GPS tracking devices for vehicles

[Sgt. Slaughter]

So, the Sarge has a new whip that he would prefer not get stolen. IF it gets jacked, however, he'd prefer it be located and returned ASAP before it ends up in Mexico.

Got any good recommendations for a GPS tracking device? LoJack seems to be now defunct thanks to the GPS technology. Would prefer something innocuous looking that does NOT plug in to the OBD port. The Sarge can hardwire something under the dash or in the engine bay so long as it's resilient and weather/heat-proof. It also needs to not have a monthly subscription fee.

[Ispbear]

I just did a little looking on the internet and am not familiar with the newer products. It looks like you can now find anti theft gps units that not only allow you to track the unit but to shut them down by using a cell phone.

I can see it now. Wife finds out husband is cheating and shuts his car down during the middle of rush hour traffic on a busy interstate where he gets ran over by a semi and killed.

[Joeyd6]

You are not getting and live tracking GPS without a monthly service fee!!!! You are either paying a GPS provider or a cell phone company for the monthly service of a hardwired phone which you can activate as needed.

We have 45 trackers at my agency and have tried negotiation with every company out there. You pay a monthly fee no matter what for live tracking, and that fee has a set number of "pings." There are very low budget plans, but you are paying 420 a month. Passive tracking is free if you buy the tracker, but that does your situation no good.

Best bet...if a GM product, you don't need anything as Onstar will activate for LE as needed for free or you can easily get a court order when a cop car is stolen if they change policy.

[MikeG]

A couple ideas, not sure how practical they are.

1) the FRS GPS devices. They come in pairs and use walkie-talkie FRS radio communication to transmit location back and forth. Only good for a few miles though but it's free from monthly service. Google RINO GPS for devices. YMMV getting hooked up to car.

2). They make disablers that require an RFID be with the driver or it shuts down the car fuel pump. A lot of new cars use this as the key for "keyless" FOB starts. My key never leaves my pocket. It won't track your car but they will need to tow it to steal it.

Besides, the big thing now is people with the battery operated saws cutting off the catalytic converter for the precious metals. they prefer toyotas so just don't get that and you're safe.

[retdetsgt]

I
I can see it now. Wife finds out husband is cheating and shuts his car down during the middle of rush hour traffic on a busy interstate where he gets ran over by a semi and killed.

Boy, the lawyers would love that one, wouldn't they?

[MikeG]

Boy, the lawyers would love that one, wouldn't they?

Except the one that just got plowed under by the Semi.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

New to Sarge - not BRAND new. Still a nice ride, though.

Found this that's on-demand activation and you can chose which activation package you want whenever you need it. Looks like there are several similar devices with the same on-demand service. Sarge will have to do more checking as he's heard from ISPBear and other that (like OnStar) there are other devices which allow you to remotely disable the vehicle.

Vehicle Recovery | Anti Theft Device | Anti Theft System

[MikeG]

New to Sarge - not BRAND new. Still a nice ride, though.

Found this that's on-demand activation and you can chose which activation package you want whenever you need it. Looks like there are several similar devices with the same on-demand service. Sarge will have to do more checking as he's heard from ISPBear and other that (like OnStar) there are other devices which allow you to remotely disable the vehicle.

Vehicle Recovery | Anti Theft Device | Anti Theft System

Okay, this got me curious. There are lots of digital radio services out there. FRS is the one I mentioned but I couldn't find any dedicated tracking units. The ones you mentioned are based on either GSM or SMS services which are going to be based on some cell phone system which means subscriber fees.

Then I found APRS. Argent Data Systems has some devices. I have no idea how well they work but they operate on open frequencies so there should be no fee. Byonics - and http://www.rpc-electronics.com/trackers.php too. It wasn't clear if radio license was needed but it's amateur band and there are a lot of repeaters so range shouldn't be an issue.

Incidentally, I don't know why police department needs to pay for a service. Most digital police radio systems have data channel so I don't know why they couldn't use the radio for transmitting location using either sub-audio tones or separate channels. But knowing the government, I bet a rado that sends GPS data on a Project 25 network probably costs 100x more than an equivalent GSM based phone.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Sarge doesn't understand WTF you just said...

:-/

[marinepilot]

Sarge doesn't understand WTF you just said...

:-/

Sgt, I'm so glad you admitted it first, 'cause I sure as heck don't get it either!

[retdetsgt]

Sarge doesn't understand WTF you just said...

:-/

He said, "Go to Radio Shack".

[greg72982]

He said, "Go to Radio Shack".

You've got questions, they've got answers.

[MikeG]

Sarge doesn't understand WTF you just said...

:-/

Sgt, I'm so glad you admitted it first, 'cause I sure as heck don't get it either!

He said, "Go to Radio Shack".

Okay. here's more detail if your interested.

A GPS tracking device is made up of two components. The GPS receiver which receives time based signals from satellites. It uses those signals to triangulate it's location. It can usually store a certain amount of information and also has a way to retrieve it (usb port). The receivers are very standard. The frequency is about 1.5GHz (1500 MHz). It's just a receiver so your GPS never talks to the satellite or anything else.

The second component is the radio piece with transmits information and receives commands. It gets data from the GPS most likely through the USB port. Even internal cell phone GPS's talk to the cell phone through USB.

It seems the radio is almost always a cell phone for trackers. But that's not a requirement. You can hook a ham radio to the GPS and transmit location that way. They live just above FM in frequency. The FRS radios are another option. So are the radios used by public safety.

example: if your police handheld radio has a GPS receiver in it, it's going to use one of those radios to transmit location data, not a cell phone.

Here's the publicly available specs on a motorola APX7000 Project 25 multi-band radio:
700 MHz radio (split band with 12.5kHz channel spacing) - 700 MHz is near cell phone range.
800 MHz radio (split band with 12.5kHz channel spacing) - 800 MHz is near cell phone range
VHF 136-174 MHz - Just above the FM dial. Close to 2 M wavelength for Ham radios. close to frequency used by civilian aircraft.
UHF 380-520MHz - Same Frequency range as FRS and GMRS (walkie-talkies)

The GPS should be able to use all those radio frequencies (not just cell phones) to communicate as a tracker. A public GMRS tracker or a tracker that uses public safety radios should be available because they all have data capability. Only the cell phone version should cost money as a "service". GPS reception is free. FRS is an open channel. GMRS requires a very simple radio license and public safety channels are allocated to agencies.

As for cost, the multiband radios are very expensive and only exist for interoperability for other generations. If you limited it to just one radio frequency band (i.e. just use UHF for mobile tracking devices, the radio will be very cheap - same as the FRS radios).

And if your negotiating as a public safety agency here's two things that are pet peeves of mine:
1) GPS is not a "Service" that motorola (or the radio supplier or cell phone operator) provides. The hardware is in the radio. The service is free. It just has to be enabled. You don't pay garmin for GPS service, so don't pay motorola. This is somewhat true for cell phones as well (they have tower assisted GPS which helps acquisition time but that's already paid for in your 911 tax). You already bought the hardware. It's just 'off' if they don't enable it. I hate that.

2) SMS (text messaging) is a voice service. It uses the voice network, not the data network. Unlimited calling should be unlimited texting but that's not how they price it. If your using a tracker that is controlled/pinged by SMS, it should be competitive with voice plans.

[Joeyd6]

New to Sarge - not BRAND new. Still a nice ride, though.

Found this that's on-demand activation and you can chose which activation package you want whenever you need it. Looks like there are several similar devices with the same on-demand service. Sarge will have to do more checking as he's heard from ISPBear and other that (like OnStar) there are other devices which allow you to remotely disable the vehicle.

Vehicle Recovery | Anti Theft Device | Anti Theft System

Sgt. Slaughter hit teh jackpot for you. For $200 this is the best deal you will find and activate as needd. Check ou their rating and ask for a "demo unit" before you buy. If they are reputable, they will loan you one for a week. make sure it works in your area.

Transmitting over frequencies is nice, but there is a change in the pipline on radio frequencies from the FCC which will change things. Plus you don't want ANYTHINg on a public, non-encyrpted channel. While sending data over the radio sounds easy, it is if you have somebody who completly understands it and is capable of doing it....and that is assuming your agency has teh equipment and FCC permits/licenses and other nonsense.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Actually, the Sarge hooked himself up as he was the OP. ;)

It's been decided that it's best to just lock this vehicle down as much as possible. Sarge will be installing a Ravelco Anti Theft Device in conjunction with a LoJack unit. Evidently in and around Phoenix as well as all the way to the border is a good area for picking up vehicles equipped with LoJack. Most likely will also have an alarm system that has a glass break/motion sensor which will send notification via a key fob that any damage or movement has been noted.