Before heading off again I am interested in fitting a gps tracker in the van and maybe the vehicle.
I need advice on the different types and the pro's and con's of each one.
Also it seems to me that combining a tracker with an emergency beacon would be a good idea.
PeterInSa said
10:25 AM Apr 15, 2022
The low cost way is to have an old mobile phone ( Preferably a Blue Tick phone) in the van/vehicle with a Telstra sim card, unit gets stolen you can do a "find my device" search.
Most trackers do not have an external aerial connection and when you put them in a Tin box ie an Al clad caravan that reduces there access to mobile phone signals, probably Ok if you do not go off the Tar or across the Nullarbor or out bush. ( I put such a tracker in eldest grand daughters Toyota Echo that had al least 4 previous owners with maybe door/ignition keys laying around)
Then with an aerial connection, where do you mount the aerial and what size.
And with the tracker where do you mount it, in the caravan, so its not found and you need to cover up the led lights, as well as providing power and aerial connection.
Also some trackers are only 3G you need 3G and 4G as well as, as many of the Telstra Frequency bands as possible.
I only use the Tracker in the GeoFence mode , ie when armed the unit will send an SMS with the vans coordinates every xx secs if the van moves 100m from where we left it. When sent to a smart phone it sets Google Earth going and you can see the location of your van.
I have the MT600 Plus Au, but this unit was purchased maybe 6 or 7 years ago so there maybe better units available.
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Friday 15th of April 2022 10:27:42 AM
jegog said
01:15 PM Apr 17, 2022
Thanks PeterInSa My van will be al frame and fibreglass covered composite stmaterial so shielding should not be a problem. Thinking of mounting on the roof with apoxy glue, power feed from the solar panels. Apart of it going walkabout without me it would enable the family to see where I am. ps. many years ago I had a brother PeterInSa, but he got divorced and is now PeterInWa.
-- Edited by jegog on Sunday 17th of April 2022 01:17:37 PM
TimTim said
10:22 PM Apr 17, 2022
Also some trackers are only 3G you need 3G and 4G as well as, as many of the Telstra Frequency bands as possible.
I only use the Tracker in the GeoFence mode , ie when armed the unit will send an SMS with the vans coordinates every xx secs if the van moves 100m from where we left it. When sent to a smart phone it sets Google Earth going and you can see the location of your van.
I have the MT600 Plus Au, but this unit was purchased maybe 6 or 7 years ago so there maybe better units available.
Before heading off again I am interested in fitting a gps tracker in the van and maybe the vehicle.
I need advice on the different types and the pro's and con's of each one.
Also it seems to me that combining a tracker with an emergency beacon would be a good idea.
The low cost way is to have an old mobile phone ( Preferably a Blue Tick phone) in the van/vehicle with a Telstra sim card, unit gets stolen you can do a "find my device" search.
Most trackers do not have an external aerial connection and when you put them in a Tin box ie an Al clad caravan that reduces there access to mobile phone signals, probably Ok if you do not go off the Tar or across the Nullarbor or out bush. ( I put such a tracker in eldest grand daughters Toyota Echo that had al least 4 previous owners with maybe door/ignition keys laying around)
Then with an aerial connection, where do you mount the aerial and what size.
And with the tracker where do you mount it, in the caravan, so its not found and you need to cover up the led lights, as well as providing power and aerial connection.
Also some trackers are only 3G you need 3G and 4G as well as, as many of the Telstra Frequency bands as possible.
I only use the Tracker in the GeoFence mode , ie when armed the unit will send an SMS with the vans coordinates every xx secs if the van moves 100m from where we left it. When sent to a smart phone it sets Google Earth going and you can see the location of your van.
I have the MT600 Plus Au, but this unit was purchased maybe 6 or 7 years ago so there maybe better units available.
www.mictrack.com/shop/advanced-4g-gps-tracker/
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Friday 15th of April 2022 10:27:42 AM
Thanks PeterInSa
My van will be al frame and fibreglass covered composite stmaterial so shielding should not be a problem.
Thinking of mounting on the roof with apoxy glue, power feed from the solar panels.
Apart of it going walkabout without me it would enable the family to see where I am.
ps. many years ago I had a brother PeterInSa, but he got divorced and is now PeterInWa.
-- Edited by jegog on Sunday 17th of April 2022 01:17:37 PM
Since the tracker sends info ( Coordinates for Google earth and reply's to remote commands) via SMS you do not need data.
I set the sim card up on a phone then Transfer the sim to the tracker.
www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/prepaid-mobiles/old-plans