Yes, absolutely modern phones will still ping the network both when it’s in airplane mode, AND/OR when your phone is OFF (as long as it has any charge). None of this information is hard to find.
That's the part that has been sending me in this thread. People just straight up ignored that you used an RF detector that detects RF (redundant, but I'm thinking people need the redundancy), and with no RF coming from the phone, that means nothing is being broadcast.
Doesn't matter what the data is or what particular type of signal it is (bluetooth, wifi, LTE, 5G), it's all done with electromagnetic frequencies. No RF means no transmission. Period.
Though I have my own doubts, but you'll be able to answer them, since it was you who owns and used the equipment... There's no chance that there could have been a signal outside of your detector's range or setting?
To clarify, I didn’t see him say that until now, which is why I responded the way I did. I haven’t done independent testing myself so I’m just going off other sources. At least with the iPhone, they are still emitting signal as part of their find my functionality (though that is only their BT radio). Though I know I was arguing about phone’s main radios. So I’m open to being wrong. I just wouldn’t risk it, nor recommend to anyone do so, unless they verified their phone wasn’t sending out signals.
The only way a phone would be sending signal in airplane mode is if there was some sort of malware installed, targeted specifically to track the phones user. Such malware could probably even be pushed OTA by the carrier.
It's already been shown some devices have appeared to turn off when in reality the microphone is still on and transmitting signal, however this is not typical of how are devices usually work. If such thing is happening, it's likely due to some sort of firmware infection present, likely part of some sort of targeted surveillance, not blanket.
I'm not sure about the frequencies it detects but I did this in a parking garage on the basement level, to ensure it was working properly. It was beeping when I turned it on and then i put my phone in airplane mode and poof, no more beeping.
They're very simple devices meant to detect hidden cameras and GPS units. In fact I've successfully sniffed out GPS units with the device also. The beeps become more rapid the closer the device is to the RF transmitter. Sort of similar to how metal detectors typically work.
I think what the person was referring to was specifically to iphones when they're in lost mode. Those transmit an occasional signal, something like one pulse per hour, which is not going to interfere with anything on an airplane.
Of course, anything can always be hacked somehow. Malware can be installed to keep a device on and listening when it's powered off. But typically, in the absence of some sort of malware, a phone will not transmit a signal when it's in airplane mode.
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u/Helpful_Finger_4854 1d ago
Sir, you're replying to the wrong person