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Not a planespotter post.
However, anyone who is wondering what an AWACS might be doing, might be interested in this tech:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray_phone_tracker
Tracking and locating
A StingRay can be used to identify and track a phone or other compatible cellular data device even while the device is not engaged in a call or accessing data services.[25]
A Stingray closely resembles a portable cellphone tower. Typically, law enforcement officials place the Stingray in their vehicle with a compatible computer software. The Stingray acts as a cellular tower to send out signals to get the specific device to connect to it. Cell phones are programmed to connect with the cellular tower offering the best signal. When the phone and Stingray connect, the computer system determines the strength of the signal and thus the distance to the device. Then, the vehicle moves to another location and sends out signals until it connects with the phone. When the signal strength is determined from enough locations, the computer system centralizes the phone and is able to find it.
Cell phones are programmed to constantly search for the strongest signal emitted from cell phone towers in the area. Over the course of the day, most cell phones connect and reconnect to multiple towers in an attempt to connect to the strongest, fastest, or closest signal. Because of the way they are designed, the signals that the Stingray emits are far stronger than those coming from surrounding towers. For this reason, all cell phones in the vicinity connect to the Stingray regardless of the cell phone owner's knowledge. From there, the stingray is capable of locating the device, interfering with the device, and collecting personal data from the device.[26][27]
Denial of service
The FBI has claimed that when used to identify, locate, or track a cellular device, the StingRay does not collect communications content or forward it to the service provider.[28] Instead, the device causes a disruption in service.[29] Under this scenario, any attempt by the cellular device user to place a call or access data services will fail while the StingRay is conducting its surveillance. On August 21, 2018, Senator Ron Wyden noted that Harris Corporation confirmed that Stingrays disrupt the targeted phone's communications. Additionally, he noted that "while the company claims its cell-site simulators include a feature that detects and permits the delivery of emergency calls to 9-1-1, its officials admitted to my office that this feature has not been independently tested as part of the Federal Communication Commission’s certification process, nor were they able to confirm this feature is capable of detecting and passing-through 9-1-1 emergency communications made by people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled using Real-Time Text technology."[30]
Separately can confirm what you’re saying; it can do quite a bit more too.
The stuff I read about the Stingray was interesting, but seemed more geared towards LE. I suspect the military has better stuff.
Tech is 10-20 years ahead of what everyone realizes. Understand an iphone costs 800$. There are devices that cost hundreds of thousands and millions. Im PERSONALLY certain making such a device would be fun. I didn’t mean to heckle you man I actually just got excited by your post. Never met anyone who was aware of stingrays. So I’ve never talked about it. Gets depressing.
And you probably have some understanding of Shannon's information theory, which suggests more than I normally would in a Q related thread.
Sting Rays suck and is the wrong name for what youre describing. (Source salty SDR engineer)
Stringray is a brand name that I read about a couple years ago. The stuff I read wasn't on Wiki, more geared towards engineers, but I wouldn't know where to look for that anymore - one of those things you come across along the way.