by Mechman » Sat 27 Oct 2007, 14:45:41
Hello Kylon,
If you think about it at a fundamental principle level, triangulation works by angles, not by power. Power can give you an idea of range but it is not very accurate in field applications unless you know the power and antenna characteristic of what you are trying to find. Someone will find you by the angle and the power just gives them an idea of you power and distance. As they move toward you they will get a much better idea of your antenna and power and range with 1/range^2 principles. However, two angular fixes from two points that are not co-linear and they got your exact location. Quick DOOM!
Electromagnetically you are shinning a light bulb in a black clear sky and hoping people don't see it. However, anyone looking for "lights" will see it and the angle too. Brighter, dimmer, red, green, blue or mixed white will not change the angle and the fact they can see it.
If you have got the money go military - squeak and scoot (transmit for a short time and then run away). Compress your data, send it out quickly before they can get an angular fix, shut down, and then get the hell out of there just in case they did get a fix. The military will use encryption and spread spectrum data to keep the information secret and minimized angular fixing but the transmitter location will be found rather quickly if the transmitter continues to run, uses the same frequency, and does not change location. However, this is probably not practical if you want to “jaw” on the Ham 24/7/52.
You probably don't have the resources of the military so next best option is a decoy/sacrificial/Cry-Baby transmitter. It will get their attention but it is not you and you are safe somewhere else sending data remotely to the sacrificial transmitter. Set up your transmitter in a remote location and when the bad guys find it and take in down or hunt for the location of the data source you bug out. Cheap and effective but you keep losing you transmitter and antenna. Try to remove any evidence that would tie the equipment to you. If you are pissing off someone big they will backtrace the captured equipment you where using, find out who bought it, get the videos and records of you buying it, and then hose you and your family.
Cheapest and safest thing is to shut down your Ham if people are hunting you and wait for better times.
Be Safe!
Mark
Been getting out of the "Beast" for 3 years and counting. Get a helmet as quick as you can.