If only base stations included location information in their transmissions...
CellMapper, at least, is not even a little bit open source. It doesn't even have an API.
This leads me to wonder what other details that FA provides which might have been fabricated from thin air.
The first questions is at least partly answered in the document, copied below. However, you still need a collection infrastructure to make this useful.
> Communicating locations: Localization trackers often need a communication module to periodically update location to a server or nearby hub. Standalone GPS trackers (e.g., [35] and [95]) often use cellular or satellite communications to do so. LiTEfoot can incorporate an NB-IoT module for relaying location data. Using a low-power NB-IoT transmitter [96], which consumes 76 mW to transmit a 140 kb packet in eDRX mode, the system can intermittently send updates hourly, daily, or monthly depending on the application. This enables LiTEfoot to operate for approximately 10 years on a coin cell. The same antenna frontend can be shared between LiTEfoot and the communication unit, maintaining a compact form factor while providing flexible communication capabilities.
But I wonder: if millions of this are deployed, would this weaken cellular signals (by drawing power from it)?
Millions of these would not degrade signal. A random bit of metal (like a quarter, as shown for scale) in between you an a 4G tower should have the same effect as one of these devices. They are detecting existing 4G signal, not using it for energy harvesting.
Yes. I have AirTags on my fur babbies, but if I were to need to use them I'd be hoping they came within range of a device to pick them up. Then, in FindMy app, I could see where the had been, but not where they are now to go get them. I would hope a system like this could give me a much more current location. Hopefully, I'll never need any of this.
I already have some trackers on important stuff (like keys and school bag of kids if they loose it in the bus). But for other use cases it's either too large (cats) or makes no sense to have too many because then I'd have to replace a battery every few weeks ("everything else").
make it easy on yourself and change them all on the same day like a clock reset day like the recommendation for your smoke detectors. bite the bullet and change change some early to get them on the same schedule. it's worth it for sanity
It's not app or Bluetooth based (has an included detector) and it works pretty well. Battery is supposed to last a few months. It easily fits on a cat collar and doesn't bother mine at all. I've been looking for something like this for years and someone finally made one!
Have you considered that google might just perform poorly compared to other methods?