How to set off a roadside bomb (IED) using radio, mobile phones etc Essay

How to set off a roadside bomb (IED) using radio, mobile phones etc - Essay Example Considering the attacks on the troops of U.S. in Iraq with these bombs as well as increasing reports of IED attacks in Afghanistan, have led to the rising need to find counter measures to act against IEDs (Freudenrich 2013). Previously the IEDs were like basic pipe bombs. However with advancements in the field, artillery shells in multiple numbers, explosives and rocket propellants are used for the detonation of the IEDs. The wires that are used in the roadside bombs in the present times are not easy to detect and set off. Uses of cell phones or devices like garage door opener are often used for the purpose of detonation as well. The size of the IEDs used for explosions are varying in sizes where large IEDs are capable of exploding large vehicles and areas. Reports are mostly obtained for the destruction of the U.S. troops and in Afghanistan for the use of these bombs. Since these bombs are mostly detonated in a remote manner, it has been observed that jammers are essential in the bu siness of IEDs. It has also been reported that many times the detonators are used where the wires are connected for the purpose of detonating the bombs. Remote detonation is also possible with the use of roadside bombs (Congress 2006). Setting off such roadside bombs or IEDs also makes use of different ways and devices. This is the way the bombs are triggered. Pressure-switches, trip wires, and devices like photo detectors can be used for setting off the bombs. Heavy military vehicles are generally required to set off bombs through use of pressure switches. Radios, cell phones, walkie-talkies are some of the other devices, the signal transmissions of which are used effectively in the setting off the IEDs. The control of such remote devices is generally placed under the responsibility of some man who stands at a distance to trigger the bombs at the correct time. Use of devices like the radio and mobile phones has been found to be more effective than using wired controls over the bomb s (IED Defeat n.d.). Aim and Objectives of the Study: The aim of the study is to learn about the process of detonating or setting off roadside bombs or IEDs using devices like radio and mobile phones. Considering the above mentioned aim, the following objectives have been set for the study: The study will discuss about the GSM mobile phones that are used and their technical standards. Discuss about the standards of the 3G phones that are available. Discuss about the standards of the 4G LTE phones. Learn about the UHF and VHF modes of communication including cordless phones, DECT, 2.4 GHz WiFi, 5GHz WiFi Have an overview on the commercial devices that can detect and locate these forms of communication. Discuss how roadside bombs or IEDs can be set off using mobile phones and radio like devices. GSM Mobile Phones: Technical Standards: GSM or Global System for Mobile Communications can identify the account of the user using this particular system. It is a wireless network technology ba sed on TDMA (What is â€Å"GSM†? 2013). TDMA refers to the technology Time Division Multiple Access used in mobile devices that allows increasing the amount of data that can be passed and communicated by dividing the channel of communication into different slots (Rouse 2006). The use of GSM has allowed users to easily change their mobile devices by simply taking out the SIM (or Subscriber Identification Module) card from one device and inserting it into