signals, making it impossible for the GPS device to accurately calculate its position. The result is a masked satellite signal, rendering the GPS device unusable. With our GPS jammer, you can rest assured that your location remains private and secure, as the device disrupts any attempts to track or monitor your movements through GPS technology.

A GPS jammer operates by emitting radio signals or signal noise that match the frequency of the GPS device. This process effectively overrides or distorts the incoming GPS satellite signals. As a result, the GPS device becomes unable to determine its location due to the interference masking the original satellite signal.

Who Are the Users of GPS Jammers?

GPS jammers, originally developed for military use, offer privacy, enhanced safety, and a strategic advantage in high-risk missions by concealing vehicle locations. These devices have since found their way into civilian hands, serving various purposes. Speeding drivers, for instance, utilize them to evade police detection and avoid costly fines. Criminals, on the other hand, employ GPS jamming technology as a covert means to steal vehicles or circumvent toll and mileage charges. In the fleet industry, drivers may also use these devices to maintain privacy from employers regarding their whereabouts while operating company vehicles. The reasons for using GPS jammers are diverse, ranging from legitimate military applications to more controversial civilian and criminal uses.

Is It Legal to Use GPS Jammers?

GPS jamming devices are widely considered illegal, particularly in nations like the U.S., Canada, and the UK. Specifically, in the U.S., the sale, marketing, or utilization of GPS jammers has been explicitly prohibited under the Communications Act of 1934. Similarly, Canada’s Radiocommunication Act forbids activities related to GPS jamming devices, including importing, manufacturing, distribution, sale, possession, and use. The penalties for using such devices are severe, often resulting in fines exceeding $100,000 in the U.S., and even imprisonment or loss of equipment.

How does GPS signal jamming affect the transportation sector?

How Does GPS Signal Jamming Affect the Transportation Industry?

GPS jammers pose a significant nuisance and concern for law enforcement and the transportation industry, disrupting GPS asset tracking crucial for business operations. Fleet tracking or telematics, which provides essential data on fuel usage, idling, driver behavior, and engine health, is often targeted by these jammers. However, using GPS jammers is not only illegal but also poses potential dangers. In one incident, a New Jersey truck driver was fined a hefty $32,000 by the FCC when his GPS jamming device interfered with air traffic control information at Newark Liberty International Airport. The driver had been using the jammer to conceal his location from his employer, but an FCC investigator swiftly located the device using radio monitoring equipment, confirming it as the source of the disruption.

How can Geotab be utilized for detecting GPS jamming?

Fleets relying on Geotab’s solution can effectively mitigate adverse impacts and ensure drivers remain visible, even in GPS-denied environments. The Trips History map offers a clear visual representation, highlighting any missing or disrupted trips due to a lack of GPS signal reception. In the event of GPS jamming during a trip, the map draws a straight line from the jamming’s commencement to its termination, providing an instant red flag for those monitoring vehicle activity. This prompts a swift investigation into the root cause of the missing trip data, which could range from GPS jamming to radio malfunctions. With Geotab, fleets maintain uninterrupted visibility and control, ensuring safety and efficiency are never compromised.

How to set up alerts for GPS signal jamming?

Enhance your fleet’s security with Geotab’s GPS jamming alerts. By creating a customized Log Data & Collisions report in MyGeotab, users can ensure automated detection of any GPS jamming events. This report, sent via email, promptly alerts you to investigate further. Importantly, even during GPS jamming, when the GPS receiver is disrupted, other Geotab GO device functions remain unaffected. Rest assured, critical vehicle data like engine details, error codes, and auxiliaries continue to be collected and transmitted.