Amazingly cheap technology, considering the cost of this kind of thing a few years ago. Doesn't cost an arm and leg to run, either.
Motorcycle and Bicycle GPS Trackers - Products
Motorcycle and Bicycle GPS Trackers - Products
GPS tracker for stolen bike
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I was talking to someone about these devices the other day. He has motorcross bikes. One of his mates had a new bike stolen from his garage and he's paranoid about it happening to him. The trouble is, although relatively cheap, it isn't (for him)when you have several bikes.
I would consider getting one of these for my bike. If i have read this correctly i can't see any difference between the bicycle and the motor cycle device other than being wired permenantly and some waterproofing. Do they work the same?
£170 is going to be out of my price range but i wonder how much for the bicycle one? if it is quite a bit cheaper, i expect the guy i know with the motocross bikes might be interested as well. Anyone else interested?
I would consider getting one of these for my bike. If i have read this correctly i can't see any difference between the bicycle and the motor cycle device other than being wired permenantly and some waterproofing. Do they work the same?
£170 is going to be out of my price range but i wonder how much for the bicycle one? if it is quite a bit cheaper, i expect the guy i know with the motocross bikes might be interested as well. Anyone else interested?
If I buy a Swiss Flyer...YES!
will it be fed of the bike battery or its own back up (better I think)
You can pick up GSM GPS trackers on ebay for less than £50.
I like the idea of it being hidden in a light, but think I might be worried about the light being nicked! One of these could be hidden in panniers and hard wired in, though I suspect it wouldn't take too long for a thief to locate it and dispose of it.
I like the idea of it being hidden in a light, but think I might be worried about the light being nicked! One of these could be hidden in panniers and hard wired in, though I suspect it wouldn't take too long for a thief to locate it and dispose of it.
Thanks for that link zombie, that is the sort of price i wouldn't mind paying (almost to good to be true).
Unfortunately, looking at the answers given to a question at the bottom of the page it appears that 3G sim cards won't work with that unit. It states 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G.
I am not sure what networks are available in this country. I have heard that it is 3G and 4G. Anyone know?
Unfortunately, looking at the answers given to a question at the bottom of the page it appears that 3G sim cards won't work with that unit. It states 2G, 2.5G, 2.75G.
I am not sure what networks are available in this country. I have heard that it is 3G and 4G. Anyone know?
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There's no 4g in the UK, 2g is more than enough for the text messages it sends and uses less battery power than 3g.
I've never heard of 2.75g.
you need a slim one that can be hidden in the frame...with own power. fit and forget more or less
some of these small round flat batteries doubled up can last 3 years. I have some wireless alarm sensors in motorhome, and just changed batteries recently after 3.5 years service.
but what do you do when you find it is at a certain address after being stolen? police have been less then helpful with stolen cars, refusing to enter premises on tracking evidence alone
some of these small round flat batteries doubled up can last 3 years. I have some wireless alarm sensors in motorhome, and just changed batteries recently after 3.5 years service.
but what do you do when you find it is at a certain address after being stolen? police have been less then helpful with stolen cars, refusing to enter premises on tracking evidence alone
Mmm i thought that GPS provides the unit with co-ordinates. GPRS is the mobile phone network where it can send SMS messages (co-ordinates and tamper signals) GMS(?) i figured was the mobile network required for web based location. Apparently under FAQ using 3G would give problems with SMS and GMS signal.
I have no idea of the capabilties of these networks. The only mobile phone i have is an old nokia that my daughter owned 10 years ago.
Everyone seems to be using iphones using the 3g network, it looks to me that these trackers will not work on 3G. Maybe i'll try emailing them and see what answers i get.
I have a car in storage and i would like to fit one these just for piece of mind. When i am not using it on the car i could use it for other things (like my ebike).
I know what you mean eddieo, but the bike i mentioned has been recovered by the owner doing some undercover detective work. Any info you get about a stolen item might prove useful, a tracker has to be top of the list IMHO.
I have no idea of the capabilties of these networks. The only mobile phone i have is an old nokia that my daughter owned 10 years ago.
Everyone seems to be using iphones using the 3g network, it looks to me that these trackers will not work on 3G. Maybe i'll try emailing them and see what answers i get.
I have a car in storage and i would like to fit one these just for piece of mind. When i am not using it on the car i could use it for other things (like my ebike).
I know what you mean eddieo, but the bike i mentioned has been recovered by the owner doing some undercover detective work. Any info you get about a stolen item might prove useful, a tracker has to be top of the list IMHO.
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Not knowing the differences, i quickly looked up. 2G - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Am i right in thinking that this tracker only requires an old (2nd Generation) simm card (as in my old mobile phone) to work ok and can be tracked online?
Am i right in thinking that this tracker only requires an old (2nd Generation) simm card (as in my old mobile phone) to work ok and can be tracked online?
The GSM refers to the mobile network and any sim with a data connection enabled (at the network end) should be able to fall back to 2G (i.e. GRPS at low speeds).
So yes, all you need is any old sim (as long as its not a mini sim (physically different)) with a suitable data connection.
You can get telemetry only sims that are on contract from about £2 a month though they aren't generally on sale to the public. They have exorbitant phone charges but a few (5-15 usually) MBytes of data per month included. Even sending your position over grps every 60secs wouldn't use more than a few MBytes a month.
I don't know if the device can send SMS messages. It would be handy but more often than not they are data only. You can just point a serial terminal at the IP address and depending on security, get a raw stream of position data that you could bang into google earth/maps or map the data stream to a web service that does it for you - or even write your own app if you are so inclined.
The biggest problem for me would be trying to use something like this with a pay as you go sim. I'm pretty sure I would forget to top up so it would stop working until I topped up again.
So yes, all you need is any old sim (as long as its not a mini sim (physically different)) with a suitable data connection.
You can get telemetry only sims that are on contract from about £2 a month though they aren't generally on sale to the public. They have exorbitant phone charges but a few (5-15 usually) MBytes of data per month included. Even sending your position over grps every 60secs wouldn't use more than a few MBytes a month.
I don't know if the device can send SMS messages. It would be handy but more often than not they are data only. You can just point a serial terminal at the IP address and depending on security, get a raw stream of position data that you could bang into google earth/maps or map the data stream to a web service that does it for you - or even write your own app if you are so inclined.
The biggest problem for me would be trying to use something like this with a pay as you go sim. I'm pretty sure I would forget to top up so it would stop working until I topped up again.
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There are various interlinked standards and transmissions schemes and they are often refered to by different names depending on who you talk to. 3G is often referred to as 2.5G. 2.75G is a US term for a slightly faster (than 2.5/3G) network (EDGE I think).
4G in the uk is (or rather will be - it is here in places, though it is still in testing I think) mostly LTE while 4G in the US is mostly WiMAX with LTE bringing up the rear.
It's best to remember that the n.nG nomenclature is usually co-opted by marketing types and so is a bit woolly in the real world...
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