GPS Tracking

Peter Rideout

Member
Messages
1,662
Location
Nova Scotia, 45°N 64°W
Just wondering if anyone here has some experience or advice on discrete GPS tags that can be placed on equipment such as trailers, farm machinery etc, in case of theft.
A quick Google search turned up a bewildering range of costs and claims.

Any information would be appreciated, as always.
 
Typically you'd have to have a cellular service associated with the tracker for it to work real time. Probably the most cost effective would to get a cheap cellular phone and put it in a Tupperware box, recharging it often, turn off the ringer and set the volume to 0. This would require some research to find ones that have features to track them and probably pay for a service to do so. There are some components available to make your own though, see the link below as an example.

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-io-basics-gps/overview

Another diy:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Athena-The-Global-Car-Tracking-System/?ALLSTEPS

This board may work for the above tutorial, but will also depend on the types of cellular you need for your area... http://www.ebay.com/itm/GSM-Phone-M...ased-on-Quad-band-SIM808-Module-/251665851830
 
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Thank you all for the comments and suggestions. Darren, your idea is something I'll plant with my mechatronics engineer (son) and see what comes out :). It's not likely I'll get a chance to delve into that tech world.
I guess I was thinking of a service I could subscribe to for a short term for one of our trailers, but then got thinking of applications for our wild blueberry producers who frequently have to park equipment back in the wilderness.
Brent, the DeWalt option is interesting if it's available in this country through one of our mobile phone companies.
 
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