Trackers that provide online tracking?

[xrapidx]

Does anyone have a tracker that provides online tracking?

I recently dropped my car off to have the wheels and brakes done - but hate the idea of someone taking my car for a joy ride, I'd like to get one of these for future - if you have one, whats the cost, your thoughts, is it worth it?

An alternative is to find a GPS unit that can be powered by the car, and have a GSM module - that way when ever I send my car somewhere for days, I can pop a sim card in, buy R10's airtime, and have it auto update me somehow

 

[SerenePhoenix]

Well technically you could install google maps on a cellphone, enable latitude and then hide it somewhere in the car. You can then just log in to google and check your car's location. Should be a helluva lot cheaper than getting tracker installed.

 

[pezulu]

Matrix have an option where you can "geo-lock" the vehicle to a specific location.
Should the vehicle leave that location, you will be notified via SMS, and the Matrix control room will be able to give you the location.

You can also visit the website, and download the recent movement history of the vehicle.

 

[Drake2007]

http://www.pits.co.za/Default.aspx?tabid=64

 

[bboy]

if you have a nokia with a gps inside, u can install nokia sports tracker and then goto the website and track your car, course you'll have to hide the nokia somewhere

 

[Veroland]

Raptor also allows you to track your car online with vehicle trip reports that can be generated for you

 

[Morgoth]

if you have a nokia with a gps inside, u can install nokia sports tracker and then goto the website and track your car, course you'll have to hide the nokia somewhere

and charge it often?

 

[Sonic]

Well, we've got a product where you have the option to buy the unit, and pay a monthly subscription to be able to track a vehicle. Specifically for fleet or company cars, but you can also sms the unit, and it'l sms you back with the coordinates. Go check www.Intertrack.co.za go to the guest login, to see one that is in one of our delivery vehicles. I've got a demo unit here with me in Port Elizabeth, and our headoffice in Midrand will also have.

 

[Messugga]

I've actually developed and built something that does this. Unfortunately, the cost of the modems which come in at R1100 or so, prohibited me from getting in far underneath the R2000 mark per unit, but it worked pretty well!
Wouldn't mind doing something like that and pushing it through to production, if I could manage to source the modems for cheaper.

 

[Dolby]

Skytrax (bought our by Skytrax) does it as well.

It was R250pm though, so I cancelled after 3 years.

 

[xrapidx]

My first choice would be something private, I already have a basic matrix tracker for insurance...

I ideally something which uses GPRS and updates at set intervals - I cellphone approach might work, but a cellphone with a decent GPS is quite expensive, and I'd have to somehow wire it hidden somewhere to the 12V battery.

 

[bwana]

I'd just leave the geo-tagging device I use for my photography running in the car.

 

[xrapidx]

I'd just leave the geo-tagging device I use for my photography running in the car.

My main problem is when someone has my car for tuning purposes for a week, or more than a day - you'll only find out afterwards if they've been for a joy ride, which may be to late.

I checked the odo when dropping it off - and told the guy no joy-rides, but I'll only find out when I get back whether its been for joy rides.

I'd like a way of being able to check my car periodically.

 

[bwana]

http://www.netstar.co.za/Content/Products/product.aspx?pid=15

 

[xrapidx]

http://www.netstar.co.za/Content/Products/product.aspx?pid=15

Thanks - that'd mean signing a 24-month contract though... Good to see what they charge though.

Glad to see it includes the MTN data bundle, I don't want to be responsible for their billing screw ups

 

[bwana]

Not sure I see the benefit of catching them in the act realtime when proving they did it after the fact would do just as well.

BTW - a week or more to tune your car?

 

[Messugga]

Hmmm, going by those prices, seems my unit wasn't too uncompetitive!
Just out of interest's sake, some of your standard GPS NMEA standards include info such as velocity in m/s so if you wanted with a custom unit, you could tell it to SMS you or something should a certain velocity be exceeded. You could also plug in an accelerometer and have it log to memory say, when certain g-forces were exceeded.
42mbit of memory's R18, or was when I ordered some last week so that's cheap too.
Maybe I should look into producing a more robust version than the prototype I threw together... It's tempting.

 

[xrapidx]

Not sure I see the benefit of catching them in the act realtime when proving they did it after the fact would do just as well.

BTW - a week or more to tune your car?

Decent performance tuning takes a day or two.

Currently they're just repairing the mags, and redoing the calipers.

The point of catching them in the act: say on day 1, is that I can go get my car before its totaled, involved in crime, racked up speeding fines, etc...

On day three/five/etc. when I collect the car - all I can do is confront them, and thank God my car is in one piece, hoping nothing mechanical has been abused. Legally I'd have a tough time getting anything out of them.

 

[koeks]

Skytrax (bought our by Skytrax) does it as well.

It was R250pm though, so I cancelled after 3 years.

i use them to... they are good...

 

[xrapidx]

Seems like there are a few devices: http://cgi.ebay.com/REALTIME-GPS-Pe...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1234|293:1|294:50