May 9, 2011 7:00 AM

Gallery: FBI Vehicle-Tracking Device: The Teardown

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The FBI's use of GPS vehicle tracking devices is becoming a contentious privacy issue in the courts, with the Obama administration seeking Supreme Court approval for its use of the devices without a warrant, and a federal civil rights lawsuit targeting the Justice Department for tracking the movements of an Arab-American student. In the midst of this legal controversy, Threat Level decided to take a look at the inside of one of the devices — which are generally custom-made for law enforcement. Working with the teardown artists at [iFixit](http://ifixit.com), we examined a device an [environmental activist discovered on her vehicle in 2005]( http://stag-komodo.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/05/gps/), which she recently provided to us. What follows is iFixit's analysis of the first-ever dissection of an FBI vehicle tracker. __Above:__ Step 1 ------ We finally have one of these on the teardown table! Being in its presence, I can almost feel my civil liberties being flushed down the toilet. Before we whip out the blowtorches and jackhammers, here's a look at the entire tracking system. Clockwise from the top, the system is composed of: - Battery pack - GPS antenna - Transmitter-receiver unit - Magnetic mounting bracket The components of the system are all attached to the tracked vehicle with extremely powerful magnets. Some were so stubbornly attached that they ripped out of the mounting brackets to forever remain stuck on the undercarriage of the host vehicle. - - - - - -
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Step 2 ------ Wondering what kind of technology keeps the tracking device powered? Let's remove the battery pack's end cap and find out. The device is powered by four [lithium-thionyl chloride](http://www.saftbatteries.com/Technologies_Lithium_LiSOCl2_303/Default.aspx) (Li-SOCl2) D cell batteries. - - - - - -

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Step 2 (Continued) ------------------ Each cell is good for 13,000 mAh \[milliampere-hours\]! That's about double the capacity of the iPad 2's [battery](http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPad-2-Wi-Fi-Teardown/5071/5#s22967). - - - - - -
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Step 2 (Continued) ------------------ These cells are suited for extremely low-draw applications where longevity is needed, making them ideal for powering an always-on transmitter-receiver. Their service life is rated at 10 to 20 *years*. - - - - - -

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Step 3 ------ To begin tearing the device apart, we detached the two antennas from their screw-in mounts on the transmitter-receiver module. - - - - - -
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Step3 (Continued) ----------------- The short antenna we disconnected in the first picture is responsible for transmitting the location signal to transponders that the FBI would use to find you. The larger antenna is for receiving GPS signals from satellites orbiting far above the earth's surface. - - - - - -

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Step 4 ------ Removing a few Phillips screws allows us access to the innards of the GPS antenna. - - - - - -
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Step 4 (Continued) ------------------ In keeping with the nonpermanent mounting solutions, the GPS antenna is attached to its bracket with a hefty piece of Velcro. - - - - - -

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Step 4 (Continued) ------------------ A quick peek at the antenna board indicates it was manufactured by SIgem, a [company that partnered with Tyco](http://www.gisdevelopment.net/news/2001/mar/nps014.htm) in the early 2000s to make GPS components. - - - - - -
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Step 5 ------ Let's turn our attention back to the transmitter-receiver module. A few screws are all that remain between us and the innards of this invasive device. - - - - - -

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Step 5 (Continued) ------------------ It seems that this rear cover is simply a method to connect the module to power. Presumably, power sources (batteries) of different shapes, sizes and capacities can be connected through the same plate to make the tracking device more universally installable. - - - - - -
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Step 6 ------ To get to the brains of the module, we focus on the other end cap. The FBI really did not want anyone tampering with the innards of their tracking devices. The screws were coated with so much thread locker that we had to break out the power drill and eliminate the screw heads. - - - - - -

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Step 6 (Continued) ------------------ - - - - - -
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Step 6 (Continued) ------------------ - - - - - -

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