[Scan-DC] Cell phone cell antenna locations...

Wed, 10 Apr 2002 15:15:36 -0400

Cell site numbering is carrier or company specific. Having worked in that
business and used test mobiles, I can tell you it is quite interesting to
look at the received signal strengths of sites (and sectors) you are
receiving when you know where they are located.

I expect it would be very difficult to get this information.  It has been
my experience that companies tend to be very secretive when it comes to
their site locations for an entire system. It can reveal where they have
problems in their coverage! I don't expect they will pass this type of
stuff out to strangers.

Some towers must be registered in the FCC's Antenna Structure Registration
system (those over 200' and ones close to airports.) (In fact, it is common
practice to build 199' tall towers since all towers over 200' are required
to be painted and/or lit.)  However, in general, cellular and PCS carriers
are not required to register the location of every site (like land mobile
licensees do). The information on the structure registration may, but is
not likely going to bear any resemblance to the site/sector id's you see on
your phone.

Mike

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of andrew
> Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 10:10 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Scan-DC] Cell phone cell antenna locations...
>
>
> I have a nokia 3360 cell phone on the AT&T network. You can put
> this phone into "field test" mode in order to see what cells you
> are near and the signal strength from these cell locations.
>
> Anyone have any idea on where I could find where the tower is
> using the numbers that are given on my cell phone.
>
> Example. My phone says that cell:
>
> B 918 has a signal strength of -85
> B 853 has a signal strength of -97
> B 965 has a signal strength of -99
>
>
> So, where can I find out what the location of cell # B 918, B
> 853, etc is?
>
> I have done a couple of searches and the FCC's site does not
> have anything specific to this as far as I can find. They have
> the "Antenna Structure Registration" which is at:
> http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistrationSearch.j
sp as well as "Antenna Registration System" which is at:
http://wtbwww05.fcc.gov/antenna/ASRQuery.html.

Thanks in advance.

Andrew

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