Stingray Device Range: How Far Can a Cell-Site Simulator Reach?

Short answer: stingray device range depends on the model, power, antenna and terrain, and the public record gives a spread rather than one number. EFF says cell-site simulators can disrupt phones within as much as 500 meters. Reporting on a 2024 state police purchase cited a 1,600-foot working range for a vehicle-mounted unit. One manufacturer's brochure claims anywhere from 25 meters for a low-power box to 15 km from a drone. Below is what each source says and why it matters.

What the sources say

EFF: up to about 500 meters of disruption

EFF's Street-Level Surveillance guide says cell-site simulators "often disrupt cell phone communications within as much as a 500-meter radius of the device, interrupting important communications and even emergency phone calls." That is about a third of a mile in every direction.

Police procurement: about 1,600 feet

In 2024, the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism and The Shoestring reported that Massachusetts State Police sought bids for a cell-site simulator installed in a Chevrolet Silverado. The reporting states that mobile simulators have a working range of about 1,600 feet (roughly 490 meters), consistent with EFF's figure.

Vendor claims: 25 meters to 15 km

Stratign, a surveillance vendor, advertises tiers: a low-power standalone unit "up to 25 meters," a backpack unit "up to 250 meters," a vehicle-mounted version for "long distance" use, and a drone-mounted system that "can reach up to a 15 km radius." These are marketing claims, not independent tests. Treat the top figure as a best case in open terrain.

Embassy claims: about a mile

Live Science, citing the Associated Press, quoted a mobile security consultant saying Russian simulators can track people from a mile away. That is one expert's claim, not a measured figure.

Why range varies so much

• Power and antenna. A simulator works by appearing stronger than nearby real towers. Higher power and better antennas mean more reach.
• Height. Altitude dramatically extends line of sight, which is why airborne use matters. A 2016 NACDL primer notes simulators can be deployed on airplanes, and the Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that the U.S. Marshals Service flew them on small aircraft.
• Competing towers. In a dense city, real towers are close and strong, so the simulator's effective range shrinks. In rural areas, it can win from farther away.
• Buildings and terrain. Walls and hills weaken signals but do not stop them.
• Network generation. Some techniques rely on pushing phones down to 2G, and how well that works depends on the phone and network.

Range vs accuracy: the part that matters

Range is how far the device can pull phones in. Accuracy is how precisely it can locate one. The NACDL primer, citing the ACLU of Northern California, says location can be captured "within a range of a few meters." That is precise enough to pick out an apartment. Combined with a range of hundreds of meters, it means the device sweeps in many bystanders while pinpointing a target.

EFF says some simulators can capture data from up to 10,000 phones at a time, and that these sweeps reach phones inside homes and doctors' offices.

What this means for you

If a simulator is operating within a few hundred meters, assume your phone may be logged. You cannot outrun the radius on foot. Practical steps: disable 2G if your phone allows it, use end-to-end encrypted apps, and put the phone in airplane mode or a tested signal-blocking pouch when location privacy matters. For detection options, see our cell site simulator detector comparison and how to detect a stingray device. For staying in contact without cell towers, see our guide to off-grid comms.

Documented, inferred, or unproven?

Documented: EFF's 500-meter disruption figure, the 1,600-foot figure in procurement reporting, airborne deployments, and multi-meter location accuracy as cited by NACDL.

Reasonable inference: modern units outperform those described in older records, since vendors keep improving them.

Unverified: vendor claims of 15 km and expert claims of a mile, which come from marketing and an interview, not tests.

Our view (opinion)

A device that reaches hundreds of meters and tracks to within a few meters is a neighborhood search, not a targeted one. That is the strongest argument for statutory warrant rules, minimization of bystander data and disclosure in court, at every level of government.

Sources

• EFF Street-Level Surveillance, cell-site simulators: sls.eff.org
• The Shoestring/BINJ, cell tower simulator in a Silverado (April 2024): theshoestring.org
• Stratign, SDR IMSI catcher product page (vendor claims): www.stratign.com
• Live Science, stingray devices in Washington, D.C.: www.livescience.com
• NACDL, Cell Site Simulators primer (2016, PDF): www.nacdl.org
• Wall Street Journal, "Americans' Cellphones Targeted in Secret U.S. Spy Program" (Nov. 2014).

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of a stingray device?

There is no single figure. EFF says simulators can disrupt phones within as much as a 500-meter radius; reporting on a Massachusetts State Police procurement cited a working range of 1,600 feet for vehicle units; one vendor advertises 25 meters for low-power units and up to 15 km for drone-mounted systems.

How accurate is stingray location tracking?

Much more precise than range suggests. A 2016 NACDL primer, citing the ACLU of Northern California, says a phone's location can be captured within a few meters.

Can a stingray work from an airplane?

Yes. The NACDL primer notes simulators can be deployed on airplanes, and the Wall Street Journal reported in 2014 that the U.S. Marshals Service flew them on small planes.

How many phones can a stingray capture at once?

EFF says some simulators capture data from every device in an area, in some cases up to 10,000 phones at a time.

Does a stingray work through walls?

Radio signals pass through walls, which is why EFF notes these searches reach phones in homes and doctors' offices. Building materials reduce range but do not block it.