Blocked from Russia :/.
I'll look into this. In the meantime, we did co-publish this essay with Rhizome.org. You can find their version here (same text).
http://rhizome.org/editorial/2014/may/20/stealth-infrastruct...
Stealth Infrastructure
11–20 of 27 posts
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#12I've always been fascinated by this. Apologies if if it is linked somewhere in the article that I missed, but where are the forums where radio enthusiasts share hidden towers they've found?
Just asked the author, will post if I find out.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#13[deleted]
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#14I have in fact noticed an impossibly strong AT&T signal at the rainbow bridge. It extends even on the Canadian side. Makes it near impossible to connect easily back to a Canadian carrier like Rogers or Telus. It always seemed a bit strange to me, why US carriers blanketed a tourist area and Canadian ones hadn't.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#15Strangely enough, despite all the /stuff/ of cellular infrastructure, on roofs and poles in and around cities, the prevailing idea was that mobile phones communicated via satellite and that all these towers were something to do with TV.
I was conscious back then, and I don't recall this particular misunderstanding. Soon after we wondered "what are those things that are mounted like microwave repeaters but obviously are not microwave repeaters?" someone had figured out they were cell antennas. This was before anyone I knew (except my Uncle Glen) had cell phones.
Hmmm, maybe this misunderstanding was a Kiwi thing.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#16It is very common in the US for government entities to build towers (for water storage or to fill a gap in emergency services 2-way radio coverage) and then lease space to carriers to offset the cost and reduce the number of towers in a area. I'd assume economics before spies if I saw a cell sector on a police tower.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#17It is very common in the US for government entities to build towers (for water storage or to fill a gap in emergency services 2-way radio coverage) and then lease space to carriers to offset the cost and reduce the number of towers in a area. I'd assume economics before spies if I saw a cell sector on a police tower.
And honestly, if they want your cell data they can get it from Room 641A a lot easier than popping up government cell towers all over the nation. On the border, though, it makes more sense to surveil traffic which might not originate from within the US.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#18Strangely enough, despite all the /stuff/ of cellular infrastructure, on roofs and poles in and around cities, the prevailing idea was that mobile phones communicated via satellite and that all these towers were something to do with TV. I was conscious back then, and I don't recall this particular misunderstanding. Soon after we wondered "what are those things that are mounted like microwave repeaters but obviously a…
Louis C.K. thinks phones communicate with satellites in space.
http://gizmodo.com/5658560/louis-ck-the-shittiest-cell-phone...
"Give it a second, could ya? It's going to space! Could you give it a second to get back from space?"
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#19Strangely enough, despite all the /stuff/ of cellular infrastructure, on roofs and poles in and around cities, the prevailing idea was that mobile phones communicated via satellite and that all these towers were something to do with TV. I was conscious back then, and I don't recall this particular misunderstanding. Soon after we wondered "what are those things that are mounted like microwave repeaters but obviously a…
Louis C.K. thinks phones communicate with satellites in space. http://gizmodo.com/5658560/louis-ck-the-shittiest-cell-phone... "Give it a second, could ya? It's going to space! Could you give it a second to get back from space?"
Even more common are people who think GPS involves satellites tracking the location of their phone.
Re: Stealth Infrastructure
#20I have in fact noticed an impossibly strong AT&T signal at the rainbow bridge. It extends even on the Canadian side. Makes it near impossible to connect easily back to a Canadian carrier like Rogers or Telus. It always seemed a bit strange to me, why US carriers blanketed a tourist area and Canadian ones hadn't.
Often the US sites are actually right on the border - I know where several carriers are sited at the Blaine crossing, and both are within a couple block thereof.