Installing a GPS tracking device

[Ultramaroon]

In my county, there have been a few equipment and tool thefts in the past year. I am considering installing a GPS tracking device.

Some of the ones I see on Amazon plug into an OBDII port, like the ones we put on the Linemen's trucks at work. An L2501 doesn't have an OBDII or other diagnostic port.

From among the top-rated tracking devices on Amazon, this one requires no phone LTE subscription and there is no monthly fee; it's just straight GPS. It does require a SIM card (purchased separately). The real-time location is accomplished using Google Maps.

I'm interested to know what kind, if any, of tracking devices you use on your tractors.

Thanks,
Ultramaroon

 

[InTheWoods]

I can't answer your question directly, but I would be cautious of this:

There is no such thing as a GPS tracker that is, as you put it 'straight GPS'. This may be obvious, but a useful tracking device REQUIRES a reliable wireless data path for the location data to get back from the device to you. And that path is likely to be cellular.

The SIM card is essentially a paid 'ticket' to use a cellular network, and the fact that this device puts that burden on the user is a turn-off, for me at least.

 

[torch]

While the device itself may not require a subscription from the vendor, I note the following in the description:

"You only need to prepare a valid activated SIM card (Attention!!!! SIM card is not included in the package, you need to prepare it by yourself), and then plug in this GPS tracker, you can view the location in real time over the internet (using Google Maps) "

I'm not aware of any way to get an activated SIM card & service for free.

 

[torch]

The other thing I will mention: cell phone jammers are available. And lately, thieves are known to use wifi jammers to defeat wireless home security cameras. It would not at all surprise me to learn they've started to apply the same technique to defeat trackers,.

That said, I have heard of some successful recoveries attributed to trackers. Even when the vehicle was off-loaded from a container overseas.

 

[ruger1980]

Yes there is no free lunch here. You either need a satellite connection, a SIM card or a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to a device that will relay the location to your device. If your machine is not in an area with cellular service or near a device it can connect to any of these style devices will be useless.

There are a number of trackers that you can install that will connect to battery power and will transmit the location using a sim card for a couple hundred bucks a year subscription. This is probably your best alternative

 

[BBFarmer]

What about one of them apple air tag things?

Know nothing about them.

Aren't folks tracking stuff with them these days?

 

[Ultramaroon]

Thanks for the replies. Yes, you are right about the SIM card being essentially the hardware behind a cell phone subscription. I don't know what I was thinking. Maybe I was thinking about SD cards like the ones you'd put in a camera; those are just flash memory.

I asked Grok about this. Here is the link to the Grok. The answer is too long to post here:

https://x.com/i/grok/share/JJZCpmjdIdYI3XuTfwXRW0FPl

He recommends SpeedTalk Mobile. The plans start at $5/month for 100MB of data. I have no idea how much data one of these SIMs transmits during a month

SpeedTalk Mobile Wireless Home - SpeedTalk Mobile Wireless

PREMIUMWIRELESS Starting At Just $5/MO NO STORES, NO SALESPEOPLE, JUST SAVINGS Buy 3 Months Get the 4th Month Free Our Best Deals 100 MB Data 100 Text 100 Minutes Get This Plan 1 GB Data 500 Text 500 Minutes Get This Plan 2 GB Data Unlimited Text Unlimited Minutes Get This Plan 6 GB Data

speedtalkmobile.com

 

[Ultramaroon]

What about one of them apple air tag things?

Know nothing about them.

Aren't folks tracking stuff with them these days?

My daughter and son-in-law gave us two of those for Christmas. They had in mind that the Apple tags would be installed in the cars, I think. But, yes, there's no reason one could not be placed in a tractor.

 

[torch]

What about one of them apple air tag things?

Know nothing about them.

Aren't folks tracking stuff with them these days?

I believe they use low-energy bluetooth to connect with an Apple phone. The range of the tag is very limited, same as any other BT device.

 

[ruger1980]

My daughter and son-in-law gave us two of those for Christmas. They had in mind that the Apple tags would be installed in the cars, I think. But, yes, there's no reason one could not be placed in a tractor.

You still need connection to a compatible mobile device to relay the information to your device. No compatible devices within the range of the tag and no location updates.

 

[ken erickson]

Air tags have helped folks recover their stolen property. I think they can be another tool in the security tool box.

Here is a recent example of an eventual recovery due to having an attached air tag.

Thieves stole a sawmill and sold it for cheap—then its $20 GPS tracker led cops to $100k of stolen property

The tracker didn't activate until it was sold, but the data it collected proved invaluable to police.

www.motorbiscuit.com

 

[bbxlr8]

I'll chime in: Another tool in a combo strategy that can help - nothing is foolproof.

