LOCH's AirCell uses a combination of techniques to help identify the cellular towers that it collects.

In LTE and 5G networks, two message types broadcasted by the cellular node describe itself to receivers. These messages, MIB and SIB, are collected and decoded by AirCell and contain important details such as the carrier code, network code, cell id, and others.

While cellular infrastructure is typically considered part of a national infrastructure, a controlled and centralized list of these identifiers is not universally available. LOCH utilizes a series of internal processes and third-party data to assist with determining the validity of a collected advertisement.

One of the more critical data points used is the geographical positioning of the AirShield as one of the datasets used includes the geographic location of known towers. If a known tower from this dataset is observed and the AirShield's location is greater than a pre-set value a Suspicious Cellular Tower alert will be generated.

Is this Suspicious?

If a Suspicious device is observed:

1. Ensure the AirShield is in its correct physical location 
2. Is the suspicious tower logically nearby (same municipality, for instance). If so it may be a transmission due to a change in its configuration, physical environment or other spurious possibilities.

If the suspicious tower is truly reporting a great distance from the AirShield, a few things may be happening:

1. LOCH's database is incorrect. It can happen.
2. Someone has created a new cellular tower that matches one from another physical location.

LOCH's support team is available to support you with any Suspicious towers that persist after confirming the AirShield's location is correct. Open a LOCH Support Ticket.

What Is Possible Now?

Due to national or local regulations, transmitting a cellular tower in an unlicensed band may be illegal. If the Suspicious tower persists contacting the reported carrier and local law enforcement may be prudent.

Identifying the physical source of a radio transmitter is beyond the scope of the AirShield product. Solutions do exist that, when used by radio technicians, can assist with signal hunting. Open a LOCH Support Ticket for assistance.

The signal hunting process can be complex and is beyond the purpose of this document.