Vehicle Tracking

[Dee96]

Hi Guys

Just wanted to run this past you guys to see if there is any downsides that I missed.

So now that Google has enabled real time location sharing, it reminded me of an idea to track my car in real time.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/smartphones/203870-google-maps-adds-real-time-location-sharing.html

So the plan is to hide a cheapie android cellphone(maybe where the jack is stored) in the car and hardwire a chaging cable to the battery and constantly have the GPS on to enable real time tracking.

Obviously, I will need a sim but I cannot see it needing more than 500mb a month.

Possible cons:
1) Charging, need the proper voltage so my plan is to take it to a qualified auto-electrician.
2) Heat: This is an interesting one. I could wire a tiny fan to circulate air but it will be in a closed environment so that wouldn't do much good.
3) Power draw. My car is never parked off for more than 24 hours at a time an I have a batter that is 3 sizes higher(646) than the recommended size(619) so I hope that is sufficient.
4) GPS Lock. I will test to see if Google Maps will get the location without line of sight to the satellites.
Any others?

Ideally, it would be good if Maps activates only when I request the location but I cant think of a simple way to do that.

Thanks for taking the time to read my crazy idea

 

[User123455]

Pretty cool idea and all but it would still be cheaper to get a tracker fitted (for example by tracker) .Then you know it works and it won't drain your battery for some reason while parked , it's harder to disconnect/find when the car does somehow get stolen .

Pros (your way)
* It would work to track the car (in theorie)
* It seems like a fun toy to play around with when somebody else drives the car
*Installation is cheaper then gettting a tracker dedicated device

Cons (your way
*The phone always needs to be on with the app open
*The phone could use more data then intended resulting in a bill (or it could run out of data when most needed)
*Easy to get rid of by thieves
*It could drain the cars battery over time

 

[Dee96]

Pretty cool idea and all but it would still be cheaper to get a tracker fitted (for example by tracker) .Then you know it works and it won't drain your battery for some reason while parked , it's harder to disconnect/find when the car does somehow get stolen .

Pros (your way)
* It would work to track the car (in theorie)
* It seems like a fun toy to play around with when somebody else drives the car
*Installation is cheaper then gettting a tracker dedicated device

Cons (your way
*The phone always needs to be on with the app open
*The phone could use more data then intended resulting in a bill (or it could run out of data when most needed)
*Easy to get rid of by thieves
*It could drain the cars battery over time

I actually gave it abit more thought. I left my phone at the office and then tried to locate it using Android device manager via the web.
It worked to within 20m even though phone was in drawer on the second floor of a 4 story building.

Granted, it did take apprimately 30 seconds to locate but it seems to serve the purpose.

With regards to the data, I will pop in an MTN sim with Axxess so no OOB shark and easy top up remotely via app

 

[DA-LION-619]

So what is the point?

Do you share your car with your partner?
Is this in case of theft?

 

[Dee96]

Would anyone who has an android device that is on a PC care to try locating their phone via Android Device Manager and posting the results?
www.google.com/android/devicemanager

Obviously, your GPS and Data must be enabled but mine always is as the GPS does not drain the battery when not in use

 

[Dee96]

So what is the point?

Do you share your car with your partner?
Is this in case of theft?

More theft I guess while avoiding the monthly tracker fee.

Also more of a case of me wanting to tinker around.

 

[DA-LION-619]

More theft I guess while avoiding the monthly tracker fee.

Also more of a case of me wanting to tinker around.

Tinkering around is cool.

I think the tracker guys actually go out to retrieve your car and are armed etc so that's one good thing.

 

[Dee96]

Tinkering around is cool.

I think the tracker guys actually go out to retrieve your car and are armed etc so that's one good thing.

True but retrieval can be co-ordinated with the SAPS.
I think it would be cool to live track your car when you open Google Maps

 

[TheFriendlyGhost]

Pretty cool idea and all but it would still be cheaper to get a tracker fitted (for example by tracker) .Then you know it works and it won't drain your battery for some reason while parked , it's harder to disconnect/find when the car does somehow get stolen .

Pros (your way)
* It would work to track the car (in theorie)
* It seems like a fun toy to play around with when somebody else drives the car
*Installation is cheaper then gettting a tracker dedicated device

Cons (your way
*The phone always needs to be on with the app open
*The phone could use more data then intended resulting in a bill (or it could run out of data when most needed)
*Easy to get rid of by thieves
*It could drain the cars battery over time

To add: you track your car and then what? My friends daughter was held at gunpoint and robbed. The guys fled with her money and iPhone. My buddy showed the cops that he was tracking the robbers using the "find my phone app" while still at the crime scene. The cops simply said that they know how to do their jobs
Plus side of having a tracking company is that you leave the recovery up to a private organisation and not SAPS
Disclaimer: I am an ex policeman so I have worked with and know Law enforcement officers that are worth a lot more than their state salaries

 

[Hemi300c]

Yip, try get SAPS to go fetch your stolen phone when you can almost pinpoint it's position and the same unfortunately will happen if you try with your phone car tracker.