When you have a cellphone and say you needed help and called 911 can the police find out where you are because

Question

your on the cellphone I always worry about that just wondering ?

Answer 1

No 911 center I'm aware of uses GPS. The technology used to locate cellular callers is tower trianguation. It is also referred to as Phase II wireless. The 911 call taker will get the cellular call and be able to determine an approximate location based on the callers location and the coordinates sent to the call takers screen from the cell towers. This technology is not perfect, the best way to gurantee that a 911 Telecommunicator can send the police or fire department to your location is for you to know your location at all times and not rely on others to know where you are at. The first thing any 911 call taker will ask is your location, know what the answer is! :-)

Answer 2

I lifted this directly from straightdope.com. Apparently the FCC has instructed all cell providers to make it possible, so in theory, the answer to your question is yes.


"Cell phones have long been used for communication during emergencies. Of 150 million calls to 911 last year, 45 million involved cell phones. Hard-wired 911 technology automatically tells the emergency dispatchers where you're located so help can be on its way immediately. But with cell phone 911 calls, the dispatchers know only that you're somewhere in the several square miles covered by a cell. The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that cellular systems figure out a way to tell 911 services the exact location of a caller. One popular approach: a tiny global positioning system (GPS) antenna built into the phone. The GPS antenna picks up signals beamed out by GPS satellites that make it possible to determine your latitude and longitude. When you call 911, the cellular system automatically transmits your location too--or it will when the whole thing starts working. The FCC pushed back the starting date because the cell-phone industry hadn't gotten its act together on technology. The new deadline for substantial completion is December 31, 2005."

Answer 3

Several years ago the FCC mandated that all cell phone providers implement the technology to track the locations of cell phones calling 911. The deadline has long since passed and only a handful of providers can claim they are in compliance. Of those that claim they are able to track the phones location, most would have to admit the system is not accurate the majority of the time. The technology is there. The issue is money. The providers are slow to spend the money needed to make this a reality. They also know that in order to make it work, cell phones will have to be replaced with ones that contain the newer technology. This will raise the cost of the phone to the consumer. In today's highly competitive cell phone market, providers are reluctant to do anything that would reduce there market share.

Answer 4

In short, it depends upon the capabilities of the 911 call center servicing the area.

While Congress did mandate that wireless companies develop systems for providing location information to 911 centers, there are some important considerations.

First, the wireless companies in a given coverage area are not required to do anything until the local 911 systems provide notice that they are able to use the infomation data. Some call centers have the equipment needed, and others do not.

Second, the 911 call center must have a cost recovery procedure in place. The burden of expense is not to fall on the wireless phone companies.

Third, the 911 call center must implement a computer system capable of integrating with the data interface of the wireless carrier.

There are two phases of implementation, with standards of accuracy defined in the Congressional mandate.

In Phase I, the call back number, cell site and sector is transmitted to the 911 center. This provides routing information for the call to connect the call to the appropriate answering center. Phase I does NOThave a requirement of providing location of the phone initiating the call.

In Phase II, additional information about the actual location of the phone making the call is provided with estimated longitude and latitude.

Phase II location information can be provided by network based or handset based methods. Network based location information is derived from triangulation of the cell signal amongst three or more towers. Handset based location information is derived from GPS data received from the phone.

Network based location must be accurate to within 100 meters for 67% of calls and within 300 meters for 95% of calls.

Handset based location must be accurate to within 50 meters for 67% of calls and within 150 meters for 95% of calls.

Answer 5

Some 911 call centers have the equipment to locate cellphone users....our county just upgraded to that equipment last year and just a month ago a guy was in a wreck and didn't know where he was and his car and rolled under a bridge that couldn't be seen from the roadway...because of this equipment they were able to locate him by tracking his cell phone signal.

Answer 6

Depends on the 911 system you're in. Where I work, our system can usually get within about 150 feet of the call. Sometimes the location is actually the location of the cell tower, though. It's a good idea to know where you are--pay attention to what road you're on, what direction you're traveling, any nearby landmarks. All of those things will help us find you.

Answer 7

some states the police can find you by the GPS that is in all new phones but very few places. You have to tell them where you are to get help on a cell phone

Answer 8

the four major carriers have a locater on them. i don't believe that it is GPS though. the tower closest to the 911 center attracts the signal.

Answer 9

yes if ya have a new cell phone why would ya ask ya a dope dealer or are ya makin prank calls and if ya are buy a 2 year old used cell phone an the can not track ya

Answer 10

It all depends on the phone you are on. Mos of them now have emergency locating built in for that reason.