GPS jamming is a form of deceptive electronic countermeasures that intentionally send out false radio frequency pulses to disrupt the operation of an on-board radar receiver by causing it to misinterpret data or noise for reality.
This method is used primarily for military applications but some civilian uses are also possible, particularly if the radar system is designed for low-observability or concealed functions. There are three ways in which GPS jamming works.
First, when the system receives a false signal, it will interpret this as an actual physical presence on the ground and will be more than happy to pick up more false signals, confusing it further. Second, if a signal is misinterpreted, the vehicle will slow down, swerve, and eventually crash, potentially causing injury and loss of life.
Third, when the radar system picks up one or more real signals, it will automatically re-calibrate its receiver to pick up the erroneous signal. There are a few common types of GPS jamming devices available to users. Chris Smith notes a couple of things you should keep in mind with regards to GPS jamming. We suggest you read this carefully too.
One of the most commonly seen is the jammer antenna which acts as a conventional antenna and transmits signals out of it. This type of jammer has been around since the 1970s and is still popular today.
Another type is the dummy satellite which produces false radio signals in the hopes that radar detectors will pick them up. Both of these types have been known to confuse the receiver, causing it to misinterpret and misreport information, which is then picked up by a radar detector.
A newer, less widely available type of GPS jammer is the passive jammer. In these cases, the radar device is not directly related to a computer network or Internet connection and does not require a direct signal from the radar to work.
Instead, the radar itself will act as the transmitter, emitting radio waves that only produce false signals is detected by a receiver, making it impossible to pick up the real signal. Passive jammers do not emit any radiation and are generally not visible to a human observer, as they are invisible and have no reflective properties.
The third type of GPS jammer is the hard-coded jammer, which is very complex and difficult to detect. The hard-coded system is programmed in advance to use the right frequencies at the right times in order to intercept the data sent from the on the GPS system and pass the signal along to the target device.
It may be installed within the vehicle or placed outside it and set in a strategic position to work with a military system, or police car tracking device. It can often be used to send out false data to confuse the system and trick the system into thinking the vehicle is still in operation.
It is used primarily to jam signals and other signal indicators, including police speed signs and street signs and road signs. The first form of GPS jamming was a relatively easy method that caused little or no problem to exist systems. H
however, new versions of the technology are now able to detect and remove such jamming devices from functioning, preventing them from interfering with the way that the system functions. The second kind of jammer is much more complicated and often requires a remote control to be installed in the vehicle to prevent it from damaging or disabling the device.
One method in which a driver can protect against the effects of GPS jamming is to turn off the system, or even disable the GPS navigation receiver altogether if in case of a jamming situation.
While not impossible, it would be rather difficult to avoid a jammer since the system is always transmitting in a regular manner, whether at night or day, during rain and snow, during bad weather or foggy conditions, and even while driving.
Although there are many types of GPS jammer that work to disrupt the GPS systems, it is always better to leave it on all the time in order to avoid having it used against you. The device could easily cause problems when it is not functioning properly in bad weather conditions and while driving in foggy conditions.
It would also be best to take precautions in order to avoid a jammer and avoid unwanted distractions in a driving situation and to be aware of their locations at all times in order to prevent any possible accidents from happening.
