My wife's new coat remotely pinpoints her location!

We were having Thanksgiving dinner with family, and my wife noticed a somewhat hard object sewn into her new, cool coat. I was joking about it, and I said "ah, probably a tracking device, ha ha." We all had a good laugh, and went back to talking about something else.

Later on in the evening, my wife noticed a label on the coat called "Recco Rescue System". It turns out, that was a tracking device, but one used to pinpoint a wearer if they are lost in the mountains. Seems kind of cool, but also wierd to have tracking devices put into clothes. Evidently, it's a new trend.

Here's more info on the technology:
www.recco.com...

That's cool. I guess if someone doesn't like it they can not buy it or take it back.

well my professor uses RFID chips daily and all with his studies and all, and anyways one night at home he was using his RFID scanner and it was picking up an extra chip in the house. So he walked towards it, upstairs in the bathroom, it was on the bottom of his shaving cream can. I guess they can be anywhere?

I have seen stories about the potential use of the tracking devices on clothing, etc, but this is the first time I have seen it actually being done.

And on a shaving cream can???

OMG.

Every day I get more nervous, anyone else?

double post

[edit on 26-11-2007 by marg6043]

I will like to know where I can get a reader and how I can disable the darn littler bugs.

Can I use a magnet to disable them?

Any tech people around?

reply to post by marg6043

I second Marge's post. Personally, I have a huge problem with being surreptitiously tracked.

What is the brand of coat and where did she buy it? Was it not on the tags (like brand/info tags)?

Come on, details please! LOL


OK, I just visted the link.....and i think its a great idea....it appears to be put in skiing/treking type clothing...in case of avalance or being lost in remote areas. I think this is a great idea - esp since I live in Alaska. LOL However, I would think she would have seen this info on the tag?

RECCO® is an avalanche rescue system utilized by more than 600 rescue organizations worldwide to assist in the efficient location of burials. RECCO technology enables rapid directional pinpointing of a victim’s precise location using harmonic radar. The two-part system consists of a RECCO® detector used by organized rescue groups, and RECCO® reflectors that are integrated into apparel, helmets, protection gear or boots. The reflector is permanently affixed, requires no training for use and needs no batteries to function.

Although similar in search procedure to transceivers, the RECCO system is not intended for self-rescue nor is it an alternative to transceiver use in the backcountry. Complementary in function, the system is an additional tool that does not interfere with other rescue methods such as avalanche dogs, transceiver searches or probe lines. The RECCO system facilitates a faster organized search for rescuers and provides skiers and snowboarders with one more chance to be found in time.

[edit on 26-11-2007 by greeneyedleo]

i think i should get one of those radars on backorder. lol


i know a lot of stores use them but can they actually be used for traking people?

[edit on 26-11-2007 by Bean328]

i guess a lot of people haven't heard that rfid is also used for inventory purposes in warehouses and stores...i'm not surprised it was on shaving cream. i'm surprised that people think it's a big deal. =)

reply to post by an0maly33

I knew about RFID. I never heard of it being implanted in clothing.

From the description, it's a passive radar tag to be used with specialized equipment in avalanche rescue missions. I wouldn't be too worried.

Agree, these are passive chips and only can be detected within a set distance (like the inside of the store).

It's for inventory purposes and the chips on shaving cream cans and similar items do not broadcast your location.

Not to say that they might get stronger chips in the future, capable of more, but so far they're inventory tracking and nothing to be worried about.

reply to post by PrplHrt


I think we're really talking about 2 different technologies. The Recco system does not seem to be RFID-based. Instead, I believe it uses some kind of harmonic Microwave resonance to providea different signal response to a radar transceiver that can span the same distance as the radar itself. RFID uses an inductive power system to receive a power pulse and respond with a small burst of RF information.

I believe that RFID tags generally have very short range, usually < 4ft. Of course, if you've got transceivers all over then getting a "hit" every once in a while as tagged people walk by them can be combined with information systems to determine location. With a radar based system, you would need longer range equipment, but it would be easier to find people from a distance, which is why I believe they'd be good for mountain rescue.

The brand of the coat is E+A. I don't know much about popularity of brands, but it seems to be a high-fashion, top of the line coat. I can't say whether or not it was on the original tags. We don't have them, but I assume so. She bought it for the style and warmth.

"""Walmart""" is big with using them in lots of things. Clothing you name it.

reply to post by lifestudent


Hey that's a good point - having RFID detectors set up so that anyone who happens to be wearing something embedded with one will be detected. I can see all sorts of possibilities for this.

Here's a random link that describes some of this:

www.technovelgy.com...

Where does one get an RFID scanner like PennKen2009 mentions?

There are some plans out there for making them but I think that linking to them would violate T&C regarding hacking so I won't post them.

I heard some time ago that they were going to use RFID chips on all products instead of barcodes so that your whole shopping trolley could be scanned at checkouts instantly making it much quicker. A good idea but I dont think they have the technology to instantly pack it all into bags yet.. Doh!

These are the same type of items that have been in use for skiers for a while now. I know that your wife didn't just get this coat and then find out she was being tracked with malicious intent. It doesn't work that way. The imbedded Recco Reflector only enhances radio signals from search and rescue Recco detectors to help locate someone's position in an emergency like an avalance. It's not a full time broadcast system, it's passive.

With prices from $300 - $500 minimum, I'm she she knew unless it was a present.

This technology is excellent for it's intented use and now they are even putting it in kids backpacks and clothes so parents can have peace of mind in this crazy world. I'm all for it.

Just for a future"in case I need to" situation, I want to find out how to find and remove or disable the little buggers. I don't approve of anything keeping track of me except my wife.

This is pretty interesting. I once heard that clothes you buy from the outlet malls have RFID tags embedded in the fabric.

This story just gives that much more creedance to the notion that we are being watched more and more each day.

The MAN is watching