How to remove GPS from tablet?

[bloomingnutria]

Hi,

I would like to physically remove the GPS tracking system from a Viewsonic ViewPad 10 pi tablet computer. I have opened the machine up in the hope something woulds present itself, but I do not really know what I am looking for. Are the GPS trackers in these things plugin devices of some sort, or are they just chips in the mother board? Is there any way to remove them?

Here is the machine I have:

http://www.viewsonic.com/us/tablets/windows-based/viewpad-10pi.html

And no, I'm not crazy or paranoid. It's for my paranoid brother.

Thanks for any information or advice

 

[logainofhades]

Since it is win7, just disable the GPS in device manager.

 

[rgd1101]

tin foil.

 

[bloomingnutria]

Like I said, I am looking to physically remove it. Or at least I would like to know what piece of hardware in the machine implements the GPS and whether removing it without changing the motherboard is possible.

This is a legitimate hardware question asked in a hardware forum. It is unfortunate that one cannot ask a question about GPS without having crazy jokes thrown at them. I guess in a few years no one will know anything about GPS because people will be afraid to ask questions and learn. Oh well.

 

[logainofhades]

It is most likely soldered in. Disable it in device manager and leave it be. It cannot run if Windows doesn't allow it to.

 

[mcnumpty23]

it doesnt actually list it as having gps anywhere i can see

if its this one it actually says

under cons--no gps

http://www.phonearena.com/phones/ViewSonic-ViewPad-10pi_id6834/rivals

 

[swifty_morgan]

It is most likely soldered in. Disable it in device manager and leave it be. It cannot run if Windows doesn't allow it to.

you do realize the "government" can turn your mobile phone on remotely and use it to track you?

 

[littleleo]

The GPS may be meshed into several other components and you may not be able to physically remove it without damaging the unit. Just turn it off in the manager. The only reason I would think someone would want to remove it is because they stole it, or they are worried they are being tracked by the government, the mob or Aliens. In any case good luck with that. Perhaps buying him a unit with out that feature would be the easiest solution.

 

[logainofhades]

you do realize the "government" can turn your mobile phone on remotely and use it to track you?

 

[swifty_morgan]

research my friend, research.

 

[bloomingnutria]

research my friend, research.

Research? Now that you mention it, that is pretty much what I am doing here. You might want to give it a try yourself.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/25/apple_sued_for_location_tracking/

Unless of course you already know everything.

 

[bloomingnutria]

The GPS may be meshed into several other components and you may not be able to physically remove it without damaging the unit. Just turn it off in the manager. The only reason I would think someone would want to remove it is because they stole it, or they are worried they are being tracked by the government, the mob or Aliens. In any case good luck with that. Perhaps buying him a unit with out that feature would be the easiest solution.

Yes, unfortunately we got a really good deal on it and he wants an x86 tablet. It was the only one in his price range. He probably won't use it with the GPS in it. I was just hoping it could be removed.

Oh well. Maybe there's a way to ruin it with a faulty driver or something. It's silly I know, but that's my brother for you.