911 stolen? Track it via the Net for a one time cost of $60.

[RickM]

No, I'm not selling anything. This is an idea I thought of a while ago but didn't have the technical expertise to execute.

Here's how it works:

- First you purchase a Nextel / Sprint based GPS phone. You can use your existing phone if it supports GPS and Java or use a $60 BoostMobile "disposable", prepaid phone. Also covered are "Nextel Blackberries, as well as Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phones and SmartPhones on any mobile operator with external or internal GPS". After this tracking is FREE....until you run out of prepaid time.

- Next you download the tracking application onto the phone. (You can also purchase a ready-to-go phone from the website below for $79 (Currently sold out))

- Place the phone wherever you'd like. Perhaps discreetly tucked away in your car with a hard wired car battery charger.

- If the phone is on you can locate you phone/car via the below mentioned website through the Google powered mapping UI.


For details and software go here: http://www.mologogo.com/waypoints/list

Here's the owner's manual: http://www.mologogo.com/files/v12/mologogo_v.1.2.users_guide.pdf

If anyone has a compatible phone please try it out and let us know how it works.

BTW, For an additional charge of $199 you can purchase a device that will turn the phone on when motion is detected, preserving the battery charge. I'd opt for a hard wired connection to the car battery.

[Cooper911SC]

Interesting thought...DIY LoJack! I guess if the thieves park your car to see if it has LoJoack the cops show up...they might be just as surprised to see the owner show up and take the car back.

Cooper

[pksystems]

hmm..... cheap way of doing it.... I was looking into GPS car alarms awhile ago, and seem to remember them being like $600+ and I think there was a monthly charge for web tracking :P

[RickM]

Originally Posted by pksystems

hmm..... cheap way of doing it.... I was looking into GPS car alarms awhile ago, and seem to remember them being like $600+ and I think there was a monthly charge for web tracking :P

That's the beauty of this idea, especially with a prepaid phone.

[B Goode]

Not a deal breaker - but I am fairly certain that you have to make a call once a month with a prepaid phone. So you would have to locate the phone someplace where it could be relatively easily accessed and could still send a signal.

Personally, I don't think it would be hard to hide a small phone on the car, but finding a concealed location that could still send a strong signal might be an issue.

[RickM]

Since it's using cell technology I'm thinking signal strength can easily be attained. If it were satellite based there would be more of a challenge.

[RWebb]

battery life?

[RickM]

Battery life is the same as it would be with the phone in stand by mode. However, if the phone's auto charger is hard wired discreetly to the battery and plugged into the phone then you have a steady supply of juice.

[DW SD]

weight?? just kidding. Cool idea. They have bracelets for kids and dogs, etc, too. They are in standby mode of some sort and use the cell network, too.

Read about A-GPS, which is actually the standard for phones. It is assisted through the cell network and provides close to instanteous location lookup (as opposed to GPS, which can take 3 to 5 minutes to get its bearings from the GPS satellites alone).

[RickM]

Now we just need someone with a Nextel or other compatible phone to try this out for us

[gtc]

Get a decent phone and you could have built-in bluetooth!
Just sign up for a "family" cell phone plan. They usually give you as many free phones as you want, at little or no extra cost. What you really want though is the extra activated sim card.

[RickM]

Originally Posted by gtc

Get a decent phone and you could have built-in bluetooth!
Just sign up for a "family" cell phone plan. They usually give you as many free phones as you want, at little or no extra cost. What you really want though is the extra activated sim card.

The goal is to have an inexpensive solution with little to no monthly fee. I'm not sure where Bluetooth or a SIM card help.....

[gtc]

Nevermind.

I'm sure there are less complicated, reasonably priced solutions available at spy stores, if you're seriously pursuing this.

[RickM]

Originally Posted by gtc

Nevermind.

I'm sure there are less complicated, reasonably priced solutions available at spy stores, if you're seriously pursuing this.

Show us one.....

[gtc]

http://www.trackingtheworld.com/products.htm
Either the GPRS or the SMS.

The advantage of the extra phone and/or SIM card from a family plan is that you could sign up for your carrier's $5.99 unlimited data or $4.99 unlimited SMS (text message) plans, depending on which one you would need for the tracker. The device wouldn't use up your "minutes," so this would be the only monthly fee associated with the tracker.

If you were to use a "burner" (disposable cell phone, see HBO's The Wire), I would expect the provider to charge an arm and a leg for text/data usage. Plus you would have to figure out how to wire the cell phone and make sure it is always on and full of minutes, and have the Mologogo software running continuously.

I don't mean to sound discouraging or condescending. It's just that if I were actually concerned that my car might be stolen, I wouldn't want to rely on so many different vendors and service providers.

[Dutchie]

My buddy has one of these systems in his BMW. He had it installed for 400 eur it,s like Rick said a phone with gps and it calls when the car is moved or you can allways look on the website where your car is at the moment. He has a 10 eur a month subscription on it so costs are ok i think.
It,s all in a stainless steel box with a 12 amp battery, the phone will call when power is cut or low. It uses the 12 volt from the car to charge the backup battery. Great system for the money !!

[RickM]

Here's a video on a test done by someone.....
Can't wait to try it out for myself.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/608925/trace_a_phone_on_google_earth/

[Glasgow 911SC]

Originally Posted by RickM

Here's a video on a test done by someone.....
Can't wait to try it out for myself.

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/608925/trace_a_phone_on_google_earth/

Quite cool!

Did anyone notice the guys search history in that video though? Think he needs to clear some cookies!!

[RickM]

LOL....good eye. Have you checked those urls yet?

[POKDUB]

Hiding a phone and/or GPS receiver deep within the car will decrease their receiving capabilities, especially the GPS which tend to need an open-to-the-sky positioning.

A remote GPS receiver ariel would then give the whole plot away.