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Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by sgillen on Thursday August 20, 2020 @02:55PM (#24227145)
I think active antennas are harder to hide than you might think.
Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by cutemonster on Thursday August 20, 2020 @03:16PM (#24227466)
Also if they only receive data, don't send / upload anything?

A old times radio receiver, it cannot be detected? Or can it

Or TV antenna? That receives only

Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by mhh__ on Thursday August 20, 2020 @04:27PM (#24228488)
If the receiver uses mixing (like a superhet) it is trivial to detect radiation from the receiver. This was widespread 70 years ago (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_RAFTER) and has almost definitely been expanded to modern radio by today's spy agencies.
Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by tonyarkles on Thursday August 20, 2020 @11:45PM (#24231757)
There are commercial receivers that can be placed near the side of the road to measure the popularity of broadcast FM stations by measuring LO leakage. Definitely not limited to TLAs.
Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by topspin on Thursday August 20, 2020 @05:40PM (#24229346)
> A old times radio receiver, it cannot be detected? Or can it

Old times radio receivers are low power transmitters. Their local oscillators leak out of the antenna enthusiastically.

The physics hasn't changed. There is far less leakage in modern receivers, but our detectors are way more sensitive as well. And if you're a nation-state and free to fly drones over rooftops looking.... yeah, don't believe anyone that claims they can operate anything involving electromagnetic energy without risk of detection.

Re:Satellite warfare: An arms race is brewing in orbit by klyrs on Thursday August 20, 2020 @03:19PM (#24227501)
Yes, you can locate even passive antennas by broadcasting a wide-band signal and looking at the reflected spectrum. It's way easier if you know the frequency that the antenna is tuned to.