• Need BT proximity to ANY active iPhone.
• I use on old school classic cars, (combined with agreed value ins, common sense, and other disabling ) Also have on wayward dog, luggage. Note: Pro thieves use rollback and are gone in min.
• They now warn anyone with iPhone that the tag is "following" them and will sound a beep to locate & prevent nefarious use.
• Counter is to really hide and disable/remove the speaker
• Battery last 1-2 Y and is replaceable

My Own Conclusion: cheap ($25) and better than nothing. Didn't think about the tractor but good idea JIC. I would have a much bigger problem if hit here at home.

 

[Old Machinist]

Interesting video on the air tag and disabling it's speaker. I don't have one of those fruity phones so I guess I couldn't use one.

 

[Old Machinist]

But this one says if you have a iphone and an air tag is near that doesn't belong to you apple will notify the iphone owner via the app they are being followed. Kinda make it useless since all the thieves will have activated stolen iphones.

 

[bbxlr8]

But this one says if you have a iphone and an air tag is near that doesn't belong to you apple will notify the iphone owner via the app they are being followed. Kinda make it useless since all the thieves will have activated stolen iphones.

Not if they can't locate it by sound...

They will definitely know it's there, but no chance in he!! of finding it on my old cars.
Anything to slow them down or give pause - most that would do so are not rocket scientists!

 

[Hugo Habicht]

And lately, thieves are known to use wifi jammers to defeat wireless home security cameras. It would not at all surprise me to learn they've started to apply the same technique to defeat trackers,.

You can buy GPS jammers for under $10.

 

[Ultramaroon]

Interesting video on the air tag and disabling it's speaker. I don't have one of those fruity phones so I guess I couldn't use one.

The Apple Watch is even fruitier. I told a friend who is a Navy guy, back in 2015, "You got one of those new Apple Watches. I thought those were gay". He said, "What do you mean they're gay?!"

 

[torch]

But this one says ...

Ok, here comes the rabbit hole...

Later in the video, where he's talking about his preferred product, he mentions the crash detection and notification function.

Whoo boy. Speaking as a member of the emergency service most likely to be notified of snipe hunts, I can tell you that this can be a headache at our end. As this technology is becoming more and more common, from crash detection to man-down alarms, these notifications are becoming widespread.

Unfortunately, the location information is not nearly so precise as "telling you which couch cushion your keys are under". Assuming the keys crashed or fell in the first place. OEM automotive crash detection seems to be the least problematic. The OEM system has access to more than just accelerometer data -- it can verify brake application, airbag deployment, engine rpm changes, etc. etc. etc. as part of the crash detection algorithm. So false alarms are less likely. And cars are generally driven on roads, so systems that utilize Google Maps API or similar can pretty accurately estimate the nearest intersections, etc. From there we can usually spot the carnage.

The problem with relying solely on accelerometer(s) data is it can't really tell if someone fell or dropped their FOB. (or is jumping up and down at a revivalist church meeting -- don't laugh, it happened). It can't tell if the bike fell over in a parking lot or went into a low-side slide. Etc.

Then there's the issue of location. I suspect many of these manufacturers have borrowed the location strategy from the OEM crash algorithms and APIs. I might get an alarm, specifying an intersection -- even on systems that can drill down to the GPS coordinates -- when the actual location of the device is in a parking lot 1/4 mile away. I can only get the actual location if:

1. the device happens to include GPS coordinates in the description of the event, and

2. I happen to have an accurate GPS receiver that I can use to navigate to those coordinates.

Even then, the reliability is +/-30 meters or so.

Not much use when there's a 30 story apartment building standing on the site. Well, at least I know it's not in the underground parking levels...

 

[biketopia]

As already pointed out, Apple Air Tags will alert others that there is a tag nearby. That can either get them to stop, or get them to flip on the GPS jammer, locate it, etc. Tile has a similar tracker that works with all smartphone platforms. They also do not notify others that a tracker is with them...unlike Apple.

Another option would be using something from a legitimate Telematics provider. One of their nonpowered asset monitors mounted securely somewhere, or hell, inside a front tire. Then you can set alerts to notify if it moves outside certain time windows. I am wrapping up a pilot with 3 different vendors at work, and we hope to upfit our fleet of 350 on-road vehicles and another 60+ pieces of off-road and stationary equipment in the next few months.

 

[bbxlr8]

As per above, AirTag is def not a commercial option

However, a big PRO is that GPS jammers have no effect on the BT LE signal from the tag.
Again, they will know it's there, but if there is no speaker/sound and easily well hidden, it MAY cause them to abandon ship or look elsewhere. They are not going to locate it quickly or without major disassembly!

Like it or not, there is a high percentage of iPhones in use, so odds are good it will signal position eventually.