nigel99 631 #26 February 18, 2014 Hellis *********I think I have found a GPS/GSM tracker that is suitable for the job. I have placed a order for 10 units (minimun order) to test it and see if it works. The only problem is the company is in China. And as I have read it can be problematic Are you approaching this from a personal perspective (one for yourself), or do you have a marketable solution in your sights? GSM based tracking for a lost main isn't going to be a commercially viable option. It will be a fun project I'm sure, but you will have terrible battery life and cost of ownership will be high, due to needing a mobile contract or pay as you go plan for the tracker. For many dzs cell coverage is marginal at best which is another problem. Still a fun project though. You seem to know it all about every country. My humble opinion is: Battery life is something I'm a bit unsure of, I have looked at so many units with very little details. But if I remember correct about this tracker, it's 12 days standby. And that should be good enough for most. Even if you only get half of it, it's still one week for a 100% jumper or 2 weekends for weekend jumpers. I have never heard of a country that does not have prepaid simcards. I guess you don't have them down there, but the rest of the world does and it's a cheap option for this use. And about cell coverage, yes that could be a problem. But I don't think it's such a big problem as it's something to worry about. And everyone knows how well the phones work in the DZ area, so buying a GSM based tracking device with bad coverage DZ is not very smart. Sure I've not used prepaid (pay as you go as I called them), but in the US, UK and Aus all prepaid have a relatively short valid time period, after which the credit expires. Sorry, but electronics and specifically RF and comms is my day job and having developed GSM based tracking systems (for heavy goods vehicles that were deployed across the EU) I have been exposed to a bucket load of the design problems. As I said, for a hobbies/enthusiast it is a cool project, commercially it is my opinion that it wouldn't be viable. I've posted about tracking/location devices before, there are technically sound projects that are solid, I just don't see them as a viable business prospect. I'm happy to provide a system architecture that I think is technically viable via PMExperienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
df8m1 24 #27 February 19, 2014 Hellis If I ever get them I think he is doing his best to trick me now. Apperently the logo of the gps is a problem for the local customs office.... Ehmm.. Positive thoughts your way! lol Customs can be a PIA some times. Do you have the Customs Declaration number? You can use that to see where it was last processed, and get an idea of where it is in the system. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #28 February 19, 2014 df8m1 *** If I ever get them I think he is doing his best to trick me now. Apperently the logo of the gps is a problem for the local customs office.... Ehmm.. Positive thoughts your way! lol Customs can be a PIA some times. Do you have the Customs Declaration number? You can use that to see where it was last processed, and get an idea of where it is in the system. Well he has not yet sent the trackers because he is affraid they will get cought in the customs. He then wanted me to replace half the units with a different model. Anyways, I will mail him tomorrow and see what's going on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #29 February 20, 2014 A update.. Mailed him and no reply so far. I also found a different model that could work and contacted the manufactor, the reply came directly and seems very serious. Let's see what happens with this contact.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
df8m1 24 #30 February 22, 2014 HellisA update.. Mailed him and no reply so far. I also found a different model that could work and contacted the manufactor, the reply came directly and seems very serious. Let's see what happens with this contact.... Yeah until their lawyers find out what you are using it for lol.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixlpr 0 #31 February 23, 2014 Bluetooth Tracker & Finder Bluetooth Server This could be fit to the main d-bag. Range of 30-50m is better than nothing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hellis 0 #32 March 3, 2014 df8m1***A update.. Mailed him and no reply so far. I also found a different model that could work and contacted the manufactor, the reply came directly and seems very serious. Let's see what happens with this contact.... Yeah until their lawyers find out what you are using it for lol.. Already told them about that. This might sound odd, but the rest of the world doesn't care much about what people use their stuff to. Just recently I asked a company if a "rubber spring" could hold the weight of a person, and they gladly helped me with the questions and thought it would be a fun project to follow. Ok, back to topic. I got a trackingnumber now, so now finally something is heading this way. But I won't be home when the package comes here, so I won't have a new update until next week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
