Trackers

Lark · 17 November 2014, 20:44

Does anyone use a tracker on their rib or outboard? Any recommendations?

Poly · 17 November 2014, 20:52

...trackers are amazing tools which help you search for missing property...

...interestingly we have a similar tool on here which lets you find the many threads on trackers...

Lark · 17 November 2014, 20:53

Many thanks.

jeffstevens763@g · 18 November 2014, 07:53

sarcasm the lowest form of whit why reply if that's all you can offer.

hi lark

we use a tracking system on our dive spreads called TRAAKIT 2 years ago it cost £150.00 & £ 150.00/year subscription it reports to your mobile or laptop prices might have changed have a look

cheers jeff

chris.moody · 18 November 2014, 08:02

Lark

I believe quite a few people have bought trackers off ebay similar to this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111201679112

You then put a payg SIM card in it. Looks to be a cheap and easy way of making your rib a bit more secure.

Jeff · 18 November 2014, 10:00

Hi Mr Lark

This is also a link to the type many of us have - these below do work with 3G cards whilst most others are 2G TK102B (but may work). 2G cards are harder to find now.

3G GPS GSM TRACKER TK102C SMS GPRS REMOTE Car TRACKING DEVICE Pet N0T TK102B 2G | eBay

Realistically you need a wired power supply and a 'waterproof' box to hold the contents ( glanded to your battery/ permanently live fused suuply). I have found the mini USB power sockets best and not subject blowing due to power surges from trickle chargers like the 'hardwire kits' sold)

Universal Twin Dual Port 2 USB 12V In Car Socket Lighter Charger Adapter SatNav | eBay

Either purchase a 12v socket outlet or solder (carefully) to the pins on the adaptor.

Welcome to RibNet - a great place for help and advice,,,, as well as some good sport every now and then

Jeff

cjj216 · 18 November 2014, 10:05

I would say almost everything rib related has been covered here at some time.
New kit coming to the market all the time so some questions are worth asking again.
After all, if people didn't revisit old stuff then it would just become a forum for banter (witty or otherwise) and the occasional question that's never been asked. (But who dares to ask it!?!)

In answer to OP: I've no experience of boat trackers. I had a device actually named "Tracker" on a car I owned late 1980's. That was a one off payment with no annual fee.
No Internet then. If your car got nicked you rang the police who had a receiver fitted in some of their vehicles to track your car.

I'm glad someone's asked the question again - maybe there's one with no annual fee now available for marine applications? Looking back through search facility there, so far, doesn't appear to be one?

Lark · 18 November 2014, 10:14

Chris, Jeff, thanks for the pointers.

I've now found the forum search facility! Unfortunately it doesn't work in the app on my samsung phone but it does on my laptop... There's a lot of knowledge buried in the archives!

I think the other discussion here isn't for me to comment on but I appreciate the kindness in the motivation of those who've answered. It was my bad though.

chris.moody · 18 November 2014, 10:20

Lark

I'm pleased that we could help. I'm personally all in favour of the questions being asked over and over as the answers do change over time (I personally wasn't aware of the 2G 3G SIM card issue) and if you had searched the archives you could have fallen into the trap of buying a tracker that didn't work with modern SIM cards.

Lark · 18 November 2014, 10:21

Having used the search facility

I don't think anyone has pointed out these guys before (though I may be wrong)

Self Contained GPS Vehicle Tracker - Back2You

There's both a battery driven version and one that can use an external power supply. The simple version doesn't need a contract.

jeffstevens763@g · 18 November 2014, 11:00

i agree entirely with Chris this was a simple question that needed a genuine answer, it eventually prompted some good feedback which i for one will troll through thanks lark.
you can do all the research you like on the internet but its also good to hear other personal preferences and if its popular chances are its a good product

we all have the same hobby all looking for help at times i for one like a good read on here but i don't want to wade through the crap to get to the info.

hope you find what your looking for lark

regards jeff

bedajim · 18 November 2014, 13:43

OMG it must be cold out, 4 pages of this & toys going out of the pram.

