Removing the GPS hardware.

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R

Right Wing

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Feb 4, 2017
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This was asked about before on this website:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/367893-28-remove-tablet

My question is much the same.

What part of my Android phone is the actual GPS receiver?

My own research on this included calling a computer repair shop and the customer help agent was suspiciously evasive about discussing this with me, finally citing that he was a computer tech, not a phone tech. When asked he referred me to an electronics-gadget repair shop. I called them and got much the same response. The second tech suggested I search YouTube or look up the blueprints for my phone. I found a one minute and a half video on YouTube of someone dis-assembling his smart phone but he doesn't explain what each part is and it was filmed in 2008. I did however find a blueprint site:

https://www.the-blueprints.com

Perhaps the blueprint of my phone will clearly point out what part of the hardware is the actual GPS reciever.

Even so, I would like to ask anyways if anyone can explain what part of a modern Android phone is the GPS component? I am sure I can figure out how to remove it myself, but first, I need to know what it is.
 
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JBURNS489

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Jul 29, 2015
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I dont know the answer, but I dont see any issue with giving the answer out if you did know. Why would this be borderline? If you own the phone and just dont want certain features on it for whatever reason, why not remove it? Even if phone manufacturers dont want you to know this info, i see it as you own the device and can throw it in the ocean or smash it with a hammer for all i care. Its your stuff so why not? As far as using the phone with modern cell towers, thats between you and your phone company. Nothing wrong, illegal, or unethical to take apart your devices and remove things you dont want
 
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k1114

k1114

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May 2, 2010
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It's a grey area without knowing intentions.

Those aren't the blueprints you think they are. It's for 3d modelers/art purposes and only shows the exterior dimensions of objects. You will not find detailed technical layouts of devices anywhere on the internet for legal reasons. You will see some how-to's point out the hardware components, like the gps, which are easily identifiable to the right people. Most techs won't know what chips are what and have minimal knowledge just to do their job. Most are just parts replacers.

There's not much to explain. It's a single chip. Once it's out, it's not going back in. It might be easier to disconnect the antenna to disable it but without knowing the model, it may not have anything to disconnect so has to be taken out. All mobile devices are built differently. You might even just brick your phone from doing this.
 
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R

Right Wing

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
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1,510
JBURNS489 said
""I dont know the answer, but I dont see any issue with giving the answer out if you did know. Why would this be borderline? If you own the phone and just dont want certain features on it for whatever reason, why not remove it? Even if phone manufacturers dont want you to know this info, i see it as you own the device and can throw it in the ocean or smash it with a hammer for all i care. Its your stuff so why not? As far as using the phone with modern cell towers, thats between you and your phone company. Nothing wrong, illegal, or unethical to take apart your devices and remove things you dont want""

I don't know for sure but they're all in on this conspiracy, it's like a secret handshake you got to know to get their cooperation. But there really does seem like there's a policy of denying knowledge. GPS seems like a no-no topic for these repair techs for some odd reason.
 
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R

Right Wing

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Feb 4, 2017
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Supahos said
""Nothing wrong with password workarounds on your own router/phone/computer either yet any talk of that is very forbidden here as the community doesn't help people use stolen/locked items""

That's understandable. Like, for a lot of people they needn't worry about disabling GPS in their devices but some people like government employees, celebrities and the wealthy are often hacker targets. These hackers will break in to anything they can; your bank accounts, your computer, your tivo, your wireless phone. Anything connected to the internet. So, you go into your phone and disable the GPS in the settings menu and you ain't in the clear. There's easily several ways around that for a hacker to get through. Completely removing GPS can be quite attractive for some folks.
 
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R

Right Wing

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
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k1114 said
""It's a grey area without knowing intentions.

Those aren't the blueprints you think they are. It's for 3d modelers/art purposes and only shows the exterior dimensions of objects. You will not find detailed technical layouts of devices anywhere on the internet for legal reasons. You will see some how-to's point out the hardware components, like the gps, which are easily identifiable to the right people. Most techs won't know what chips are what and have minimal knowledge just to do their job. Most are just parts replacers.

