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Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and

CID)
By ajparag (/member/ajparag/) in Circuits (/circuits/) > Wireless (/circuits/wireless/projects/)
660,255 112 31

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1 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 Hi, Your
Track Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow
We all need a tracking device at some point to
keep a track on our friends, family or our
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belongings (vehicles... my precious!) etc. but not

all of us can afford the cost of a GPS device.So, i
decided to find on the internet if there is a way
one can track his/her location using the common
cellphone (sadly not all cellphones can do this at
this moment). And, to my surprise there is a
unique way to keep track of ones location using
this method.

You might be knowing about Google maps for

mobile by now. Google maps comes with my
location feature that tells your approximate
location without using GPS. Cool...! Isn't it....?
But we cannot use this feature remotely to locate
the device.... huh!
So, what is the technology that google uses to
track the device and how can we use it to track it
remotely???

To know more about it... lets get started!

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Track Your Location
AddWithout Using
Teacher NoteGPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow

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Step 1: Knowing the Science Behind It

The my location feature works on the cell tower
technology. The cell tower of your operator
generates some unique codes to locate the area
where it is. So, basically my location feature
points out the location of the cell tower from
where you are getting the reception. Simple!

All we need to do is get these codes, send them

to our computer via email/IM/SMS and enter
them in the google maps. This way we will be
able to track the approximate location of the
device.

So, what all things do we need to track a

cellphone?
Things we need:
1. A smartphone/cellphone - Android, IPhone,
Blackberry,Nokia - S60 or above, Sony Ericsson -
JP 7 or above (other than these not many are
supported).
2. GPRS or internet connection.
2. Software to get location codes.
3. A working computer with internet connection
and ofcourse Google maps.

That's it!

3 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
Proceed to step 2...
 Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow

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Download

Step 2: Get LAC and CID Codes

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To know the current location of the cellphone, you

will need four level of codes, namely:
MCC - Mobile country code (fixed code and
available online)
MNC - Mobile network code (fixed code and
available
4 of 14 online) 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow
LAC - Local Area Code (dynamic and required
from the handset)
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CID - Cell ID (dynamic and required from the

handset)

The first two codes can be obtained from

wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org
/wiki/Mobile_Network_Code

Check for your country and mobile operator and

you will see the corresponding MCC and MNC
codes.
For example, for India (country) and Vodafone
(Mobile operator) the MCC is 404 and MNC is 01
(for Haryana - State/City i.e. mobile circle)

Now, to get LAC and CID codes you will have to

download a software on your device:

Cellspotting:
http://www.cellspotting.com – Nokia S60 or
above, Sony Ericsson JP7 or above

Network Monitor:
http://www.ottaky.com/midlets.php - Sony
Ericsson JP7 or above

Cell track:
http://www.afischer-online.de/sos/celltrack/ -
Symbian S60 or above

Net Monitor:
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.com-
5 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 parizene-netmonitor-iCEn.aspx
Track
Track Your Location Without Using GPS–(using
Your Location Without Using GPS (using...Android https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow

Cell finder:
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http://code.google.com/p/codetastrophe/ -
Android

Cell Tower Locator:

http://www.appbrain.com/app/cell-tower-locator
/tm.app.cellTowerLocator - Android

Install the app on your phone.

Start the App and get the LAC and CID codes.

Now, here is the tricky part... some phones like

Android and IPhone provide you with the codes
in Decimal format (which is good) and some like
nokia and SE provide them in Hexadecimal
format.

You will have to convert those hexadecimal

codes into decimal codes in order to enter them
in to the search bar.

Log on to: http://www.statman.info/conversions

/hexadecimal.html

Enter value on the left hand side and click on "to

decimal' and copy the copy generated on the
right hand side.

6 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
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Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow

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Step 3: Track It!

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fit=bounds)

Now,
Log on to http://cellphonetrackers.org/gsm/gem-
tracker.php
Enter the respective codes and hit ‘Track it’...
Ta..da... Your device has been located!

Now, the obvious question is how to send these

codes regularly to the computer in order to
continuously track it without a break?
Sadly, i have no clue about it. There is no app or
website i have come across that can handle such
a query.

But, the good part is the JavaME codes are

available online freely and one can try to make
his/her own app to do this.
If you happen to come across any such app that
can perform this activity automatically, please do
post it here. Sharing is learning!
7 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
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Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow
Note: This method does not provides the
accurate location of your cellphone/device and it
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is not useful for managing directions but comes

very handy for those who cannot afford the cost
of a GPS system. It is useful to track stolen
vehicles or even track family, friends.

