Just want to see if there's any interest in these units - http://action-replay.co.uk/MobileComputing/Products/Tracker.htm

 

The way they work is quite simple. It's a small box which you install into the car (12v supply needed) and then a gps unit is plugged into that and left in your glove box or somewhere indiscreet (or you can get the high sensitive GPS unit which is a bit more expensive but can be hidden anywhere). To track your vehicle you simply dial the sim card number from a normal modem (not broadband) and you will have a map with current location of vehicle, you can track movement at all times.

 

 

Advantages:

 

Track your vehicle at any time.

 

No yearly subscription fees. The only charges you have is the mobile phone phone call charge for as long as you are connected to your tracker.

 

You can plug in a laptop via a serial port and have a navigation GPS unit for directions.

 

You can plug in a laptop and download the last movements of your vehicle.

 

It can send your mobile phone a message to tell you your car has moved from it's current location (it has a motion sensor built in).

 

If your car is stolen, you can find your vehicle and tell the thieving scum what you think of them ;)

 

Disadvantages:

 

Not insurance approved. I spoke to the guy tonight who said they are hopeing to be Thatcham approved in the near future.

 

As you can see the price for the unit itself is normally £375. I have bought from this guy before and he has given me great aftermarket service. He has agreed to a price of £300 max, all in for a quantity of 5 (tracker unit, GPS unit, Sim card, UK & Ireland software). If you want the higher sensitive aerial, it will be slightly more. He is going to get back to me on Monday with hopefully a better price after he has spoken to the manufcaturers.

 

If anyone's interested, we can move this into the GB forum.

 

Vijay

Just a few bits of info regarding the retrieval of stolen cars using a currently thatcham approved tracker system (this is from experience):

 

1. Car gets stolen & sends signal to monitoring station (only if you have paid for what is called "bureau monitoring" otherwise you need to inform the tracker company that your car has been stolen)

 

2. Tracking company phones you to confirm the car is actually stolen and it is not a false alarm

 

3. If theft confirmed you need to contact the police, obtain a crime reference number and then inform the tracking company of this number.

 

4. Tracking company then liaises with local police and keeps them informed of where the car is now located, heading to an speed.

 

5. With a bit of luck the police catch up with the scrotes that stole your car or, in the worse case scenario, your car wrapped around a tree. The car is then secured and a recovery company contracted to pick up the car and take it to a predetermined location where it can be further examined, repaired, valleted, etc.

 

6. If you have paid even more money then the car will be returned to your door.

 

The above is how it works with most tracer companies. They will not do anything without a crime reference number and under no circumstances tell you where the car is (for safety reasons). As you can well imagine this process takes time and the car could be miles away. A former colleague of mine had his TVR Tuscan stolen many months ago and by the time the police caught up with the car it was driven (at rediculous speeds - according to the tracking company) from Barnt Green in Birmingham to the services at Oxford off the M40. That trip normally takes me just over an hour at normal driving conditions.

 

So, yes - the police do go after stolen cars fitted with tracking devices if only to get a "caught in the act" arrest (according to a police budy of mine). In my opinion, tracking devices which are not insurance approved are a waste of time however, it would give me greater comfort knowing I can find out where my car is at all times. Therefore it is a compromise which you, the potential owner/user of a tracking device, should make and weigh off what is more important.

 

I have seen similar units to that which Vijay is talking about in action in the past and it is very impressive to see the level of street level detail and telemetry that is fed back to your PC. I currently have a GPS/GSM tracker on my car but it doesn't allow me to track it myself - I may well be interested in adding that functionality through the purchase of this system or one similar to it.

 

Cheers!

Vijay, I'm interested in 3 units.

I presume the tracking unit also works on Dutch/Euro GSM networks ?

or are there limitations ?

Does the groupbuy also include a discount on the European/Dutch maps ?

 

Thanks,

Eric

Am also interested but have a similar question to "Lymon":

Will it work if it's based in Europe (Germany in this case)? My assumption is that it operates like a mobile phone so if one can get a Sim card registered to the tracker it will be OK? Grateful for confirmation.

Regards

Hi Eric, Bix,

 

Yes you will have no problems running this unit anywhere in Europe. The European maps are an extra £25 (Eric, you will just need 1 copy ;) ). The only thing you would have to do is get the sim card from your own providers (just buy the cheapest pay as you go sim card).

