“If its receiving, it can be tracked, triangulated exactly.
There is no other way, unless they use a repeater...and even that has its flaws.
Anything that makes ‘electronic noise’ can be found using triangulation.”
Actually it is called trilateration. The receiver only receives. It does not transmit anything. When your on-star system tells someone where you are it does it with the cellular functionality that forms part of the on-star system.
Yes, Obama’s phone gives off RF energy. Big deal...only trackable from a few feet away. Yes, any GPS receiver Obama has can locate his position. Unless he has a GPS transmitter no one else can gain that information, unless his cellular function sends out that data. That can be controlled via firm ware programming. Not a big deal.
Whatever.
As long as it’s switched on, every cellular device connects to the nearest cell site from time to time, so the cellular companies know where to route received messages.
Obviously, when receiving a text message the transmitter must come on to establish the connection and provide error checking.
That said, I’m sure the Secret Service would never allow Pressidential communications devices to connect directly to the cellular system. Wherever he might be, to the cell system, the Presidents communications would allways be seen as coming from and going to, wherever they have their main gateway located.