There's not much to explain. It's a single chip. Once it's out, it's not going back in. It might be easier to disconnect the antenna to disable it but without knowing the model, it may not have anything to disconnect so has to be taken out. All mobile devices are built differently. You might even just brick your phone from doing this.""

I'm still going to order a set of blueprints for my phone. The website states that they accept any and all blueprints for just about anything and everything, even the human body. I will still be on my search for GPS information and locating techs who really know their stuff and aren't afraid to talk about it.
 
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k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
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I'd like to know who you order technical layouts of electronics from. That would be very helpful. Again, that site is for art purposes and only gives external dimensions. Go look at the phones they have. In fact, look at the other categories too, you'll see what I mean. It's completely not what you think it is and will be useless to you. That site has been around for a very long time. I've used that site years back when I did 3d. I found my old login for it too, wow. I doubt the techs are afraid but rather just don't know because it's not their stuff. They are not engineers.

You could just tell me the phone model and I might be able to find it. I'm not sure why you didn't state your intentions either.
 
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R

Right Wing

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
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k1114 said
""I'd like to know who you order technical layouts of electronics from. That would be very helpful. Again, that site is for art purposes and only gives external dimensions. Go look at the phones they have. In fact, look at the other categories too, you'll see what I mean. It's completely not what you think it is and will be useless to you. That site has been around for a very long time. I've used that site years back when I did 3d. I found my old login for it too, wow. I doubt the techs are afraid but rather just don't know because it's not their stuff. They are not engineers.

You could just tell me the phone model and I might be able to find it. I'm not sure why you didn't state your intentions either.""

My mistake.

My intentions are to disable hackers. Hackers are a problem.

There are two ways to locate Android phones. One is through GPS, highly accurate. With GPS satellites are used to triangulate your precise location. With the right hack a satellite in orbit can photograph you anywhere you go. The second way is through the radio signal to the towers but the accuracy is much lower, giving the data recipient an accuracy of around a quarter of a mile.

If one were being stalked and their pursuers were sophisticated enough with the right resources they could easily pinpoint exactly where you are whenever they want. You can see the danger this handicap puts the target in if they are an interest to a group of do-badders.
 
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k1114

k1114

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May 2, 2010
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You are more likely to get in a car accident and die than a hacker taking over a satellite to take a pic of a nobody or even just using your gps data. Unless you are a somebody but then you wouldn't be going to repair shops. Gps is much lower on the list of how open you are in terms of tech. It's a lot easier to get your home address and personal info for anyone who uses the internet.
 
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R

Right Wing

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Feb 4, 2017
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k1114 said
""You are more likely to get in a car accident and die than a hacker taking over a satellite to take a pic of a nobody or even just using your gps data. Unless you are a somebody but then you wouldn't be going to repair shops. Gps is much lower on the list of how open you are in terms of tech. It's a lot easier to get your home address and personal info for anyone who uses the internet.""

My phone is being hacked and my location isn't protected when I turn off the GPS in the menu settings. I will share my solution on this thread when I get that information. And now that I found increasing resistance as I research how to remove the GPS hardware in my devices I am determined to finish this task to completion.
 
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k1114

k1114

Titan
May 2, 2010
14,240
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75,540
How do you know you are being hacked? If they are good enough to hack your phone, it's simple to not let you know. You can have a phone on with the screen off and not have any trace of it being on. That's easier than hacking the gps. You'd see the battery drain faster but there's plenty of android apps that bug the battery without it saying what app it was.

Why haven't you told what phone model you have so others could just simply point it out for you?
 
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R

Right Wing

Commendable
Feb 4, 2017
7
0
1,510
""How do you know you are being hacked? If they are good enough to hack your phone, it's simple to not let you know. You can have a phone on with the screen off and not have any trace of it being on. That's easier than hacking the gps. You'd see the battery drain faster but there's plenty of android apps that bug the battery without it saying what app it was.

Why haven't you told what phone model you have so others could just simply point it out for you?""

Yes, it's happening. I will spare you the burden of the details but I will say that I want it to end permanently with no chance of reoccurence.
 
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