 

Vijay

One word of caution on SIM roaming for UK based people traveling on the continent:

 

If the SIM is not "roaming" enabled you will not be able to track the car on the continent. Had this problem with my tracker initially and had to pay a deposit to enable roaming. Do not assume all PAYG or even Contract SIMS are roaming enabled - ask the provider.

 

Cheers!

Why not buy from the trader section eg BOB? That's what he is there for.

Hi Iain,

 

Cos the ones Bob supplies are from the "Tracker" companies who ask for subscription, I was just offering what I intend to purchase for myself. The last thing I would intend to do is take business away from Bob.

 

Vijay

Just been looking at this thread with some interest because a friend of mine has registered his childs mobile with one of those location companies so he can check where his kid is at anytime on the internet or by sms.

 

So.... If you left a cheap pay as you go phone hidden in you car somewhere hooked up to the battery so it would not go dead. Depending on what options you set for your locator service you could be warned by sms when the care moves and receive a sms message stating where it is at any time or see a map of it via the internet. I know it is not a proper tracking system but if you just wanted a little piece of mind is this not the same thing?

 

Just a thought, maybe I just have too much time on my hands :-)

Hello Ev,

 

I think that the way the mobile phone trackers work is that the company send the mobile you want to track a text asking their authourization for them to supply the details. Only when they receive the authourization text back will they supply you details of the location.

 

Vijay

No they only send a text on initial setup to give authorisation and then they send reminders now and again which you do not have to answer (to prevent you from obtaining a phone and not knowing you can be tracked). Otherwise the kids could just say no.

BTT.

 

Vijay

Theres another system that's similair to this on the market but better. You don't need a computer just your mobile. If someone moves your car it sends you a text to warn you. You can text it at any point and it will tell you the address and postcode that its at and the best thing is that you can wire it in to any electronic part of your car such as the fuel pump and at any given moment send it a text and it will switch it off. My advice is wait untill their on the motorway and then kill the power. Its marketed by a company called S.A.S. and I think the price is around the £500 mark. It's a more sophisticated unit. I can get more info if anyone wants it.

Its called Track And Text.

Hi,

 

If anyone wants one, can you put your name down here.

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

3 GPS units (without SIM)

1 extra sensitive aerial

1 European map

 

(all delivered in Holland)

 

Thanks !

Eric

3 GPS units (without SIM)

1 extra sensitive aerial

1 European map

 

(all delivered in Holland)

 

Thanks !

Eric

 

Vijay,

 

If they don't ship to Holland then have them send to me and I'll forward them to Eric & Co.

 

Regards,

Just want to see if there's any interest in these units - http://action-replay.co.uk/MobileComputing/Products/Tracker.htm

 

The way they work is quite simple. It's a small box which you install into the car (12v supply needed) and then a gps unit is plugged into that and left in your glove box or somewhere indiscreet (or you can get the high sensitive GPS unit which is a bit more expensive but can be hidden anywhere). To track your vehicle you simply dial the sim card number from a normal modem (not broadband) and you will have a map with current location of vehicle, you can track movement at all times.

 

 

Advantages:

 

Track your vehicle at any time.

 

No yearly subscription fees. The only charges you have is the mobile phone phone call charge for as long as you are connected to your tracker.

 

You can plug in a laptop via a serial port and have a navigation GPS unit for directions.

 

You can plug in a laptop and download the last movements of your vehicle.

 

It can send your mobile phone a message to tell you your car has moved from it's current location (it has a motion sensor built in).

 

If your car is stolen, you can find your vehicle and tell the thieving scum what you think of them ;)

 

Disadvantages:

 

Not insurance approved. I spoke to the guy tonight who said they are hopeing to be Thatcham approved in the near future.

 

As you can see the price for the unit itself is normally £375. I have bought from this guy before and he has given me great aftermarket service. He has agreed to a price of £300 max, all in for a quantity of 5 (tracker unit, GPS unit, Sim card, UK & Ireland software). If you want the higher sensitive aerial, it will be slightly more. He is going to get back to me on Monday with hopefully a better price after he has spoken to the manufcaturers.

 

If anyone's interested, we can move this into the GB forum.

 

Vijay

Hi Vijay,

Im interested,it looks similar to my Ipaq sat nav system!

 

Stuart R :)