OP

I've used the cheap Ebay units and I've found you get what you pay for

I had a text-link unit on my last rib which worked very well with electronic fencing etc, but they are no more

I like the look of these but haven't tried one.

Motorcycle and Bicycle GPS Trackers - Products

A lot of them use phone signals and I've found are not that good close to the coast due to poor reception.

jambo · 18 November 2014, 13:58

Admin
On checking out BBO site I see that there is a banner heading referring to 'are you new them maybe you would like to trawl our search before you post just incase......'
Can we not do something like that just to nudge people on there first post?

Sent from my iPhone using RIB Net

HUMBER P4VWL · 18 November 2014, 14:32

Jeesh, opened a can of worms there! I was only gently moderating the mod with a nudge but it's turned in to a pile on!!! Poly can be a bit blunt sometimes but I don't think he means offence and is helpful most of the time offering knowledge.

As for Willk he usually just homes in on known targets. Xx

Garmin GTU10 was the simplest and easiest to fit and use. £150 and then £40 for subsequent yrs- about to be discontinued :-(

"Spot trace"seems the closest equivalent, probably where we're heading. Not dissimilar in price.

Poly · 18 November 2014, 15:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

Garmin GTU10 was the simplest and easiest to fit and use. £150 and then £40 for subsequent yrs- about to be discontinued :-(

"Spot trace"seems the closest equivalent, probably where we're heading. Not dissimilar in price.

At the risk of posting "on topic" did the GTU10 use Sat Comms (Inmarsat) or GSM for the data information coming back out?

I'm guessing Spot trace uses Inmarsat as for other Spot products? These will obviously be much better bet for tracing "at sea" but does anyone know how well they work "indoors" - as obviously nicked kit is unlikely to be sitting out in the open for long and might be in a shed / container somewhere; and some of us are lucky enough to keep our kit indoors when not in use.

HUMBER P4VWL · 18 November 2014, 15:06

Not entirely sure, it used "satellites" and would give a last known position and/or track. There were a couple of "holes" which tied in with when the GPS plotter used to lose signal. So whatever they use, it used.

Re sheds, it was OK actually. We stored ours indoors but it was a tin shed rather than house garage roof.

I'm told the spot trace updated software now has a zone that can be extended to 50m diameter so should be fine on a swing mooring. GTU10 was brilliant as you could "draw" geofences on the iPhone app. Why it's going I don't know?!!!! I even wrote to them.

Reliable, water resistant and very flexible use wise.

AJ. · 18 November 2014, 15:18

This might be useful for those who are having to move from GTU10, however it will not be turned off until Jan 2016 but you do need to renew any subscriptions next month at the latest.

GPS Tracker Review 2014 | Best GPS Tracking Device

HUMBER P4VWL · 18 November 2014, 15:29

I thought it ran out next year, 2015. We normally renew in March. So if we renew in Dec it'll run to Jan 2016?

A1an · 18 November 2014, 15:47

Blimey!

Anybody not having their monthly's?

As for the OP......

I use a xenun tk 102 (I think that's what it's called), this can be controlled and setup via a free iPhone/android app. Mine will text me if it moves out of a "geo fenced" area, when its battery is getting low or it senses boat movement.

I need the boat battery hooked up to a trickle charger whilst its being stored.

PeterM · 18 November 2014, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by A1an

Blimey!

Anybody not having their monthly's?

As for the OP......

I use a xenun tk 102 (I think that's what it's called), this can be controlled and setup via a free iPhone/android app. Mine will text me if it moves out of a "geo fenced" area, when its battery is getting low or it senses boat movement.

I need the boat battery hooked up to a trickle charger whilst its being stored.

I use the same - battery drain is minimal on mine - no noticeable drop in power on the main boat battery - but I only text it once a month or so - mainly to make sure its still working . Picks up a GPS fix inside a box , inside the console inside my garage