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GPS Trackers

Started by _LJdave_ , Jul 26 2014 08:42 AM

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162 replies to this topic

#1 _LJdave_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 08:42 AM

Hi I see a few of the people on here saying get a gps tracker fitted to avoid the heart ache of losing cars

and of course not knowing where the are when pinched.

So does anyone have one fitted if so what type are you using?

Im watching a few on ebay, but they seem a bit cheap, around $50 will get you a sim card type tracker

that you can call and it sends an SMS back to you with its exact location, or you can get it to send

you a "pulse" at chosen intervals minimum of 20sec apart of where it is.

The fellas at my local Autobarn said "must farken crap fer that price! ours are well over $300"

course they didnt have one to show me either.

the cheapies on ebay seem to tick all the boxes for its stated purposes you just have to fit a SIM card

and your set up.

after hearing the latest bad news of a pinched LJ not far from where I live it makes me very wary of how

secure our cars are even nowadays

tried to attach a link to the ebay one but not working:(

any info advice would be great thanks Dave

Edited by LJdave, 26 July 2014 - 08:44 AM.

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#2 a9x4dr

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 10:36 AM

I have been looking into this as well and looking for imore info too, such as:
1) I see some are battery operated, how long do they last? I'm guessing it would be much better to have one that is battery operated but can be hooked up to the car battery permanently to recharge, that way if the car battery is disconnected the device will still work for quite some time. And that way you,don't have to worry about the device itself having a flat battery, it will be constantly recharging off the car battery or running off the car battery and only on its own battery when needed.

2) what sort of mobile phone plan do you use? Is it possible to have that sim linked to say your current mobile phone plan so that it's (minimal) usage comes out of your normal mobile plan? If not what sim plan do you use e.g. Prepaid, how long is the money expiry, best plan for cost etc.

3) how well do these devices work when the car is in a all metal garage?

I'm sure there are lots of questions. Thanks for any responses in advance.

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#3 _Skapinad_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 11:03 AM

I know nothing abput these trackers..... But as a Surveyor frequently utilising GPS, i can say that GPS does not work indoors, i.e. You need to be able to see the satellites to get a fix.

Perhaps These sim card models dont actually have a gps antenna at all? Dont know, but gps could certainly track a vehicle movements until it went under cover...though when surveying we are usually chasing millimetres so perhaps a fix could be obtained indoors or from its last known position? While the sim card could track it even when indoors.... Assuming you have mobile coverage. I would certainly be getting a telstra sim over any of the other carriers. Having a gps antenna and a sim card would be the ideal scenario.... And a backup battery that lasts a good week or more. I cant imagine a $50 unit being much good.

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#4 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 11:23 AM

Great Topic Dave and Audience's,

Would we embed the device on the top area of the Torana for best transmission, I wonder?

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#5 _LJdave_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 11:53 AM

Im a coolroom/freezer builder by trade and spend a lot of time in other peoples factories, wharehouses and inside our

freezers that we build some are as large as 35,000 pallet storage and walls and ceilings up to 350mm think insulated panels

and its very rare that I dont have a mobile phone signal and the trackers Ive looked at use SIM cards same as phones so

I guess the signal would be as strong as if your phone was buried in the boot of your car in yer missus handbag inside your

locked shed and still receives calls?

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#6 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 12:03 PM

So we need to test one

who has got $50 to spare

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#7 Oversteer

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 12:28 PM

Bought and used a few, from the ebay $35 ones to the $150 ones....

They are frOcking brilliant !, work like a charm as long as you use a Telstra sim in them(not that expensive).

Send it a message and it gives GPS co-ordinates that you can use as a homing beacon, speed, direction, battery status and more..... then you can send it an sms to kill engine.

Never had a car stolen with one to fully test its capability..... but for $35-50 + Sim($30 for a sim that lasts 6months) they are brilliant, even will send you back the exact street address and business name where your car is !!!

Very easy to do a simple install as well....

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#8 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 12:37 PM

Great Man,

The GPS device sounds very promising, thank's.

Bought and used a few, from the ebay $35 ones to the $150 ones....

They are frOcking brilliant !, work like a charm as long as you use a Telstra sim in them(not that expensive).

Send it a message and it gives GPS co-ordinates that you can use as a homing beacon, speed, direction, battery status and more..... then you can send it an sms to kill engine.

Never had a car stolen with one to fully test its capability..... but for $35-50 + Sim($30 for a sim that lasts 6months) they are brilliant, even will send you back the exact street address and business name where your car is !!!

Very easy to do a simple install as well....

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#9 purrlx

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 01:00 PM

The one I got from ebay a few years ago works well, it runs off the car battery but will still work for 60 days on its own battery if battery disconnected. Mined you have never tried the 60 day battery life. Three years ago it was about $300. Also it does not use an external aerial to keep things hidden.

