ddlooping Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Hi all To those of you that might be interested in a cheap(ish) DIY GPS tracker. All it requires is an Android phone with GPS (even better with A-GPS) that would need to be hidden somewhere on your bike. A way to keep the phone powered 24/7 (12v to USB adapter). Android Lost, a free Android app (with a free online account). https://play.google....com.androidlost http://www.androidlost.com/ A "How-to" using a similar app called InstaMapper: http://www.instamapp.../diy.html#step4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulwhite Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 nice! its not a bad idea but wouldnt you need to keep credit on it for the gps to work 24/7? just wait till someone comes up with a way to remote start and stop the vehicle using an android pone and apps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 ... wouldnt you need to keep credit on it for the gps to work 24/7? Nope, unless I'm missing something. You're not actually using the phone until you tell it to send you its location. So a £10 credit should hopefully last a very long time. just wait till someone comes up with a way to remote start and stop the vehicle using an android pone and apps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 If you have an Android phone, I'd suggest you try the app to familiarise yourself with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulwhite Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 iv only got an android tablet and it hasnt got gps but im sure we will see an android system (or something similar) being intergrated into cars and bikes soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator mervin Posted March 18, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 18, 2012 aye big brother will be watching, built in GPS in cars may just for satnav they would like ya to think, but it has it,s other side , I know someone around here left his van at his cousins place the other day and dissapeared , they tracked him to south wales by his phone, turned out he was ok just had omitted to tell anyone he was going away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Cynic Posted March 18, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 18, 2012 If you used an i pod instead of an android phone you could use that, no fee's and that too only pings its gps when asked. Just need a 'mobile me' or similar email acc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jealy Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Using an iPod wouldn't work as it doesn't actually have GPS. An iPhone however, would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Any "object" that can send its location when remotely asked would work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Cynic Posted March 18, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 18, 2012 Using an iPod wouldn't work as it doesn't actually have GPS. An iPhone however, would work. Actually clever pants it does its just not a surface application accessable to the primary user, its called find my i pod, both of my daughters devices are activated and should i need to because the dissy pair have lost/forgotten them (3 times to date); i can log in and find their location. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Sorry, I didn't do my home-work very well, as there seem to be a few "cheap" GPS trackers on the market. At least one shipped from the UK: http://www.ebay.co.u...8089#vi-content Quite a few from China, including the following: http://www.ankaka.co...table_p317.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jealy Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Actually clever pants it does its just not a surface application accessable to the primary user, its called find my i pod, both of my daughters devices are activated and should i need to because the dissy pair have lost/forgotten them (3 times to date); i can log in and find their location. Only works when it's connected to Wi-Fi. You can, of course, use different accessories to enable the iTouch to have GPS, but natively - they don't have a GPS chip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 I bought the one on eBay, I'll let you know how I get along. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jealy Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Battery life could be an issue (if you're not planning on charging it through your battery), also make sure you keep it somewhere it won't get too wet! Hope it turns out alright though, I love this kind of stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Battery life could be an issue (if you're not planning on charging it through your battery)... I do intend to charge it with the bike's battery but I'll do some tests before I get the necessary cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 P.S: where do you reckon would be the best place to hide it on the XVS125? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversaydie Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Lifes so much easier when you can read a map Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddlooping Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Lifes so much easier when you can read a map Probably, neversaydie, but I don't quite see what it has to do with a GPS tracker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Cynic Posted March 18, 2012 Moderator Share Posted March 18, 2012 Only works when it's connected to Wi-Fi. You can, of course, use different accessories to enable the iTouch to have GPS, but natively - they don't have a GPS chip. End of the day it works. I have used it 3 times as said, finding it in the grass 3 miles from my house along a field boundry used as a local dog walk. It doesent need a sim, doesent need a service provider. At the end of the day how it finds its position is irrelivent and busted i pods can be had for 15-20 quid. The whole set up could be hidden in the bike for maybe 40quid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversaydie Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Probably, neversaydie, but I don't quite see what it has to do with a GPS tracker? Im missin something here. Whats a GPS tracker do, tell you where you are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts