Fucks sake fit a tracker.

[Urko]

Dunno about trackers but the android head unit I had in the ZT got a perfect gps signal from a cheapo flat magnetic aerial stuck up inside the bulkhead (what we have to call firewall these days due to the mercans) behind the dashboard, so I don't think gps always needs super line of sight to the sky. Your results may vary, and I junked that unit as I didn't like the radio.

[pshome]

so i bought a Tk102 tracker from ebay for 19,50€ including pp and a 10€ prepaid SIM that includes 10MB per month for year.

Threw it all into the Tagora SX and installed "traccar" software on my server. Took me a day.

 

Results are more than good, works as advertised, installation was painless, great stuff!

 

For that cheap, all my "old" cars will get a tracker now.

 

Out on a test drive:

[castros_bro]

Wot no detour via Andechs?

[Kiltox]

so i bought a Tk102 tracker from ebay for 19,50€ including pp and a 10€ prepaid SIM that includes 10MB per month for year.

Threw it all into the Tagora SX and installed "traccar" software on my server. Took me a day.

 

Results are more than good, works as advertised, installation was painless, great stuff!

 

For that cheap, all my "old" cars will get a tracker now.

 

Out on a test drive:

sx_tracker.jpg

Can you monitor the data use? I guess it's small but id be interested in exactly how small

[pshome]

Wot no detour via Andechs?

Passed through Aying, they have the better beer... a bit to cold today for the Biergarten today though .

[Pillock]

Is there any way to pull a report of where you went, distance travelled etc on a given day? That could then replace the slightly clunky software I use on my phone that sometimes tracks, sometimes doesn't, and gets the distance really wrong.

[Des]

Here's a real world example of current consumed, tracker had been on for a couple of days so internal battery should be charged, vehicle battery showing a healthy 13.1 volts, little meter says 0.1 of an ampere.

 

 

No big deal really, about what one tiny dash lamp would use, 'should' be ok left for a couple of weeks.

[pshome]

Mine uses just 5.2 mA,

 

 

goes up to 80mA for 30 seconds when it sends a position.

.

 

It's this device,

http://www.ebay.de/itm/152023403435

 

Interweb says its a clone of the "original" TK102B.

Technical Manual is here: http://www.iconcox.com/uploads/soft/130627/1-13062F94158.pdf

 

it doesn't really have anything to fix it permamently and the mini USB connector is not made to hold the power cable firm. Fixed the USB with some sticky stuff and used leftovers from the last radio install to fix it to the car (secret location remains untold...)

 

 

Runnning a tcpdump reveals 411 bytes per position message (including TCP overhead).

In addition to the postion readings it sends a "status" packet of 164 bytes every 3 minutes. According to the manual, there is no way to prevent it from doing that.

 

Setting it at a 5 minute reporting interval data usage adds up to:

 

288 x 411 bytes =  118368 bytes for the positions plus 480 x 164  = 78720 bytes, total 197088 bytes per day.

Allow for some TCP retransmits and you end up with about 200 kB per day.

 

That fits well with my 10€ for a year prepaid plan that includes 10MB free traffic per month.

 

I understand that there are other devices around that can use UDP instead of TCP, that would save a few bytes of TCP overhead, mine doesn't react to the command to switch use UDP.

 

 

[pshome]

Is there any way to pull a report of where you went, distance travelled etc on a given day? That could then replace the slightly clunky software I use on my phone that sometimes tracks, sometimes doesn't, and gets the distance really wrong.

Yes the web tool can do all of this. See: http://traccar.litvak.su/features/

It's open source, written in java, runs on Linux and Windows. You do need a server that is "always on" to take and store the data received from the tracker devices.

[Dave_Q]

Pshome, have you got that installed on your own computer or is it running from a website?

 

The tracker I've bought comes with a year subscription to a similar site but I'd rather set myself up something free for the end of the year.

 

Is it possible to install this software onto a website on something like 000webhost with mysql? Are there any tutorials on how to set this up? I'm fairly technical but no experience of website stuff.

[pshome]

I already have a server running my various sites and forums (see signature), so i just installed it there. 

Installation is fairly easy if you are familiar gettings things work on Linux. It does need java, and you also need shell access to the server to download, install and run the java programs. Not sure if a free Web host provides this. 

It comes with an internal database engine, but you can also use Mysql or postgreSQL if you prefer, i am using MySQL.

 

Other option is to run it at your home and use a DyDNS service if you have no fixed IP.

 

Unless you have some sort of server already up and running anyway or a larger fleet to track, i don't think it's worth the effort setting up your own. Subscription to a tracking site is something like 5€ a year.

[Dave_Q]

I get what you're saying, but €5 a year is still more than free. I'll have a look to see if it's doable, it looks like there will be several of us in need of a tracking service so a cheap to free ShiteTrack service could be relevant to our interests.

[pshome]

I get what you're saying, but €5 a year is still more than free. I'll have a look to see if it's doable, it looks like there will be several of us in need of a tracking service so a cheap to free ShiteTrack service could be relevant to our interests.

(useful reliable) hosting is not free either, even a home server eats electricity.... (more than 5€ a year)....

This site says "free" http://gps-trace.com/ i didnt try them.

[Kiltox]

Home server based on a raspberry pi would be a good shout if you don't want to pay for hosting

[Dave_Q]

So, the tracker turned up last week and I got around to bunging it in a car today.

 

Here is a brief review.

 

The Rewire Security types are clearly going for a "premium" look here to justify the price being about double other similar units.

It arrived bundled with a Lycamobile sim card. I think they may be on a sweetener from Lyca for bunding these as at 8p/MB they are not the cheapest for data. I've gone with Giffgaff at 5p/MB.

 

I've done a "full stealth" temporary install while I check it works OK before the final installation in my other vehicle. All I've got connected is a permanent 12V power supply.

 

See if you can spot it.

 

 

Very impressed with tracking so far and was a doddle to set up using the Rewire Security app.

 

In conclusion, I would say get one, but not necessarily this one - the Rewire app is free and works on phone /imei numbers so you could probably buy an identical one in a less impressive box for <£20 and still use their app to simplify sending the commands.

[Dave_Q]

Also, I've so far used 41p of my £10 giffgaff credit which includes 8 x 5p text messages setting it up, so approx 8 hours of tracking at 30s intervals has cost 1p in data.

[Kiltox]

My TK102 arrived today from Malaysia!

[daveb47]

Dunno about trackers but the android head unit I had in the ZT got a perfect gps signal from a cheapo flat magnetic aerial stuck up inside the bulkhead (what we have to call firewall these days due to the mercans) behind the dashboard, so I don't think gps always needs super line of sight to the sky. Your results may vary, and I junked that unit as I didn't like the radio.

Dont supose you still have this radio...?

[Dave_Q]

Quick update from me, tracker has been in just over a week, last Friday I moved it to inside the dash.

 

Tracking still seems fine, although the attached screenshot is for a day when the car didn't actually move.

 

 

To be fair the distance pictured is about 25m so within expected accuracy.

 

My giffgaff balance is down to £9.41 which includes a couple more text messages setting up alerts so I estimate about 20p a week in data.

[Pillock]

What sort of reports can you get of where it went on what days? Or is it just built up over the day and thrown away?

[Dave_Q]

It all gets saved on the server so you can look at any dates or times you want.

 

For example, this is some of last Sunday when we drove to Manchester for my wife to do the marathon.

 

All the Ps are stops of over one minute. On the proper computer you get more details of each section between stops including average and max speeds.

[johngarty]

It is possible to buy GPS signal blockers for a few hundred.

 

You can get these for £15. They work, I had one in my company van. It stayed logged at work overnight while I drove it home for four years.

 

[Dave_Q]

Yes I've seen those, but firstly, the crim would have to know there was a tracker fitted, and that is was a gps and not a vhf or whatever the others work on.

Secondly, I think you can set them to notify if gps signal is lost so you would have an idea that something was up.

 

Ultimately no measure is going to stop someone very determined from taking your car away, but anything that can help you find it or deter them is well worth approx 30 quid.

[Rocket88]

Remotely controlled 18 inch spike hidden under the driver's seat..........................

[sierraman]

Thing is, by the time you've caught up with where the car is, you wouldn't want it back after it's been used for a couple of burglaries and had some crack heads sat in the back getting a fix.

[johngarty]

Yes I've seen those, but firstly, the crim would have to know there was a tracker fitted, and that is was a gps and not a vhf or whatever the others work on.

Secondly, I think you can set them to notify if gps signal is lost so you would have an idea that something was up.

 

Ultimately no measure is going to stop someone very determined from taking your car away, but anything that can help you find it or deter them is well worth approx 30 quid.

Yes. Also as soon as you plug it in your sat nav signal drops. Makes one quite nervous if plod pulls up alongside you at the lights.

[puddlethumper]

To stop shitbags driving off with mine, ( diesel ) I run a loop to the fuel cut off valve with a hidden switch inside. 

[Urko]

Dont supose you still have this radio...?

No sorry - bad terminology - I flogged it.

[Urko]

This thread puts MH370 into perspective eh?  I mean I know TWOCing big eff-off planes is less common - but how daft did they have to be not to have it transmitting a blip every few minutes?

[Captain Furious]

Interesting thread, of course we all know about using trackers to thwart thieves, but has anyone else heard the rumour of thieves planting trackers on cars at shows then using them to get the cars location and steal it later on?

 

Keep seeing it posted around various car related pages, not sure if it's one of those internet legends that's definitely true 'because a mate knows someone on a forum whose mate had it happen to him' but it seems like it could be a plausible tactic