Post your comments... suggestions... questions

below!

Add Tip V Ask Question | Comment

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9 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
We have a be nice policy.
Please be positive and constructive.
 Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
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31 Discussions

LadaT (/member/LadaT/)
(/member/LadaT/)
1 year ago on Step 3
Reply / Upvote

If you need to spy on a phone remotely, try spytomobile

service. After registration you can try the service for free
for 3 days. You will be able to see even deleted calls and
texts
1 reply F

BinodS9 (/member/BinodS9/)
BinodS9 (/member/BinodS9/) Tip 1 year ago on
Introduction
Reply / Upvote

Hi

/ (/member/TitoA7/)
TitoA7 (/member/TitoA7/)
1 1 year ago
Reply / Upvote

im so confused.should i download the cellid finder on the

tracking phone or the lost phone???

HoussemH3 (/member
(/member/HoussemH3/)
/HoussemH3/) 2 years ago
Reply / Upvote

i tried it for tracking my phone but it doesnt found my

place exactly, my coordinates on map far from me about
100 m, i need to know if the problem is from the towers in
my country or something else ,knowing i live in algeria !! i
wait for your answer and thanks in advance .

10 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 Track Your Location Without UsingGianC15 (/member/GianC15/)https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
GPS (using...
(/member/GianC15/)
Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow
2 years ago

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Download Favorite w I Made It
i need it right away

Nigel109 (/member/Nigel109/)
(/member/Nigel109/)
2 years ago
Reply / Upvote

I need to track my sister

(/member/kb54/) kb54 (/member/kb54/) 2 years ago

Reply / Upvote

need help! tracking phone have number only type of

phone and in us willing to???

renuka.bani (/member
(/member/renuka.bani/)
/renuka.bani/) 3 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Is there any other way to get CID and LAC without using
android application?

KhaledE31 (/member
(/member/KhaledE31/)
/KhaledE31/) 3 years ago
Reply / Upvote

hi sir ,,
I've just lost my Samsung Note5 tried android device
manager but unable to locate. How else can I track it?
which i was not install any track software i know id my
phone only please help meeeeeeee ?????

YayangG (/member/YayangG/)
(/member/YayangG/)
3 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Terimakasih
11 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using LAC and CID) by ajparag (/member/ajparag/) Follow
Becks2011 (/member
(/member/Becks2011+/)
/Becks2011+/) 4 years ago
Download Favorite w I Made It
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Reply / Upvote

I've just lost my Samsung j5 tried android device

manager but unable to locate. How else can I track it? In
simple terms please lol

EstherL14 (/member
(/member/EstherL14/)
/EstherL14/) 4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

I lost my Samsung galaxy s6 edge last week Monday in

Edo state Nigeria, I have been trying to track it with but
not successful with Android Device Manager, please I
need help to locate my phone without GPS.THANKS.
l

AgnesH3 (/member/AgnesH3/)
(/member/AgnesH3/)
4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Tried this and it works. But the problem with this is that
you need to feed the LAC and CID manually everytime to
track it. How will someone get to know his/her phone's
LAC and CID when the phone is lost/not with him?
Kindly reply if anyone has the answer. Thanks.

Juleelove (/member
(/member/Juleelove/)
/Juleelove/) 4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

How do i track his phone wout him knowing

12 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
 Track Your Location Without Using GPS (using... https://www.instructables.com/id/Track-your-loc...
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hihello0127 (/member
(/member/hihello0127/)
/hihello0127/) 4 years ago
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Reply / Upvote

hi please help me how can i know the location of my

boyfriend without him knowing it or without any
application that need to install in his phone. Please help..
thank you

LisaB128 (/member/LisaB128/)
(/member/LisaB128/)
4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Finally am a lot happier now...thanks to

[email protected] for helping me in my
relationship...his the best for any hacking solutions

/ (/member/MaR18/)
MaR18 (/member/MaR18/)
1 4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

Can it be possible to gps a metro cellphone with out

installing any application on it

KristineL3 (/member
(/member/KristineL3/)
/KristineL3/) 4 years ago
Reply / Upvote

How to truck our love ones and friends

Alin Sari (/member/Alin+Sari/)

(/member/Alin+Sari/)
5 years ago on Introduction
Reply / Upvote

Wow, it's amazing! I just know how to track the GPS

location of a cell phone with tracking app like
iKeyMonitor( http://ikeymonitor.com ), but it seems this
way is also very useful.

13 of 14 30/04/20, 11:15 pm
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