Trackers

[guzzi]

I am about to head abroad and am considering one of these trackers that is much talked about right now. I want to know how does the subscription bit work? i see on the website you can get a lifetime subscription but it doesn’t go into much detail.

Anyone had one for a while?

[syncropaddy]

I bought a tracker on E Bay and it worked well for about 4 months then it went mad. It was a simple 'pay as you go' SIM card that it used with no contract. These things only work where there is SMS reception unless you spend big money for satellite trackers.

[xriss]

this is a fine resorce site http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[xriss]

or perhaps you could use google laitude hard wire in a hidden phone...again its not gps its like a triangulate system no not as accurate as gps

[chuckle-bus-tom]

Much cheaper and more reliable tracker option if you have a quick hunt in members chat

[slobbo]

Done a bit of research on this and have a pucka Tracker in my daily. The tracker uses a radio frequency to transmit it's location but costs for installation and subscription. Many hundreds of pounds. The gsm sim card gps option costs a fraction of the Tracker costs but has some limitations and advantages. Being a mobile phone it is subject to the signal strength but it also has the advantage of being able to track using the triangulation of the mobile signal should the vehicle be stuck in a shed or container and lose it's gps location. I don't know if this is possible with the radio signal Tracker uses. Some gsm units allow you to listen or even speak to the thieves if you so desire. Some might even be able to trigger a kill switch to immobilise the vehicle. You can text the unit and tell it to notify you if it moves or even moves out of a set radius. Quite a handy unit. They text you it's location when you call it. You then stick it into google maps to find it. With tracker you phone them say my cars been nicked and they send the coppers out after it. Easier if it happens. In the US they are incorporating Gps and remote kill into the cars from the factory so the police can stop a high speed chase before it happens.

The gsm units have a battery backup so if the car battery is disconnected it still works. The Trackers have a battery as well. Tracker sting you £199 to refurbish an old unit with a new battery. I know because i have just had to do it. Ouch

Still worth it if the car is nicked.

[Mudlark]

Anyone convinced their insurance companies to drop their premiums because the vehicle is fitted with a tracker?

[slobbo]

Nope. Even with a proper Tracker fitted on my Daily they didn't drop the premium.

[syncropaddy]

Paul reckons that the way to overcome a tracker is to slam 48 volts through it from a booster pack. Apparently that blows everything to bits and then they lift the car ....... Seems a bit daft to me as it will blow the nuts out of everything else electronic as well.

Paul hangs around with some right unsavory people!

[guzzi]

Thanks all great replys

I have looked into it a bit more aand i tlooks like i might have to spend out becouse the VFH system seams to work very well in the countrys that it is used but most of the places i want to go to arnt on the list!

which means the unit is just shy of £500 and you cant get a lifetime subscription for it so it is anouther £400 every three years!

not sure what to do now.....

What do people think of the non-Tracker, trackers...?

[syncropaddy]

Have you considered an explosive device under the drivers seat? That will work in most countries

[silverbullet]

A "reliable source" told me that you can get DIN relays that take a SIM card dead cheap off £bay.de...the usual application is to remotely fire up your Webasto engine heater by calling it from your mobile. So it can also be used as a dial-up immobilizer!
OK it's still subject to 48v frying but easy to "hide" in a relay panel, full of other similar relays.
On the face of it, cheap and cheerful but effective.

[slobbo]

I reckon one of them relays with a nail gun strategically positioned under the drivers seat. A quick call and a nice 3" nail ends up somewhere unmentionable. Nice.

[jebiga41]

Paul hangs around with some right unsavory people!

Yeah I work work with them and thats just the staff, you should see the clients Jurys still out on the tracker for me read about the mobile phone trick sounds like a good use for the many old ones I have

[syncropaddy]

OK it's still subject to 48v frying but easy to "hide" in a relay panel, full of other similar relays.
On the face of it, cheap and cheerful but effective.

Mercedes have a device called an 'over voltage protection relay' ..... I wonder would that help? An OVP relay costs about €130 !!