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Finland detects more GPS jammers as drivers increasingly try to hide their tracks | Yle News | Yle in c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (3 children)

I totally understand this and I agree when it comes to jammers this powerful.

My comment was about the low power models which only works for few feet, just enough for to cover your own car. Those are still illegal.

Finland detects more GPS jammers as drivers increasingly try to hide their tracks | Yle News | Yle in c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (3 children)

From the low power models I've seen (which are still very much illegal, same as the most powerful ones) only work between 5 to 10 feet at the very most.

It's like when the companies place trackers in cars, we have to assume they have the best intentions in mind (it is definitely for the customers security right?!)

But if we, the customers, block them from tracking us by jamming the GPS signal, they assume we have the worst intentions in mind (surely we are dirty criminals right?!)

This is why I said it "feels" wrong.

Finland detects more GPS jammers as drivers increasingly try to hide their tracks | Yle News | Yle in c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 86 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (23 children)

You know what feels wrong? You can easily buy GPS tracking devices on Amazon, but it is illegal to use a GPS jammer in USA, Canada and many other countries.

So companies spying you is fine, but blocking a GPS signal to prevent them from spying can get you a $16,000 fine.

Edit: my thought experiment is not about truck drivers being monitored but more about those fancy new EVs that sell your GPS based data to data brokers... You usually can't turn off the GPS in those EVs.

Stumped by Heat Pumps? in c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think the band matters that much. The spec sheet is much more important than the brand imo, the efficiency at low temperature in particular.

Another thing: having good insulation is really important to fully appreciate heat pumps. My house is a new construction and very well insulated and that's why I could get away with such a small heat pump.

Stumped by Heat Pumps? in c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (6 children)

Not sure which model you looked at but my Panasonic 12000 BTU heat pump I installed back in 2020 can easily works down to -25c. My electric convectors haven't been working since then and I live in Canada and it can get pretty cold usually.