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#10 GMHAz

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 06:05 PM

Great info guys
Will be setting one up in the hatch for sure

Thanks. Az

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#11 _GreenLH LS3_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 06:07 PM

Although they are a good thing nothing is foolproof ,and if professionals really wants your pride and joy they will take it. You can buy phone/gps jammers in Thailand and online very cheap that work incredibly well. Press one button and all mobiles,gps and wireless internet just drops out no matter what. Although the range isn't very far on the cheap ones as long as the thieves had it on near the car the tracker is useless. I suppose our best bet is to make it as hard as possible for the low life dog scum of the earth grubs that are to lazy to get a job and build there own car. You can never have too many kill switches and no matter what always flick them on. Cheers

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#12 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 08:19 PM

We could have a remote, bomber door, that is triggered to drop one GPS T, every 5kms or so,

hmm, I wonder how many $50 units we would need to buy?

Sorry if that sounds silly, he he.

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#13 _Skapinad_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 09:34 PM

Am i the only one considering the usefulness of a phone blocker in public places ?

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#14 _victor_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 09:47 PM

The most important thing with security is keep it to yourself.

The less people know, the better.

Victor

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#15 _GreenLH LS3_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 09:58 PM

Am i the only one considering the usefulness of a phone blocker in public places ?

Haha my brother lives in Sydney and spends a fair bit of time on public transport..... Let's just say every now and then the silence is golden he reckons. I just have fun with mine at restaurants and the pub ! Something wrong in the world I reckon if you need to check Facebook 20 times every half hour

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#16 N/A-PWR

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 10:06 PM

and you can also get TV jammers,

as you walk by peoples houses,

their reception would have heaps of interference.

Was tested at my place by the Mad Professor. he he

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#17 _LJdave_

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 11:17 PM

wow thanks for the positives but Im hoping that most of the ice,crack,meth and pot heads arent carrying anything too technical

like a blocker or tv jammer when they jimmy the locks on my car, as a few said something is better than nothing!

I had a couple of karntz in my shed a while back taking whatever they wanted even if I had a dog that barked (not the useless and scaredy cat dog my

ex girlfriend had) I would have been alerted so to learn that a cheap shit gps tracker actually work is the best watch dog I need while I not at home

cheers guys

Dave

Edited by LJdave, 26 July 2014 - 11:18 PM.

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#18 _judgelj_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 12:14 AM

I know nothing abput these trackers..... But as a Surveyor frequently utilising GPS, i can say that GPS does not work indoors, i.e. You need to be able to see the satellites to get a fix.
Perhaps These sim card models dont actually have a gps antenna at all? Dont know, but gps could certainly track a vehicle movements until it went under cover...though when surveying we are usually chasing millimetres so perhaps a fix could be obtained indoors or from its last known position? While the sim card could track it even when indoors.... Assuming you have mobile coverage. I would certainly be getting a telstra sim over any of the other carriers. Having a gps antenna and a sim card would be the ideal scenario.... And a backup battery that lasts a good week or more. I cant imagine a $50 unit being much good.

What about iPhones and their stolen mode? I know they have to connect to the internet but how do they know where they are even when inside?

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#19 Oversteer

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 12:31 AM

The Gps trackers use the Sim card and mobile network also for location... in wa, you best use a Telstra sim !

Edited by Oversteer, 01 August 2014 - 12:33 AM.

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#20 _judgelj_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 01:20 AM

Those CDMA blockers are verrrry illegal.

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#21 N/A-PWR

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 01:36 AM

So the only way out, is a GPS trace before the disappearance,

even then,

a GPS projectile would be good at last movement or something.

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#22 _Skapinad_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 06:13 AM

What about iPhones and their stolen mode? I know they have to connect to the internet but how do they know where they are even when inside?

The Gps trackers use the Sim card and mobile network also for location... in wa, you best use a Telstra sim !

Yep, they position via the phone towers.... this was kind of my original point... I dont know if any of these trackers actually have GPS antenna's in them, or its just a gimicky way of marketing them....

In any case in order for the thing to communicate with the owner it would need a SIM card... if the thief blocked the signal then you will never know where the car is.... perhaps install two.. one rather easy for the thief to find.. the second in a very difficult place. if they think they have found it they might turn the blocker off and then the other sim will start calling you ?

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#23 _Lazarus_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 10:05 AM

I prefer a GSP Tracker.

No towers, no battery, no SIM.

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#24 _judgelj_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 11:41 AM

And a superior lack of forgiveness when it comes to those who have done wrong by him!!

As for us speculating on thieves using jammers and what not to get around it, i highly doubt that 98% of people who steal old holdens would even think about a tracker or jammer.

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#25 _injlc304_

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Posted 01 August 2014 - 12:20 PM

ive got similar to this at the front and rear of the car. is solid as hell. on mine you have to concrete the bottom in so they cant undo bolts. if they wanna try cut through it go for gold. itll give me time to grab my 30.30 and take aim