The Expert Podcast

• Introduction to cell phone tracking and GPS tracking using cell phone data
• Explanation of cell phone antennas you see along highways and streets
• Description of typical cell tower antenna design — triangular mounts with multiple antenna arrays facing different directions
• Each antenna array often belongs to a different mobile provider (e.g., T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint)
• Importance of recognizing antenna sectors to help locate a device geographically
• Overview of how cell towers connect with multiple devices in their coverage area, even when phones are not in active use
• How cell networks “ping” phones regularly to know their location and route incoming calls properly
• Using cell tower data to identify not only which tower a device is connected to but also which specific antenna sector (direction) it is in
• Understanding that knowing the sector narrows down the phone’s location to a smaller area on a map
• Explaining how distance from the tower is calculated using the time delay of radio wave signals traveling between tower and phone
• Combining sector direction and distance from tower creates a rough location line where the phone could be
• Using speed data from the device’s movement to further narrow down possible locations by matching known roads and speed limits
• Example: If a device maintains 400 meters distance from the tower and travels at 70 mph, it likely follows a highway segment, not smaller streets
• How law enforcement uses this combined data to track suspects or verify alibis by analyzing cell tower “dumps” during specific times
• Eliminating innocent devices regularly present in an area (e.g., employees) to identify unusual or suspicious activity
• Application in various cases: crime investigations, fraud, divorce cases, money laundering, and asset concealment
• Using location data to confirm or refute claims about whereabouts at specific times
• How cell tower antennas can capture various data from connected phones beyond location: accelerometer, speed, altitude, barometric pressure, and sometimes message and call records
• Importance of understanding that any device within a sector’s coverage area can be identified and tracked
• Summary of how this technology can assist in solving crimes and providing evidence in court